The Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality are currently restoring the historic Pearson Conservatory in St Georges Park. The 128 year old conservatory was opened in 1882 and has been in need of major renovations for a couple of years now. Its been very sad to see the building fall into near disrepair, so I was elated to hear the news. I remember playing around there as a child while my mom was manning her table at the monthly Art in the…
Before the Port Elizabeth Harbour was built in the 1930's, boats in need of repaired were serviced at the Humewood Slipway. The boat would sail in between the pillars and then got pulled onto the slipway using a steam pulley. Today the slipway is a very popular snorkeling site and are used by scuba diving schools for their students' first shore dive. Humewood Beach right next door is the oldest Blue Flag beach in South Africa and currently one of…
My favorite magazine is Weg, South Africa's biggest travel magazine. I had a huge surprise a month or two ago when the deputy editor of Weg's sister publication go! (the English version), e-mailed me asking for permission to use a picture of the Apple Express she had seen on Port Elizabeth Daily Photo. I have said before that when I go professional one day I would love to have my photos (and perhaps articles) published in these magazines, so it…
In 100 days time the world will descend on South Africa for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The opening game takes place at Soccer City on 11 June 2010 while the first game in Port Elizabeth is on 12 June between Korea Republic and Greece. Other first round games in PE will be Côte d'Ivore vs Portugal, Germany vs Serbia, Chile vs Switzerland and Slovenia vs England. All 5 of these games plus a round of 16 game, a quarter…
An Aloe Ferox in full bloom in Van Der Kemp's Kloof in Bethelsdorp
The Campanile was built and completed in 1923 in commemoration of the centenary of the arrival of the British Settlers in 1820. The site on which it stands used to be the landing beach where the settlers were offloaded before their long journey to the Grahamstown district. The tower is 51.8 meters high and has 204 steps to the top. It also has a carillon of 23 bells.
Victoria Park is one of a number of public parks in Port Elizabeth located within residential areas. Situated in the lower section of Walmer close to the airport, Victoria Park has several fish ponds with beautiful waterlilies and big lawn areas. Every year the Eastern Cape Philharmonic Orchestra has a sold out performance in the park which shows that there is a demand for such shows in Port Elizabeth.
Fort Frederick can be found on the hill overlooking the Baakens River valley and Port Elizabeth Harbour. It's a stone fort built in 1799 by the British Forces to defend the mouth of the Baakens River to prevent a possible landing of French troops to assist the Graaff-Reinet rebels. It was named after Frederick, Duke of York and was commanded by Captain Francis Evatt. Even though the fort was built to defend the Bay, ironically, no shot was ever fired…
The Port Elizabeth Model Locomotive Society runs their minituare trains at Londt Park every first Sunday of the month. It is a very popular morning outing for anybody with little kids, but enjoyed just as much by the big kids (if you know what I'm saying).
Halloween isn't the biggest thing around here in South Africa. There are a couple of shops that sell some Halloween party decorations and gimmicks, but other than the odd Halloween party here and there, it kinda passes us by without much of a hoohaa. But I do want to wish my American and Canadian blogging friends a Happy Halloween though. At a loss of anything scarier to post, I'm featuring a picture taken in the historic St Mary's Cemetery.