Central

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Route 67 Election Queue and Votes of the Future

There are two ways to walk up the Donkin Reserve from Chapel Street.  The first is up the Mosaic Stairs and the second along a winding path that snakes it's way up to the lighthouse and pyramid.  The path is called the Election Queue as it represents the winding queues on election day during the first democratic elections in 1994.  It's the same walkway that skateboarders have discovered to be the ideal downhill run making it very much a multi purpose walkway.…

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23/01/2014
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Then and Now – Donkin Reserve

The Donkin Reserve is truly one of Port Elizabeth's iconic attractions.  The pyramid (Donkin Memorial) was commissioned by Sir Rufane Donkin in August 1820 as a monument to his wife Lady Elizabeth after whom he named the town.  Sit Rufane was the Acting Governor of the Cape Colony and came to Algoa Bay to oversee the landing of the British Settlers  The Hill Lighthouse was brought into use on 1 June 1861 with Charles Hammond as the first lighthouse keeper.  The cottage adjoining…

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20/01/2014
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Trees on Doncaster Road

On a recent guided walk around St Georges Park, our guide told us a very interesting fact about Doncaster Road.  Doncaster Road is on the other side of park drive close to the Prince Alfred Guard Memorial.  On the day our guide pointed out that not two of the trees lining Doncaster Road are the same.  When the trees were planted it was decided to plant different species all the way between Park Drive and Cape Road in the background.…

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16/01/2014
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Stage Door, an extraordinary restaurant

A restaurant (and pub) in the oldest hotel in Port Elizabeth.  Sawdust covered floors. American memorabilia all over the walls... and ceilings.  Historic memorabilia scattered in-between the previously mentioned American stuff.  Friendly people. Relaxed atmosphere. Flippen good food.  Staff taking photos of each and every table to post on Facebook.  Excellent service (even if they're not willing to admit it).  Where am I? The Stage Door at the Phoenix Hotel in Central is all of that and more.  If you're looking…

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14/01/2014
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Harmony of Nature on Route 67

The Harmony of Nature art piece in front of the Athenaeum is probably one of the most interesting art pieces on Route 67.  It uses an old optical technique used by master like Leonardo Da Vinci and Michelangelo where a mosaic picture which looks distorted reflect perfectly in the metal pole in the middle of the picture.  The image contains natural symbols of the Eastern Cape like the Blue Crane and Protea. 

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30/12/2013
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Sunset from the lighthouse

The view from the top of the Donkin Lighthouse is my absolute favorite view in Port Elizabeth.  Combine it with a setting sun over Central and you get an even better one.

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17/11/2013
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Public Library facade

The Public Library across the road from City Hall and Market Square in the city centre is my absolute favourite historic building in Port Elizabeth both inside and out.  The library building was opened in 1901 and the interesting part of it was that the front facade was built in England, dismantled and brought down to Port Elizabeth in numbered blocks to be assembled in front of the building.  

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12/11/2013
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Looking up on Route 67

The Tower Sculpture at the bottom of the Donkin Reserve is one of the more peculiar yet interesting art pieces forming part of Route 67.  The piece was designed by The Workplace Architects and acts as a beacon to announce the journey through the Donkin Reserve.  It can be found at the start of the winding path and responds to its surrounding elements using the sun and wind to bring it to life.  For this picture I stood underneath it…

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21/10/2013
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Port Elizabeth City Hall tower

The Port Elizabeth City Hall truly is a magnificent building and has pride of place amongst a number of other historic buildings in the city centre.  The city hall was originally built between 1858 and 1862, but without the clock tower.  The clock tower was only added in 1883.

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18/10/2013
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Bus station mural

The Bus Station Mural by 4 Blind Mice which forms part of Route 67 is probably the one piece which I would love to have seen somewhere else.  Not because I think that it doesn't fit perfectly in the bus station, but because I would love more people to see it.  Its colourful and vibrant and I absolutely love it for that.  The mural celebrates public transport and the daily journeys undertaken by the people of the city.

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03/10/2013