donkin

Uncategorized

Wrestling with the South African flag

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ku-HPjTwg&w=500&h=400]People don't want to believe me when I tell them that the Great (South African) Flag on the Donkin Reserve is 15 meters by 10 meters in size.  That's about the size of a tennis court.  Flying at the top of the 65 meter high flagpole it's hard to imagine the size, but when they bring it down in the afternoons you actually get a better idea of how big it is.  Now imagine a flag that size being taken…

1 Comment
17/07/2015
Uncategorized

Madiba on the Donkin

I haven't been to the historic part of PE for a while and the pictures on PEDP probably shows that.  Between work and family I have just been so busy that I haven't been to try out my new camera in the old part of town.  A quick stop at the tourism visitor centre at the Donkin Reserve to drop off brochures gave me a chance to snap one or two pictures before I had to rush off again.  Just…

5 Comments
01/06/2015
Uncategorized

Mandela quote

One of the Mandela Quotes way markers along Route 67 on the Donkin Reserve.There is nothing as bad as a leader making a demand which you know can never succeedNelson Mandela (1992)

Comments Off on Mandela quote
27/05/2015
Uncategorized

This giant South African flag packs a punch

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1ku-HPjTwg&w=500&h=400]After posting about the raising of the giant South African flag on the Donkin Reserve last week, I thought of a video I saw a little while ago of the flag being taken down on a day when the wind was pumping.  I found it and decided to post it for your pleasure this week.  Check our the Prince Alfred Guard soldiers struggling to get the flag under control.  More importantly, check the size of the flag. When it flies…

Comments Off on This giant South African flag packs a punch
10/04/2015
Uncategorized

Raising the great flag on the Donkin Reserve

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvh7GOfUh2M&w=500&h=400]The 60th SAP 5O5 sailing World Championships took place in Port Elizabeth this past week.  The opening ceremony took place on the Donkin Reserve with the Prince Alfred's Guards raising the country's largest flag on the 65 meter tall flagpole next to the Donkin Lighthouse and Pyramid.

Comments Off on Raising the great flag on the Donkin Reserve
03/04/2015
Uncategorized

The woman with the chair

Route 67 around the Donkin Reserve has some really interesting art pieces ranging from real taxi's mounted on a wall to the 470 square meter Piazza Mosaic next to the Pyramid.  Then there's also the Voting Line with Madiba's figure at the front standing under the tallest flag pole in South Africa sporting a 10 m x 15 m South African flag.   Looking across the reserve towards Algoa Bay stands a lone female figure on a pedestal. (Shouldn't men put all women on pedestals?)  On closer…

Comments Off on The woman with the chair
26/02/2015
Uncategorized

Port Elizabeth’s most iconic site

The Donkin Reserve has always been an iconic site in Port Elizabeth.  It has links to the early history of the town and how it got its name plus who doesn't know the famous lighthouse and pyramid combination on the square.  With the development of Route 67 and its public art pieces on and around the Donkin Reserve, it has now truly cemented itself as one of Port Elizabeth's "must see" iconic attractions.  The Donkin isn't just about history anymore.  Now its…

1 Comment
16/11/2014
Uncategorized

Donkin Garden of Remembrance

The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality has put aside a small section next to the lighthouse on the Donkin Reserve as a Memorial Garden in memory of municipal councilors who have died while serving the public.  The garden was unveiled by the mayor a couple of months ago and it remembers 52 (at the time of unveiling) councilors from different political backgrounds who's deaths while in office range from illness to car accidents and even assassination.

Comments Off on Donkin Garden of Remembrance
11/11/2014
Uncategorized

Looking down on the Campanile

The Campanile stand 52 meters tall and to get to the top you have to climb up 204 steps which will take you to the half circle windows above the clocks.  Looking at that you would think it there wouldn't be much opportunity to look down (and not in a bad way) on the Campanile.  That is unless you are standing on top of the lighthouse on the Donkin Reserve.   The Campanile is currently closed for renovation.

Comments Off on Looking down on the Campanile
06/11/2014