Riebeek Valley Yesterday, Saturday the 17th of August 2019, we packed our bags and after giving instructions to the cat sitter, we were off to Riebeek West, a small town about 75 km north-east of Cape Town. It is next to Riebeek Kasteel, another quaint little town in the Riebeek Valley, which we have visited before. We booked into the Riebeek Valley Country Retreat, where many guests were sitting … Continue reading →
At last – another family wedding, always a favourite event to attend. We were invited to the wedding of my nephew Angus and his fiancé, Michelle, both teachers at Gill College, Somerset East in the Eastern Cape. On 22 September 2017 we were on our way to P.E. We arrived at lunch time and decided to have lunch at Bluewaters Cafe. On our way to the restaurant, we were greeted … Continue reading →
I accompanied Deon in August to Langebaan where he had to meet with clients. As their meeting was late afternoon on a Saturday, we decided to overnight at the Farmhouse Hotel which overlooks the Langebaan Lagoon. Langebaan is situated 120 km north of Cape Town and is very popular among tourists. The Langebaan Lagoon is a salt water lagoon which stretches for 17 km from Saldanha Bay to Geelbek in … Continue reading →
In spring it is wild flowers in abundance along the West Coast and we were off to the southern part of the Langebaan Lagoon, which is part of the West Coast National Park. The flowers are spectacular in August and September and then the Postberg, which is situated within the national park and privately owned, is opened to the public. The flowers usually grow on granite or limestone rocks. We … Continue reading →
It was time to get away for a weekend. We have not done this in a while, so we were looking forward to visit the village of Stanford. Deon booked two nights in a quaint little village house and before we knew, it was time to pack our bags. Stanford was founded in 1857 and named after Sir Robert Stanford who was the owner of the original farm. It has … Continue reading →
One of our stops when visiting Darling, was a very small mall, called the Mantis Mall. The sweet shop in the mall is well-known for making exquisite toffee, called Darling Sweet. Members of the public can watch the whole process of toffee making from beginning stage to packaging stage. The toffee is entirely manufactured by hand, with most ingredients locally sourced. The best room in Mantis Mall is definitely the … Continue reading →
As a reward to ourselves for working hard during the first six months of the year, we decided to spend a couple of days in the small village of Darling, 75 km from Cape Town and 25 km from Yzerfontein along the West Coast. On our way, we noticed the dull and grey shrubs that is called Renosterveld, often dominated by Renosterbos. It is found only in the South, South … Continue reading →
Deon and I took a short break during the June holidays and decided to explore Cape Town as much as possible during the few days. First of all we decided to visit Woodstock which is one of Cape Town’s oldest suburbs. Woodstock is within reach of Table Mountain (a beautiful backdrop to Woodstock); the CBD and the V&A Waterfront. We had been to the Old Biscuit Mill on a previous … Continue reading →
This Friday we were both too busy at work to explore Cape Town’s restaurants. But we will have our outing if there is time next week, maybe to our local pub. When on holiday in London and Amsterdam in December 2006, we explored some pubs. On one of our days in London we left the hotel at 11:00 and returned the next morning at 3:00. We were enjoying our holiday … Continue reading →
Once a term we break away for a weekend. Our cat sitter gets her instructions and off we go. I read about the actress, Ilse Roos, who moved to Cape Town with her family and settled in Simon’s Town. Our family visited Simon’s Town when I was a child and ever since I had a picture of a windswept town in my mind. I could not understand why anyone would … Continue reading →
Our friend from France is visiting us and we decided to spend the day in Kalk Bay and after that we would go to Kirstenbosch. It was a glorious, sunny spring day and early morning we headed to Kalk Bay. Deon and I have visited this beautiful bay several times previously, but it was again a worthwhile visit. What a beautiful place this is. There are interesting little antique shops, … Continue reading →
I remember a summer’s night in Barcelona. Sandra and I have started our Spanish visit in Madrid. After three days in Madrid we went to Toledo for one night, then magical Granada for four glorious days, then one night in Sevilla (which was not on par with the other cities we have visited) and then … Barcelona (do you hear Freddy Mercury and Monserrat Caballé?). What a wonderful city. We … Continue reading →
Yesterday we visited the Western Cape’s world-class Estate, Vergelegen, in Somerset-West. Vergelegen was granted to the new governor Willem Adriaan van der Stel, successor of Simon van der Stel, in 1700. Willem Adriaan transformed this outpost into a magnificent Estate. Unfortunately he was called back to the Netherlands in 1706. Vergelegen then had several owners, until 1917, when it became the possession of Sir Lionel Phillips, who bought it for … Continue reading →
In June 2010 we were off to Europe and we included Meteora, meaning suspended in the air, in Central Greece as part of our itinerary. We booked into Plakias guesthouse in Kalampaka, the city under the towering rocks of Meteora. What makes Meteora worth the visit is the monasteries built on huge rocks. Many tourists gather in Kalampaka every year to torture themselves climbing the many steps to the monasteries. … Continue reading →
Today we visited one of our favourite towns close to Cape Town – Riebeeck Kasteel. It is situated in The Riebeeck Valley, about 80km north-east of Cape Town. We have been to this village many times, but will always return to experience the exuberance of this place again and again. This is one of the oldest towns in South Africa. It was named Riebeeck-Kasteel in honour of Commander Jan van … Continue reading →
Just outside Durbanville lies the village with the beautiful name, Philadelphia (brotherly love). It is popular with Capetonians, not only for a weekend getaway, but also for the Sunday lunches at de Malle Meul, the restaurant which is also the art gallery of the well-known South-African artist, Pieter van der Westhuizen. This 150 years old village originated when farmers in the vicinity wanted their own church. The beautiful white church … Continue reading →
In June 1999 we went to Italy and France. In Italy we visited Rome, Siena, Florence and Venice. Then we travelled from Venice by train to Nice, France, where we met our friend, André. The three of us planned to explore the French Riviera and the arrière-pays niçois (Nice hinterland) for three days. We spent our first night at the Hôtel Belvédère in Peille. The hotel was an old family … Continue reading →
Our last trip to Europe was in June 2010 to Turkey, Greece and France. It was wonderful. First of all we stayed over in the magical Turkey for three days. The Hagia Sophia is our favourite monument to visit in Istanbul. Then we explored the monasteries in Monastiraki – breathtakingly beautiful. Strange how some people choose to live, but I always admire guts. And then off to the Athens, but … Continue reading →
We enjoy visiting the towns around Cape Town. We have been to Riebeeck-Kasteel, Greyton, Franschhoek for the Bastille Day festivities and now Stellenbosch. We sleep over for a night, explore the town on foot and try to find a good local restaurant before heading home the next day. This time we reserved a room at De Hoek Manor, a guesthouse in the historic centre of Stellenbosch. We know Stellenbosch well. … Continue reading →
On our first visit to Istanbul in 1997 we stayed at the Alaaddin Guest House in Sultanahmet. This neighbourhood gets its name from the Blue Mosque (The Sultan Ahmed Camii) that is just around the corner. We long ago decided to always stay in the old city centres where we would be the close to the touristic attractions. We enjoy walking around in the … Continue reading →
Our first visit to Istanbul was in summer 1997. We were well prepared. We have read much about Constantinople, the once capital of the civilized world. One of the first things we wanted to do, was to visit and experience the 14 centuries old Aya Sofya (The Church of the Devine Wisdom) built by emperor Justinian to restore the greatness of the Roman Empire. It is said that Justinian, on … Continue reading →
Our favourite movie (or at least one of our many favourites) is Shirley Valentine. We have watched it many times. [At first I was not allowed to participated in the dialogue, later on I was not allowed to move my lips in sync with the the dialogue (Master of the House)]. Whenever one of us felt we were losing the art of living and of a good marriage relationship, we … Continue reading →
