Standing on top of the Donkin Lighthouse and looking east towards Algoa Bay the new winding walkway leading up from the city centre is visible. The walkway is part of the Route 67 development and lately the skateboarders have discovered it and the fact that its a perfect downhill run. There has even been a submission to council to hold a skateboard competition there.
I hope people don't mind me posting a pic about the little tuxedo wearing marine birds at SAMREC every now and then. SAMREC is truly one of the attractions in Port Elizabeth that has a special place in my heart and they really do an amazing job. By posting about them I do my bit to create awareness for the protection of the African Penguins as well as the centre itself.
The Donkin Reserve is truly one of Port Elizabeth's biggest iconic sites with the lighthouse and pyramid standing side by side on the city's balcony overlooking Algoa Bay.
The very first wine estate in the Cape I got to visit years ago was appropriately also the oldest wine estate in the Cape. Groot Constantia was established in 1685 by Simon van der Stel who was the then Governor of the Cape of Good Hope. The farm was used to grow fruit and vegetables, farm cattle and produce wine. The original farm was broken up into three parts (Groot Constantia; Klein Constantia and Bergvliet) in 1712 after Van der Stel's death. Today…
Die Tsitsikamma, plek van baie water, is sonder twyfel een van Suid-Afrika se asemrowendste streke. Digte groen inheemse woude waar woudreuse van oor die 800 jaar oud staan word van die blou see geskei deur loodregte kranse. 'n Ongerepte kuslyn met wit skuimende branders wat hulleself te pletter slaan op swart rotse. Dolfyne en walvisse, otters in 'n sloep, luiperds teen die berg en die skugter Knysnaloerie wat tussen die boomtoppe rondbeweeg. Stories van houtkappers uit die ou dae, olifantvoetpaaie en wie weet, miskien 'n bosgees of twee. Duidelik een van die mooiste en…
The other day a couple of us talked our way into the old Grey Institute building across the road from the Donkin Reserve. The building was bought by the Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) a few years ago and since then they have embarked on an extensive restoration project, turning it into their regional office here in Port Elizabeth. One of the new show case features in the building is a (guesstimating) four meter high stained glass window featuring ships from over the…
Somebody asked me if anything has happened because they don't see any new blog posts other than on PEDP. But don't worry, I haven't been abducted by an alien race from another planet. I've been away at Tourism Indaba in Durban for the last week or so and didn't have time to do any forward posts for this blog. As blogging is a hobby for me I have to fit it in where I have time available and time has been a…
I'm not a big bug fan unless I'm looking at it through my camera, but if I had to choose my favorite spider it has to be the Golden Orb-Web Spider. They get their name from the gold coloured web that they spin. I have seen them at Sleepy Hollow before and with this last visit kept an eye out for one as we were walking along the river. And I wasn't disappointed.
After spending two days going down the slippery slide with the kids at Sleepy Hollow my Boet and I decided to go and try out the foofy slide (zipline) at the main swimming hole. Now I'm not one who is very comfortable with heights and I get nervous if I have to lift my feet anywhere higher than mother earth herself. That coupled with the unknown speed of the zipline, submerged rocks next to the bank and... the worry of how long…
I may be in my mid thirties, but I am very much in touch with my inner child who, every now and then, forces himself to the surface and refuses to crawl back in. So it happened at Sleepy Hollow where I went down the slippery slide before the kids even got their costumes on. After the kids had to stop and stood shivering I kept on going (and had the aches and pains the next day to remind me). …