When I started blogging in 2008 I didn't do it because I wanted to be a blogger. I did it because I enjoyed traveling (even if it was just around my own city) and taking photos, and wanted to share everything I got to see with others. Over the years I've done over 3000 posts on Port Elizabeth Daily Photo and close to 1800 on Firefly the Travel Guy, shared pictures and information of many places and things, discovered so…
The Donkin Lighthouse (actually called The Hill Lighthouse built in 1861) and the Pyramid (actually called the Donkin Memorial built in 1820), two of Port Elizabeth's most iconic historic landmarks.
One of Port Elizabeth's little gems that very few people seem to know of is Rheta's Trail in Schoenmakerskop. Rheta's Trail stretches behind the houses (from #24 to #40) in Schoenies on Marine Drive between and can be accessed between numbers 22 and 24. The trail is always open and was created by local resident Retha Taylor along with a couple of workers. The trail starts by the labyrinth on the eastern side and is more about what you'll find…
No visit to Graaff-Reinet will be complete without a visit to the Valley of Desolation yet I wonder how many people actually realise that the Valley of Desolation is located within the Camdeboo National Park, which actually reaches all the way around the town, and that you can also go game viewing in the park. On our long weekend in Graaff-Reinet we spent our Saturday exploring the town's historical heart on foot and kept the Sunday to explore the Camdeboo National…
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuTKcAdzXgY&w=500&h=400]The past two weeks have been hectic. I've been to the SATSA conference in Stellenbosch and a Karoo Heartland meeting in Jansenville, spent way too much time catching up (and I'm not even there yet) and in the process of all of this missed a few posts in the last week. I even thought about just taking a break for a few weeks but then realised that somewhere I'll have to catch up again. Anyhow, it's Video Friday and today's…
Last week I did a post about the Uitenhage Concentration Camp Memorial and this week I just want to share another of the pictures I took. This one just a bit closer. The back wall is divided up into nine sections, each representing one of the 9 people who died in the concentration camp.
A few weeks ago we took part in the NG Kerk Uitenhage Oos' Amazing Race around Uitenhage. One of the clues sent us to a picture of a statue which I didn't recognise. After asking a few people we ended up at the Market Square in front of the Uitenhage Townhall at the statue which turned out to be that of anti-apartheid activist Zola Nqini.Nqini was the former supreme commander of Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), the then armed wing of the ANC.…
The Humewood skyline with Shark Rock Pier in the foreground as seen from Pollok Beach
One of the things I discovered while in North End Cemetery is a Defense Force Memorial remembering soldiers who died in service of their country during the first and second World Wars. According to the main plaque the memorial stones commemorate soldiers that were buried elsewhere but who's glory won't be forgotten.
One of the things that really interested me when I visited the North End Cemetery the other day was the walled off Jewish Cemetery. I didn't get to explore it though as the sign by the entrance says, "Code of Conduct. Please note that all visitors to the cemetery must wear appropriate dress. Men and women must cover their heads". Turned out I didn't even have a cap in my car so I went no further than the door. I did do…