Blogs from Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, South Africa, Africa - page 15

Port Elizabeth is a bigger city about 2 hours from Port Alfred and about 50 years ahead! Our weekend here was brill!! I met a gorgeous South African man (although his parents were Spanish) called Luis who was one of Steven's friends. The four of us spent the weekend together eating and drinking! This place was great cos we could even go out on the beach and in the sea at midnight - so safe compared to Cape Town. After that we went to the casino and visited Luis' house which was a lovely house overlooking the sea. - I may well visit him again before I go home or may come to Cape Town! Great weekend but missing home and will be glad to be back for Christmas! -(Other placement fell through and a job ... read more

Today we headed south from Bloemfontein to the southern coast. The grassy landscape gradually became more mountainous and greener. We passed through Olifantskop (elephant head) Pass and into the area occupied by the Addo Elephant Reserve. This is absolutely gorgeous country, all green and full of trees. Unfortunately, when we stopped to photograph it, we discovered that our camera had stopped working. We saw hillsides covered with blooming aloes of various kinds, and among all the hardwoods were interspersed various large succulents and cacti. In the US we have “century plants” that have large leaves and 15’ flower stalks; we saw hundreds of those with their stalks starting to come out. Apparently, they bloom more than once a century here! We decided to save our trip into the elephant reserve for a later visit and proceeded ... read more

Another place, another city, another abbreviation - PE, Port Elizabeth, the "friendly city". As it was a compulsory stopover for the bus, we had no choice but to stay - however, it was hardly the most inspired venue we've visited. We'd been the only two on the bus and being 2 hours early, we were treated to an impromptu city tour. It was only 8 o'clock, but the undesirables were already out and about and there was a Moss-side feel to the streets - on reflection that is a little unfair to Moss-side. We stayed by the beach - clearly a reasonably desirable suburb when Fedders was seeking his coastal entertainment in these parts! However, a promenade, a boardwalk and performing dolphins are hardly the stuff world travelling is about. We were glad to leave PE ... read more

I am here, in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. I'm staying at the Bay Lodge on Cape Rd. for now until I can move into the hostel at the school I teach at (Collegiate Girls High School). I have a lovely roommate whose name is also Sarah. She's from Ohio and although I did not know her before arriving in PE, we have become quite close and have many similarities and differences as well. Teaching always brings people together, right? Well, shall we get onto the travel?! The day I arrived here in PE, I had an awful fever and am pretty sure I had strep throat. I slept all afternoon and went for a quiet dinner with Sarah and some friends later in the evening. I unpacked all day Friday and then repacked a bit for ... read more

February 21nd, 2006 Day 47 of our cruise of 105, South East of Capetown, South Africa. Crossing of the south Atlantic was comfortable, more of a swell last night going from the Atlantic to the Indian Ocean; I put a pillow on the outside of my half of a king size bed so that I don’t fall out of bed but it is not really necessary. We enjoyed Capetown. Living in the Waterfront area was a treat, close to any tourist need possible. We traveled through town with no difficulty. I did not see the townships or the shanty towns; our friends did and they never felt in danger. They did stay with some friends in Hout Bay and were puzzled by a locking metal gate between the living area and the sleeping quarters. Lovely town ... read more