Autumn Has Arrived and So The Leaks as Well!

Autumn has arrived with the first good rain of the season. The block of flats I live in leaks like a sieve and so we run with towels and buckets to catch all the water coming through the walls and ceiling! We don’t complain too loudly as the rents are absurdly low and so we put up with all the drips. The weather has become cooler now as the first hint of winter peeks around the corner. Already snow has been reported on some mountains to the south west of our city. I predict that the winter this year will be colder than last year as it seems that each winter gets colder and summer hotter!

driving rain

Squalls come through every hour so when you just think the rain is over the next one arrives catching you off guard. The sun is out but to the north of the city it is pelting down. Each part of the city gets it’s own share of the rain at different times. Now the dams will fill up again as with the drought we’ve had they have been getting depleted.

raining today

We lie in the southern part of South Africa and in between two demographics so we tend to get some summer rainfall which is mostly from the northern subtropical region of Kwazulu-Natal and the winter rainfall of the Western Cape which lies to the west of Port Elizabeth, my city.

Monday Morning. – Off the top of my hat so to speak

To most, Monday morning are the blues of the week but for me it’s a new day dawning a new week to be excited. Today will be 36 C they say and it’s already warming up. Whats your day feeling like? I’m here at the Internet cafe as my own airtime data is finished and besides to get out of the flat is to expand my horizons. I do not know what this week will bring maybe heart sore maybe a new adventure I never know unless I embrace the day and seek for it. Life in South Africa for an older guy like me is not easy as there is massive unemployment and the more experienced young generation must find it first. I have the experience but my age is against me so it’s a difficult situation where some would tell me to become a pensioner and vegetate while others say go find work. I’ve started this booking agency on line but without customers, nothing can be achieved, so that’s the reason for blogging to0 reach a larger audience. I was employed as a backpacker manager for ten years and so have the experience to do this, but how do I find my customers out in the ether. These are just thoughts that rush around my head most days. What are your experiences in life?

Farmers Markets, Art Markets and other attractions in Central Port Elizabeth.

A farmers market in Central Port Elizabeth isn’t that a bit weird! Yes it might seem that way but in all truth it is a concept that has grown from the first time it was started. On the first Wednesday of every month a part of Stanley Street is closed off and becomes a market. Started originally in a big hall it spills out into the street and attracts all sorts of people who can purchase tasty foods, pestos, cheeses, breads, cakes and also handicrafts and brica brac in the form of items from a past generation. Be it food or hand made clothing,everything you want might be found there. The ‘Granary Market’ as it is known caters to many different tastes. They usually have some sort of band playing making it most festive.

Stanley Street has become a restaurant hub in the Richmond Hill area with most of the ‘yuppies’ migrating there from other areas. All different manner of restaurants operate there with most having tables and chairs right on the pavement. One can find many different palates to suit your taste, from ala carte menus to sushi and everything in between is catered for there. It is a pretty part of Central with most of the houses having been built in the 19^th century.

A different market operates on the first and last Sunday of every month in the form of an artists market at our local park also in Central. Known as ‘Art In The Park’ it has grown from from a few artists showing their paintings to a market where you can buy all manner of items including artifacts form the Victorian age. And what market can operate without food! There are many fast food stalls where ice creams and boere wors in rolls are sold to hungry patrons who come there looking for the unusual gift. The artists are still there amongst all the other stalls and so you can buy an original painting from an aspiring artist or some kitsch item that you want.

A Saturday Morning in Central.

On Saturday’s I normally go out at 9.30am to 10am as most shops open at 9am. I used to go to the local bakery for coffee but with the aftermath of Christmas, the prices have gone up again and they are getting pricey so I decided on the new coffee shop down on the corner of Lawrence and Clyde Streets hoping to buy my croissants there as they are inexpensive. When I got down there it was only to discover that someone had purchased the last one as I walked in the door! But not withstanding that I still stopped for a hot cup of coffee and a large biscuit. They’ve become quite popular as quite a few people came in as I sat there. It was very pleasant as it reminded me of the small side-walk cafés in Cape town down the side streets in Gardens. When I was finished I decided to return home as it being the beginning of the month everywhere was crowded as people queued to first draw and then spend their hard earned cash! I stopped in at the service station to fill my car as the price goes up by 39 cents next Wednesday, the second such hike in 2 months. Central still has the quaint charm of an old city suburb with its old buildings and tree lined streets. On quieter Saturday mornings I often go to the internet café to check on my mail and update my other sites.

My Suburb called Central

It rained today, so welcome as it has cooled the air. Lots of moisture around with heavy black clouds. At least it is a soaking rain and not the floods we have been having of late.
Venturing out into my suburb, through the wet streets I went in search of a new coffee shop as my normal one has got expensive. I have heard of another one low down and so went to find it. A real gem hidden away in Lawrence Street among the antique shops. I had a hot cup of coffee and a cup cake for the price of just a cup at the former place! Sometimes one must walk a little further to discover these hidden gems. It is set in an old building and has interesting décor of old furniture and related items. They didn’t have a lot of cakes on display but what they had was very appetizing to say to least. Carrot cake, muffins, chocolate éclairs, croissants and quiche. The antique shop next door has a treasure trove of books, furniture and other memorabilia to excite. At one time they used to sell exotic cars but the present owner has decided on the above instead. This street is just off the Heritage Trail which winds through Central. On this trail one wanders around looking at the old buildings and history of Port Elizabeth. It starts at the Donkin Reserve and takes in the city centre and then goes up the hill to old Port Elizabeth’s heart. Central has many fine old buildings built by our ancestors dating back to the 1800’s when the city was first started by the settlers who landed in 1820. So who will be first to visit this southern most city in Africa?

A View from my Window. Part 2.

Today is a beautiful day with some cloud around as we desperately wait for some rain. Lots of cars going past as everybody heads down to the beach. The wind is easterly which means good weather for the sunbathers and swimmers. Earlier this past week we had a oil exploration ship dock at Coega, the new deep water port across the bay. There’s been talk of drilling for oil off our coasts which is good as it might create badly needed jobs.
Just down the road at the traffic lights is the “Technikon” a centre of learning, the next step after school where mainly the youth get their first taste of life. Across from this building is The Oval, a sports stadium, in the middle of our city, primarily as cycle track and increasingly a venue where schools come to have their sports day and compete. There are also some churches around that are visible, one being an Anglican Cathedral which goes by the name of St Cuthbert’s. This is a lovely old stone building built in the late part of the 1800’s. The rooftops of a more modern church with an old history is visible beyond the Technikon, this original church was demolished to make way for a free-way cloverleaf and so it was rebuilt to original design but with modern materials and incorporating the original windows and was one of the oldest churches built here. St John’s Methodist church’s steeple is just visible over the buildings to the right of my view, this church also has a history being erected in the late 1800’s as well.
How does your view look today? Does your view show the sea or just buildings? It would be interesting to hear about your views, so please feel free to share your thoughts on this.

Ships in The Bay

There are often ships sitting out in the bay. Today there are least two ships both ore carriers, but as we have tow port within the greater metropolis of Mandela Bay there are often many types of ships. Car carriers come either to deliver Audi’s and other imports to the big motor manufactures that ply their trade from our city or they come to pick up Volkswagen Polos which are built at the plant in Uitenhage. Amazingly all right-hand drive polos are been built at Uitenhage. They used to build all the right-hand drive Golf’s here there too but when the 2010 recession hit they took that build back to Germany to save jobs there. Ford exports both the Puma diesel and Rocam engines to mainly South America, and the far east. The car carriers arrive at 6pm and set sail at 11pm having loaded 1000 cars, they don’t waste time at all!
During the months of July through to October they fruit boats come to load fruit for export and they are at least 2 ships in the harbour loading while 3 to 5 ships await their turn out in the bay. We export iron ore and also scrap metal to the far east. Most grain imports come through our harbour and are trucked to the Western Cape we have the facilities to off load. Then we have both line fishing and crayfish boats that go out from our port to fish for their livelihood. There is a crisis at present where line fishermen have not been awarded their permits that they had for years whereby forcing them into poverty as their source of income has dried up. The people getting the permits are not even fishermen so it appears as if bribes are the order of the day!
We have other interesting boats and ships that visit our port from time to time, there are oil rigs on their way to the east stopping for either repairs or provisions. Sometimes after a big storm at sea ships come here to be patched up so they can continue on their way. We get a lot of old ships being towed to the breakers in India and the East to be scrapped. The the different navies of the world also call here for social visits and then increasingly we get cruise liners calling here so their passengers can get to see the game reserves and other exciting events we have on offer around our city.

Grain ships unloading

Port Elizabeth harbour

A View from my Window.

Looking out my window I can see many sights but right in front is the horse memorial. This memorial commemorates the horses that fell during the Boer War .It is unique and quite special as it is about the only one in existence. I also see quite a few tour buses that bring tourists to see the monument. Big one and many small ones all showing foreign tourists our exciting places of interest.Then there are the mainliners that travel up Cape Road on their way to Cape Town carrying all sorts of passengers. I can also see the bay with all manner of ships coming into our 2 ports carrying cargoes destined for our country. We also get passenger ships and cruise liners visiting here bringing different people to our shores. And then we have these interesting ships, barges and oil rigs that come into the bay for both repairs and protection from the weather. Looking out today I see a lovely day with some cloud on the horizon and the wind is blowing again a feature of my city. In the west are more clouds meaning another cold front is on the way. Ambulances rush up and down the road with sirens blaring and mini bus taxis roar around with their guys yelling and touting for business. Sundays see less taxis and more cars as people come and go to the beach. Then some tourists walk on the Heritage Trail which is popular and winds through the city centre and shows all the places of interest on a more personal level. Some of thee are the fort which never saw a shot fired in anger and many settler houses that have been lovingly restored back to their former glory. I can also have the largest flag in Africa if not the world flying from a flag pole at the Donkin Reserve. This reserve was made to be an open space when the settlers arrived in 1820. Sir Rufane Donkin was on his way back to England when the governor of the Cape asked him to welcome the settlers to our shores and he erected a monument to his late wife who had died in India and thus that is how Port Elizabeth got it’s name!

the Horse Memorial

the view looking out over the bay

Safaris for the Family

How would you like to take your family on a safari over a whole day? Be picked up at your home and after one hour of driving being taken first to see many elephants plus maybe a lion or gnu in the wild spend 3 hours just cruising around in a little bus taking photos and gazing at these beasts lumbering along side the vehicle. Then leaving and going for a scrumptious lunch to fill those empty stomachs! Afterwards travelling to the best experience of the day! An afternoon filled with a real bush journey in open landrovers searching for lions with their cubs lounging in the midday sun. Then it’s off to find rhinos in their part of the reserve and maybe a giraffe or two as well. By this time our stomachs are craving some nourishment and so we stop for some refreshments and roosterkoek, a small bread cooked on the fire while you wait, with jam. A time of reflectance  to discuss what you have seen with maybe other parties from the other vehicles. Then we hop back into the vehicles to go back to search for the lions who as it is getting dark will be searching for their evening meal and thereby giving you a glimpse of Africa at it’s savage best. While looking for these magnificent beasts we spy some giant tortoises or some more giraffe loping across the veld. It’s time to search for some more elephant with their young before heading to the Lapa, which is the largest in southern Africa for the evening 3 course meal. This consists of a ‘potjie’ which is similar to a stew but is cooked over coals for 4 hours and is not stewed but the contents just lifted and the juices allowed to soak through. This  is served with vegetables  and you can seconds as well if you are still hungry. The main course is followed by desert and cheese and biscuits finishing off with a cup of tea or coffee.  We leave the lapa heading out for the last part of our safari searching for the nocturnal animals and flying creatures before heading back to our transport to head home.
This is an experience within the reach of most people and is available in the malaria free Eastern Cape.lios

Interesting Places to Hike

Hiking can take you to those interesting nooks and crannies which most people never discover. Near to Port Elizabeth, there is a nature reserve that was proclaimed at the same time as the TsiTsikamma mountain reserve down on the Garden Route. This nature reserve is called Groendal Nature Reserve and is located right next to Uitenhage which is part of the metro of Nelson Mandela Bay. It is roughly the size of Port Elizabeth and has some of the most beautiful hiking trails that I’ve seen. It consists of Fynbos on the higher slopes and Montane forest in the ‘kloofs’ or ravines where lush vegetation can be found. Uitenhage’s main dam is sited running through the middle of it. The wildlife that can be found there are mainly Babboons. Mongoose, small Duiker and Blobokke, which is a buck the size of a smallish dog, the 2 latter animals are small buck which move in amongst the ferns and bush. sometimes come out of the ticket to drink at a stream and this is where they might be seen. The spiders are quite amazing as they can spin their webs within seconds of a person walking through and breaking it. The streams that flow throughout the reserve have water that is sweet to drink and very pure as well, so replenishing your water bottle is quite safe. Lower Blindekloof which when translated means blind ravine follows the course of one of the many streams in the reserve and has many places to stop to swim and more  rest up during your hike. That can be done either as an afternoon hike or a casual day hike. Then there is upper Blindekloof which is a more strenuous hike with several pools to swim through. Vyeboom which means fig tree named after the wild fig trees that grow there, is a day hike where you can either hike up through the stream or on a very tricky trail that winds along the edge of the cliff. Just be careful or you can fall off the edge as is what happened to me one Wednesday afternoon, which was not a very pleas ant experience as I ended up with 2 bruised ankles and a swelling on the ball of my foot which took 3 months to heal. Then there is Waterkloof as you realise is on a stream and can only be accessed by wading thigh deep through reeds over submerged logs and a deep stream bed.