Boardwalk Hotel from the sea

The Boardwalk Hotel and Convention Centre has really changed the beachfront skyline since it opened a year ago.  I've heard that some people think it looks out of place while comparing it to a Disney like castle while others absolutely love it.  But love it or hate it, the hotel and convention centre has become an integral part of the city's leisure, business and events tourism landscape and a great asset to Port Elizabeth.  The photo was taken while on a bay cruise on the Jester.   

The Donkin Mosaic Steps

Approaching the Donkin Reserve and Route 67 from the City Centre side, visitors can either walk up the Mosaic Steps or the winding Voting Queue path.  The Mosaic Steps by a group of mosaic artists are quite interesting as it starts with dark colours at the bottom and the higher you climb the lighter and more vibrant the colours get.  The steps with the different colours represents a journey that starts in the darkness and turbulence of the past, progressing to a new dawn with new beginnings, hence the explosion of colour.  The figures on the wall at the top of the picture is a humorous look at everyday street life. 

History of creativity frieze

Although most people who go to see the art pieces on Route 67 just go up to the Donkin Reserve, the route actually starts down at the Campanile.  One of the first art pieces one can see when down there is the Campanile Frieze by Mkhonto Gwazela.  The frieze celebrates the indigenous heritage of Nelson Mandela Bay and the Eastern Cape through visual images cast into a curved concrete beam.

Sunset from the lighthouse

The view from the top of the Donkin Lighthouse is my absolute favorite view in Port Elizabeth.  Combine it with a setting sun over Central and you get an even better one.

Harbour worker

One of the Port Elizabeth Harbour tugs on her way to help a ship out the harbour

Dias Rock at the Green Mosque

The Pier Street Mosque, or Green Mosque as many know it as, is probably one of the most recognisable places of worship in Port Elizabeth.  Not many would know though that the open space next to it is called Dias Park, named after the first European to round the Cape and discover Algoa Bay.  Bartholomeus Dias entered the Bay in 1488 and planted a stone cross on St Croix Island.  Today this rock, which has absolutely no link to Dias what so ever other than his name, is situated in the middle of the park with a plaque containing information on his journey..

Setting out on the Sacramento Trail

Although most people do the Sacramento Trail as a straight forward out and back along the coastal route, there are two very different routes possible.  The alternative route heads slightly inland from the cannon through fynbos before heading along the top of the vegetated sand dunes towards Sardinia Bay.

Spinning mohair yarn

I think everybody should go on the Hinterveld Mohair Mill tour in Uitenhage at some stage.  Believe me, its really worth it.  Visitors get to see the whole process that mohair goes through from arriving in its raw form right through to where it goes out as yarn or, even better, beautiful mohair blankets.  This is one of the machines that spin the yarn from the top, with yarn often being twisted or brushed (raised) for a fluffy appearance during the process.

Public Library facade

The Public Library across the road from City Hall and Market Square in the city centre is my absolute favourite historic building in Port Elizabeth both inside and out.  The library building was opened in 1901 and the interesting part of it was that the front facade was built in England, dismantled and brought down to Port Elizabeth in numbered blocks to be assembled in front of the building.  

Horse jumping

Horse lovers in Port Elizabeth is in for a treat this week when the Nissan World Cup Qualifier takes place at the Port Elizabeth Riding Club in Lorraine from Wednesday.  The event features some of the best show jumpers in South Africa and to see them will cost you... nothing.  Drama Princess would love to go and watch but unfortunately I'm working all weekend hosting 5 travel bloggers from around South Africa.  Hopefully the Damselfly would be able to take her.  Anyhow, the whole event includes the following:
• The Nissan 2013 World Cup Competition
• The Nissan 6 Bar Competition – Saturday 16 November
• The Grand Prix Tour 2013
• Open Grades and Normal Jumping for Adult and Juniors
• Nissan Test-Drive Station
• Dedicated children’s play area
• Test drive station
• Variety of clothing and riding gear stalls
• Food stalls

 

I took the picture at the recent press launch