Explore Nelson Mandela Bay

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjSUxRPPe7U&w=500&h=400]This destination marketing video was produced in 2009 by Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism for the Chinese market and it combined both information about Port Elizabeth, the greater Nelson Mandela Bay and the rest of the Eastern Cape.  Watching this just reminds one again what a beautiful area we live in.

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A Boardwalk sunset

Last week I got to attend the opening of the Le Vino Wine and Tapas Bar at the Boardwalk complex in Port Elizabeth.  The restaurant has an upstairs area with a balcony overlooking the Boardwalk lake and it was here we were toasting the end of another beautiful day in the Bay while the sun was going down.  The sky was stunning and this is exactly why I always like to have my camera with me.

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City coastline aerial

Last week the Damselfly and I got to fly to Johannesburg for the annual Lilizela Awards of which I was one of the judges. Even though I get to road trip quite often working for ECTOUR, I don't fly nearly as much as I did in my previous job.  When I do and I fly alone, I like an aisle seat but the Damselfly wanted to sit by the window and it gave me the opportunity to snap a few pics…

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Cape Recife Lighthouse

I wish I had more time to go and explore Cape Recife Nature Reserve more often with my camera.  It offers so many photo opportunities, one of these being the Cape Recife Lighthouse.  The lighthouse was built in 1851 on the western point of Algoa Bay.  Cape Recife is one of the major turning points on the South African coastline and the lighthouse warns ships of Thunderbolt Reef and other hazards which they have to give a wide berth.  The tower stands 24 metres…

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A blooming nice display at Van Stadens

 The West Coast and Namakwaland is famous for their spring flowers while a number of reserves in the southern Cape, one of these being the Baviaanskloof Wilderness Area, are UNESCO World Heritage Sites as it is where the Cape Floral Kingdom occurs.  Living in Port Elizabeth it's not always possible to do the trek west to go and view flowers but a few weeks ago I realized that it's not  necessary.About 40 kilometers west of Port Elizabeth is the Van Stadens Wildflower Reserve,…

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Port Elizabeth’s Hop on Beer Route Tour

The Western Cape has it's various winelands where one can take daily tours to taste wines and learn more about how they are made.  Port Elizabeth does have it's share of wine lovers, but the closest wines they can taste at source are in Plettenberg Bay so they usually end up having wine tasting events with Western Cape wines.  But how about beer?  Craft beer in particular.  This is probably what Tony Neveling of Gecko Tours here in the Bay was thinking when he came…

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Silver seas

Whenever there is a big cold front approaching the fishing boats fishing off Algoa Bay sails into the bay to seek shelter against the storm.  They normally anchor just offshore and wait out the storm before heading back out to continue fishing.   

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Walmer Cenotaph

Most of Port Elizabeth's monuments are located around Central and the city centre.  There are a few outside of those areas though.  One example is the Piet Retief monument and another is the Cenotaph in front of the Walmer Townhall.  I stopped at the Cenotaph with Drama Princess and snapped a few pics while she was checking it out.  The Cenotaph contains the names of the men from Walmer who died during the two world wars.  Why does Walmer have…

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Bigger, better, louder and more awesome. Imax comes to Port Elizabeth

I have never been to an Imax movie so big was my excitement when I received an invitation from Ster-Kinekor to the grand opening of their brand new cinema complex at Baywest in Port Elizabeth.  The complex is made up of 5 regular cinemas, two Cine Prestige luxury cinemas (kitted out with reclining chairs and the works) and, the cherry on top, an Imax cinema.  Only the fourth one in South Africa.  Did I mention that Joburg hasn't got an Imax yet.  Cool,…

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