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Post by mich64 on Jun 6, 2011 13:21:47 GMT
Wow! The clouds hanging over Table Mountain are outstanding! Cheers, Mich
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Post by fumobici on Jun 6, 2011 15:00:43 GMT
This is beyond wonderful. What beautiful photos. Another place I really, really, want to go visit. Hanging out here and reading the threads about exotic places could become an expensive habit.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2011 15:43:14 GMT
The night scenes are just magical. Yep, this makes me want to pack my bag and get ready to go!
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Post by tod2 on Jun 6, 2011 15:57:50 GMT
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Post by onlymark on Jun 6, 2011 16:05:06 GMT
Fish and chips down on the Waterfront = bliss.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 6, 2011 17:11:43 GMT
Same as Bixa - so I wonder why I cant see so many...... Tod, before you go to a lot of work for nothing, try clearing your browser's cache. Then leave anyport & come back to it. Look at your thread again to see if the pictures are showing for you. Ohhh, you got to Cape Town! Loved seeing your sister's house in Melkbosstrand. (do these Dutch names just trip off your tonge? ) In all the threads, all over the forum, there is a slightly guilty thrill at being able to peer inside other people's houses all over the world. I am enthralled by her landscaping, as I'm in the same boat -- lots of paving, thus lots of pots. Tell her she has an admirer in Mexico, please. I have to tell you, I looked at the photos of Cape Town with tears in my eyes. I had a good friend, now dead, who was from there & I loved to hear her tell about it. Now finally, through the miracle of the internet, I'm getting a personal tour. Your photos are wonderful. My gosh, it's a beautiful place. So what did you eat there? I understand the food & the varieties of cuisines are fabulous.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 6, 2011 17:13:43 GMT
Oh!
I missed all the glorious pictures of the rose garden and the birthday celebration.
Tod, you come by your good looks naturally -- your mother is very beautiful.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 6, 2011 18:18:00 GMT
I suppose that it will not be surprising if I say that Cape Town was my favourite city in South Africa (even if the natural landscape in the middle of nowhere is much more spectacular at certain times). Table Mountain is absolutely stunning, and I happened to be up there right at the moment that the clouds (and icy cold!) arrive on a hot summer day (I was there at the end of December). It is frankly a frightening and fascinating experience. I was reminded of a cheap horror movie called The Crawling Eye which scared the shit out of me as a kid even though I saw it safely at home snuggled up next to my mother on the sofa. The rules for the Crawling Eye probably apply to Table Mountain, as factors are discussed on numerous websites. Mountains cause girls to faint. Men shouldn't offer other men help with unpacking. Villagers have something to say about everything. Clouds that are stationary and radioactive are bad news. Forboding music does not belong in a scene involving empty beds. Do not open a rucksack that is just lying around on a mountainside, odds are there's a head in it. Zombies created by freezing aliens melt away when killed. Never leave the darn kid's toy behind, you know not to leave the darn toy behind, of course the kid will run back to get it. The British Airforce hates clouds. |
Okay, back to reality -- it is a really lovely place. Your mother is so lucky to have made this trip.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 7, 2011 11:19:23 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 7, 2011 13:37:04 GMT
That seafood place is far better than just a 'ramshackle cabin'! The patchwork looks like a stained glass window.
The photo of the white and orange rowboat in front of the seawall is absolutely spectacular.
The wildflowers are great and the look really 'African' -- I don't even know how to express what I mean.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 7, 2011 14:34:01 GMT
It's Sunday 8th May - Mothers Day in S.A. We decide to leave town for a drive further up the coastline to a village called Gansbaai (Geese Bay) where the famous world renowned shark diving in a cage takes place. greatwhitesharkcagediving.holidaytravelpackages.com/On the way out we go and look at a thatched cottage up for sale - It used to be owned by our very good friends who now live near Manchester. The present owner is also English but due to age cannot make the journey out to South Africa so often. She bought it fully furnished so the two chairs my friend and I used to sit on and watch the sunset whilst imbibing are still in the very same position (more than 3yrs down the line!) We call at the lighthouse on Danger Point - On the way back we enjoy some afternoon sun at Voelklip Beach (Bird Rock beach). Dinner at another famous eatery in Hermanus - The Fisherman's Cottage. Their giant Tiger prawns were fantastic. We called in at a little bar near the hotel (well EVERYTHING is near the hotel!) each evening for a drink and sometimes dinner. It is called Tapas. www.infohermanus.co.za/
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 7, 2011 14:37:10 GMT
Oh my stars! Tod, I won't say you've saved the best till now, as this whole thread is wonderful. But, DAMN, if you didn't pull out all the stops of beauty and variety in this one post!!
Yeah, the rowboat picture stopped me in my tracks as well, but also the views down, the >>>sunset!<<<, and the beautifully captured wild plants.
Gotta go out now, but will be back later to re-examine & re-emote.
Oh -- what's Cob, please?
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Post by tod2 on Jun 7, 2011 14:55:58 GMT
Bixa - I see it is also spelled KOB. Most restaurants refer to their ' Catch of the Day' as Kabeljou (pronounced Car bell yo) but in the Cape it is on the menu with the English spelling, Cob. It is a snow white, soft buttery fish. I enjoyed it. I didn't like reading about the worms.......but then so is Cod riddled with worms, sigh... www.fishinginfo.co.za/kob.html
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Post by fumobici on Jun 7, 2011 15:25:10 GMT
This is splendid. Still. Hopefully there'll be more.
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Post by mich64 on Jun 7, 2011 16:11:44 GMT
This journey is so picturesque! I had no idea that the city was so beautiful, the homes so elegant and the flowers are ones that I have never ever seen before, they make me stop to thoroughly inspect them. The colours, texture and shapes of the flowers are so different.
I am really enjoying your journey Tod, as usual, your photos are picture perfect.
Cheers, Mich
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 7, 2011 22:02:55 GMT
Hi again -- I was posting at the same time you were this morning, so am only now commenting on your trip to Gansbaai (interesting word. "gansa" is Spanish for goose, obviously related)
Gorgeous vistas & the restaurants & bar look appealing.
Was your mother absolutely clamoring to go shark diving?
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Post by tod2 on Jun 8, 2011 15:42:36 GMT
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Post by mich64 on Jun 8, 2011 18:15:15 GMT
Love the verandah's Tod! What a wonderful trip. Cheers, Mich
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Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2011 20:13:47 GMT
The llama and the sheep certainly appear to be the best of friends!
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Post by tod2 on Jun 9, 2011 9:24:38 GMT
Negotiating the Swartberg Pass takes about 2hrs if you stop to admire the view or do some photography. It helps if one does the trip coming down as the view will be in front - unfortunately we went uphill but arrived alive at the summit. Proteas along the way. Another little remote town sporting a Dutch-style bridge. We had lunch here - You could also have a buggy ride....I felt sorry for the donkeys. Arriving in Graaff- Reinet we see the typical Dutch church at the top of the main street. Our hotel - The Drostdy-Hof (The majestic facade of the Drostdy Hotel in Graaff-Reinet speaks for itself. Built in 1806 and designed by famous French architect Louis Thibault as the "Drostdy" of the district. "Drostdy" is the dutch word for magistrates court). The rooms are in a courtyard called The Stretch' s which used to be the slave quarters of the house. Mums room Our room - Sorry to say sleeping in an ancient old iron bedstead is terrible... The lounge - seated is the youngest looking 90year old they have ever seen! Diningroom at breakfast Dinner gong The bill for 3 = R1660-00 which is $247 or 169euro. www.drostdy.co.za/photo_album.htmlNext morning there is time for a trip to the cactus nursery and valley of desolation: Re: Cacti and Succulents « Reply #367 Nothing much grows here.. We have one more night on the road and this is at De Oude Kraal Country Estate. Basically it is a farm offering outstanding accommodation and food. Yes, it was all marvelous but totally over-the-top. A good experience I would recommend to anyone. The weather has turned cold and it has been raining for three days in the area of this sheep farm. We slid and skidded all the way to the front door.... Mums room. And ours... The small bar area with over a thousand ties decorating the walls. Breakfast room The grass was alive with guinea fowls A lonely Hammerkop (hammer head) bird Bill for was R685 pp B&B = $102 or 69euros. Dinner was R285 pp - $42 or 29euros. We say good-bye to the memories old and new as we drive the couple of hundred km home. It's been a lovely trip for all of us. As we drove between towns mum would tell us about various members of the family from 'the old days' even before she was born.......like my grandfather (her father) riding his horse up to their farm in his recognisable green hat to court my grandmother (her mum) which delighted the children who would run and tell my great grandmother "Hier kom groen hood" (here comes green hat!) I would like to thank so many of you for reading and commenting on this family photo-essay which I was delighted to present. I see it awoke a desire to come and see South Africa in some members of Anyport! Please come - you will have a great time! Link for more information: www.deoudekraal.com/
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2011 20:34:37 GMT
This is a wonderful trip. Thank you so much for this report. I think the last hotel is kind of scary. Trees move in the dark.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 10, 2011 12:12:26 GMT
Thank you fulgenzio, glad you enjoyed it! Yes, the tree thing was weird. My mum's tree even had fairy lights hanging off it....... I guess some folks might really enjoy the oddity !
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 11, 2011 15:48:47 GMT
Finally getting back to enjoy this wonderful trip and to see your additions. But first, because I was in a hurry I didn't say enough before about your seaside pictures in #38, with the fabulous photos of wild plants that are coveted for cultivation elsewhere. The statice! The proteas! The other stuff I can't identify! Oooo, and that sunset is exquisite. I am absolutely fascinated by the town of De Rust. Once again, I don't know how I expected small old towns in SA to look, but the "out-back" look with the charming carpenter gothic touches and the tin roofs was a surprise. I guess houses such as the one you show with the typical Dutch gable (impressive!) came about as the town grew and thrived. There's a Texaco sign in one of the pictures and that lovely guest house was certainly expecting visitors. Is it because small towns all over the world now find new life with tourist traffic? The stuffed people near Mooringspoort are a little creepy! Sorry you didn't get your camel ride, but didn't that white-knuckle ride through the Swartberg Pass make up for it? I love the way you point out architectural details, as that made me really pay attention to the "Dutchness" of the buildings. Is that a typical look all over the country? That last stretch through the sheep farm to De Oude Kraal Country Estate must have been miserable driving, but it certainly made for a beautiful photograph. What a contrast between that and your somewhat delirious, but hyper-comfy digs! As we drove between towns mum would tell us about various members of the family from 'the old days' even before she was born..... Oh, Tod -- that must have been the true treasure of the trip for you. Again, how magnificent, imaginative, and kind for you and your husband to do this with your mother. And what a magnificent person she must be to not only take such a long ride in her stride, but to enhance it with enthusiasm and stories. I can't thank you enough for sharing this with us.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2011 22:07:55 GMT
I want more. When is your next road trip?
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Post by Deleted on Jun 11, 2011 22:33:21 GMT
I just love the photo of the row boat, classic. So many great photos, don't know where to start! Have really enjoyed viewing this trip of yours, Tod. I'm sure it will hold many fond memories for you and your mom and family in the years to come.
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Post by tod2 on Jun 12, 2011 8:31:25 GMT
For you Bixa - there are so many sites on De Rust that are mainly advertising accommodation but this may help with the geography of the area - see that enormous mountain range and the route we took up the Swartberg Pass?!! iguide.travel/De_Rust#/MapYes, I think the little towns have turned mainly to tourism to survive, as the rest of the world decides we are OK to visit. People want to see the countryside - not only land in a big city and be ferried from one tourist trap ( yes, like the V&A in Cape Town) to another. What did you ( and others) think of the standard and prices of the accommodation? Dutch buildings with that typical rounded gable are everywhere in South Africa. When I get to showing you around my city I will give you some examples. Kerouac - So glad you enjoyed the photo-essay but there won't be any more road trips until MAYBE the end of the year if we spend Xmas away. (Kruger??) Deyana - You are very welcome.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jun 13, 2011 1:59:54 GMT
Good grief, Tod. I'm glad you are here to tell about it. Rugged, rugged country! (I looked, then I childishly used the map to find my house. The standard of your accommodations seemed very nice. I really can't comment on prices because of not having enough to compare it to. However, it does seem as though you got more luxury for your money than you would get in the US. Yes, yes ~~ gables & everything you want to show. You are such a scintillating guide!
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Post by lola on Jun 19, 2011 16:19:54 GMT
Wonderful, tod. I'm just coming upon this and have only gotten as far as the Artist's Colony (Father's Day duties and all), but am so happy to get to go on this trip.
The terrain, but not the vegetation or for that matter those amazing grasshoppers, reminds me of New Mexico. Is that fantastic curved-window house made of adobe style bricks, or the usual baked kind? I assume the roof thatching comes from the wild grasses we see?
I wonder whether you'd feel everyday comfortable going into that HappyHomes Market, or if you'd feel out of place?
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Post by lola on Jun 21, 2011 3:06:09 GMT
Your mother is beautiful, tod.
I like that you include photos of flowers and wildlife along with the cultural and architectural. Man plays cello sideways! Something for everyone. A great trip.
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Post by Kimby on Jul 12, 2011 18:56:40 GMT
I love that place with all the trees and branches and stumps and don't find it scary at all. And yes, your mother is still lovely at 90.
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