While my sister was still at work, I had time to go to some of my favourite Stellenbosch places, including the quaint eatery Café Dijon. You would be forgiven for thinking that these photos were taken somewhere in Paris rather than in the Boland! Not only is the décor beautiful with mosaic floors, rich leather banquettes and dark wood tables, but the menu is authentically French. Add to that the fun and old-world ambience, and you could well forget that you are actually thousands of miles from the Rue de Lafayette...
Same town, different angle
How big is your world? I don’t mean, how widely have you travelled, or, do you have a wide range of interests. I mean, in any given day, how much territory do you cover? By that measure, my world is very small and is mostly limited to a relatively small triangle that extends between home, work and some other soccer mom destination. Since I started blogging, I realised that being a tourist in your own city is not a contradiction in terms. Most people just…don’t.
The same thing with Stellenbosch. I lived there for four years as a student, and since then my sister has consistently occupied a space in the center of the historic town. And so the space between Dorp and Church Streets was, for the last number of years, the images of this town in my head. This had its advantages, not least the fact that my eye-candy crush from varsity – now married! – also frequented these few blocks…
Imagine then my delight when, after getting married in September last year, my sister and her husband moved into a cottage on the Blaauwklippen Road outside of town, looking out over the Helderberg and in the shade of a gnarled two hundred year-old pine tree.
Here, you can wake up and have a pre-breakfast (but post coffee!) walk in the vineyards that takes in views of Table Mountain and the other beautiful Stellenbosch mountains. Or, in the afternoon, you can go the other direction up the mountain and within minutes find yourself in the dappled shade of a pine forest.
So: same town, but completely different. It’s as if I had a favourite book I’d read a hundred times and thought I knew every word, and one day I happened to pick it up again and discovered three new chapters at the back. It’s opened up new horizons, literally and figuratively, and it’s delightful. I’d recommend it to anyone.
The same thing with Stellenbosch. I lived there for four years as a student, and since then my sister has consistently occupied a space in the center of the historic town. And so the space between Dorp and Church Streets was, for the last number of years, the images of this town in my head. This had its advantages, not least the fact that my eye-candy crush from varsity – now married! – also frequented these few blocks…
Imagine then my delight when, after getting married in September last year, my sister and her husband moved into a cottage on the Blaauwklippen Road outside of town, looking out over the Helderberg and in the shade of a gnarled two hundred year-old pine tree.
Here, you can wake up and have a pre-breakfast (but post coffee!) walk in the vineyards that takes in views of Table Mountain and the other beautiful Stellenbosch mountains. Or, in the afternoon, you can go the other direction up the mountain and within minutes find yourself in the dappled shade of a pine forest.
So: same town, but completely different. It’s as if I had a favourite book I’d read a hundred times and thought I knew every word, and one day I happened to pick it up again and discovered three new chapters at the back. It’s opened up new horizons, literally and figuratively, and it’s delightful. I’d recommend it to anyone.
Image credits: All photography by me
Culinary Equipment
I’ve been very quiet the last couple of days, and although I have no excuse, I do have an explanation! I will happily share it with you in the next couple of days. I visited my sister in Stellenbosch and in four days we did more than what the average (or I should rather say any normal person) will attempt in four weeks!! My husband’s hope that I would return invigorated and rested is an absolute pipe dream – a week’s bed rest is needed!!!
My flight left from Lanseria airport, the perfect excuse to make a quick stop at the Culinary Equipment warehouse right next to the airport.
My flight left from Lanseria airport, the perfect excuse to make a quick stop at the Culinary Equipment warehouse right next to the airport.
This shop has been called both the best-stocked kitchen equipment store and the ultimate kitchen shop in South Africa, and whoever said that did not exaggerate! With over 1500 square meters of showroom I think that if you cannot find an item there, it does not belong in a kitchen!!
The company, founded in 2002 by Wehrner Gutstadt, imports only the highest quality European brands. They stock the world-renowned Lacanche range of French range cookers, the beautiful copper range from Mauviel, Emile Henry, Peugeot and numerous other brands. They have deluxe coffee-making machines and old cookbooks, all under the same roof.
The company, founded in 2002 by Wehrner Gutstadt, imports only the highest quality European brands. They stock the world-renowned Lacanche range of French range cookers, the beautiful copper range from Mauviel, Emile Henry, Peugeot and numerous other brands. They have deluxe coffee-making machines and old cookbooks, all under the same roof.
My heart on a plate
Walking into Woollies I was a bit shocked to see all the Valentine chocolates are already replaced with Easter Eggs!! I was determined not to let the day go that quickly, so I spoiled my little Valentine with an egg or two.
After all my effort, he looked pretty chuffed, waited patiently for me to take the picture and then asked me to cut it into bite sizes, which kind of undid the whole thing :-)!! Looking at the mess in his plate I was reminded that the thought is always contained in the wrapping, but the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating…
After all my effort, he looked pretty chuffed, waited patiently for me to take the picture and then asked me to cut it into bite sizes, which kind of undid the whole thing :-)!! Looking at the mess in his plate I was reminded that the thought is always contained in the wrapping, but the proof of the pudding, as they say, is in the eating…
Image credits: All photography by me
A river runs through it
Once in a while, after a rainstorm, the Highveld surrounding Johannesburg becomes an astounding place – it goes back to what it looked like before half of South Africa’s cars and industries did their thing into the air we breathe. The air is clear, the sunshine is brilliant and it becomes a sin to spend the day indoors. Yesterday was such a day and to make sure we use it we went to the Sandton Field and Study Centre. It is basically a stretch of municipal land along the Braamfontein Spruit at the bottom of Parkmore with a very active community centre (read more on their website – from adult ballet classes to photography courses, language classes and first aid, they cover an amazing variety of activities!).
We took a walk along the spruit, took some time to skim a few stones on the tranquil waters, and saw a few mountain bikers on the Braamfontein Spruit trail. It turns out there is a well-trodden (apologies, I don’t know the biking term) 25km MTB trail that goes all the way from the Melville Koppies to the N1 all along the river.
Sandton Field and Study Centre
45 Louise Avenue
Parkmore
Sandton
Website: http://www.fieldandstudy.co.za/
We also learned that a voluntary association of people, called the River Rangers, operate from the River Park Stables. They patrol, on horseback, a 17km stretch of parkland and river trails along the Braamfontein Spruit and Sandspruit rivers. Their objectives are to preserve the ecology of the river systems and to help make the river paths safe for all user groups.
To read more about the River Rangers, click here, or to join the River Park Stables Facebook group, like it here.
We took a walk along the spruit, took some time to skim a few stones on the tranquil waters, and saw a few mountain bikers on the Braamfontein Spruit trail. It turns out there is a well-trodden (apologies, I don’t know the biking term) 25km MTB trail that goes all the way from the Melville Koppies to the N1 all along the river.
Sandton Field and Study Centre
45 Louise Avenue
Parkmore
Sandton
Website: http://www.fieldandstudy.co.za/
We ended up at the River Park Stables at the entrance to the centre. In the pictures below you will notice a Pick & Pay in the background. That is actually the big one located in William Nicol drive! Bet you did not expect a proper horse stable only a stone’s throw away from Sandton City.
My little one surprised us totally by going for a ride on one of the ponies and taking to it immediately – this for a kid normally quite risk averse!
My little one surprised us totally by going for a ride on one of the ponies and taking to it immediately – this for a kid normally quite risk averse!
We also learned that a voluntary association of people, called the River Rangers, operate from the River Park Stables. They patrol, on horseback, a 17km stretch of parkland and river trails along the Braamfontein Spruit and Sandspruit rivers. Their objectives are to preserve the ecology of the river systems and to help make the river paths safe for all user groups.
To read more about the River Rangers, click here, or to join the River Park Stables Facebook group, like it here.
Image credits: All photography by me
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)