Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Diaz Cross

Bartolomeu Dias (Bartholomew Diaz) was the first European according to history to set foot in South Africa. In 1488 he rounded the Cape unbeknown to himself in a storm and first set foot in Mossel Bay. From there he sailed down the coast and landed in Algoa Bay where he planed a stone cross on St Croix island. He sailed further up to Kwaaihoek near present day Kenton on Sea where he planted a cross and turned around to Portugal. On Market Square is a replica of the crosses that Diaz planted which was donated to the city by the Portuguese government.
The other significance to posting a cross is that tomorrow we have national elections and everybody will be going to the polling stations to make their cross.

2 comments:

  1. nice shot and interesting history page!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Very nice angle, with the Old Post Office tower behind the cross!
    Louise

    ReplyDelete