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The King Edward Hotel by the Donkin Reserve

My fondest memory of the Edward Hotel was having our matric farewell dance in the back hall.  And eating there a couple of times.  The hotel has been closed for a number of years now and have undergone a revamp and upgrade with plans to reopen later this year.  Since the announcement the management group has pulled out again and we're yet to hear what will happen next.  But regardless of what is going on behind the scenes, the majestic…

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28/06/2017
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Indian memorial at the Donkin Reserve

I was taking a couple of pictures on the Donkin Reserve the other day and noticed this plaque on the stone wall by the Great Flag.  I don't know if it is a recent addition or if I've just never noticed it.  Weird, but anyways.  The plaque marks the 150th anniversary (as on 16 November 2010) of the arrival of the first group of Indians to South Africa as indentured labourers.  Although the arrival was in Natal and not Port…

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19/06/2017
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Country in the city on Route 67

A hint of country in the city - tufts of grass on the Donkin Reserve with a windpomp figure forming part of Route 67 in the background

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15/06/2017
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A gargoyle and a knight at the Public Library

Have you ever noticed the knight above the old city emblem on the Public Library in the city centre?  Or the figure below?  Although probably a gargoyle but it does look like some mythical forest creature.  

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25/05/2017
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Bottom of Russell Road

I know today's photo isn't the typical touristy photo nor one anybody would use to promote the city with.  It's still one I would like to share with you.  I was at a meeting at Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism in Donkin Street the other day and ventured down to Chapel Street and over to the cul-de-sac overlooking the bottom of Russell Road.  Not an angle of the road one get's to see often and hence the share.

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16/03/2017
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The Untitled Woman on the Donkin Reserve

Standing at the top of the Donkin Reserve stands a lone woman on a pedestal holding a chair while looking across the square.  She is one of the art pieces which is part of Route 67 and is the work of well known artist Anton Momberg.  Do you know what she represents?  Take a guess.  I will come back tomorrow to place the answer as part of this post below.

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14/02/2017
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The Donkin Mosaic

Isn't the 470 square meter mosaic on the Donkin Reserve just the most awesome piece of mosaic art in the city?  The piece represents the multi-cultural, the heritages, the diverse histories and the abundant fauna and flora that characterises the city and province.

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13/02/2017
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The UFO has landed

One of the Route 67 art pieces that gets the most discussion by visitors is artist Mxolisi Dolla Sapeta's bird-like statue.  The Fish-Bird looks like a UFO that has landed and visitors would be excused if they looked around for little green men running around.  The Fish-Bird represents the fish in Algoa bay and the birds up on the Donkin Reserve and has returning back to the Donkin to take ownership of this transforming site.

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12/02/2017
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Memorials in the Donkin Memorial Garden

Visitors to the Donkin Reserve will notice a number of memorials located next to the lighthouse building in a memorial garden made up of spekboom and euphorbia.  This section of the Donkin Reserve has been dedicated to the memory of municipal councilors who have died while serving the city.  The garden was unveiled to remember 52 (at the time of unveiling) councilors from different political backgrounds who died while in office and who's deaths range from illness to car accidents…

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11/02/2017