Gauteng

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Sweef teen sonop met ‘n Warmlugballon

Ahhhhhh, om rustig te sweef deur die lug terwyl die son opkom in die ooste. Die stilte word net gebreek deur die klank van die vlam wat kort kort meer warm lug in die ballon inblaas. 'n Uitsig soos min met plaaswerkers wat oppad is lande toe doer onder jou and die Hartebeespoortdam wat glinster in die verte.  Daar is bitter min dinge wat naby kom aan 'n warmlugballon vlug saam met die legendariese Bill Harrop homself.Ek moet eerlik wees…

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26/06/2012
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Voortrekkermonument

Die monument wat seker die naaste aan die hart van meeste Afrikaners in Suid-Afrika is is die Voortrekker Monument net buite Pretoria.  Die veertig meter hoë monument is in 1949 voltooi en is gebou ter ere van die Voortrekkers wat die Kaapkolonie vanaf 1838 verlaat het en noord na die Vrystaat, die ou Transvaal (vandag Gauteng) en Natal (KwaZulu Natal) met al hulle besittings op ossewaens getrek het. 

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18/06/2012
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Sokkerstad

Sokkerstad, ook bekend as die FNB Stadion, in Johannesburg is die grootste stadion in Afrika en kan net minder as 95,000 mense akkommodeer.  Die stadion is opgegradeer net voor die 2010 FIFA Wêreldbeker en het die bynaam Kalbas gekry omdat dit soos 'n tradisionele Afrikapot lyk.

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13/06/2012
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First time on the Gautrain

Imagine a bunch of small town children going to Johannesburg and getting to ride on the Gautrain for the first time.  Now imagine a bunch of small town adults having fun and really being in the spirit of things riding on the Gautrain for the first time.  Well, I don't know what you are imagining, but the experience itself wasn't much different than it would be with kids.  Big eyes, lots of fun, comments and laughter   Earlier in the year…

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08/06/2012
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Union Building Gardens

The Union Buildings are surrounded by beautifully terraced gardens of indigenous plants as well as various monuments and a 9,000 seat amphitheatre.  On our visit the roses were in full bloom, the weather nice and warm and people were just relaxing all over the gardens.The lawn in front of the Union Buildings are often the location for public gatherings, whether they be protest or celebration, such as the presidential inauguration.  In 1915 there was a march of Afrikaner women to the Union…

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02/11/2010
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Union Buildings

The Union Buildings on Meintjieskop in Pretoria is the official seat of the South African government and also house the offices of the President of South Africa.  The Boer Republics of the ZAR (Transvaal) and the Orange Free State united with the Cape Colony and Natal Colony in 1910 to for the Union of South Africa.  Pretoria was selected as the administrative capital of the Union.The cornerstone of the building with its two identical wings was laid in November 1910, shortly after the…

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01/11/2010
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British Troop Train

On the way up the hill to Fort Klapperkop and the SA National Defence Force Memorial outside Pretoria stand an old steam locomotive.  This specific locomotive was amongst others used over 100 years ago during the Anglo Boer War (1899 - 1902) to carry British troops and supplies from the coast to where the war was taking place in the interior of South Africa.

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31/10/2010
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South African National Defence Force Memorial

The South African Defence Force Memorial is situated just outside the entrance to Fort Klapperkop in Pretoria. The memorial was unveiled on May 31 1979 and includes a statue of a soldier holding a R1 rifle, in memory of all members of the South African Defence Force who lost their lives serving their country. The individuals who have lost their lives are honored with an inscription on a number of marble plaques mounted around the statue. 

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27/10/2010