Prince of Wales Obelisk

I often wonder how many people have noticed the stone obelisk outside Bayworld in Humewood.  The obelisk is called The Prince of Wales Obelisk and was brought to South Africa by the founder of the Eastern Province Herald, John Paterson.  It was meant to be placed on the grave of his partner, George Kemp but the Kemp family thought it to be slightly too much and donated it to the city.  The City decided to erect it in front of City Hall on Market Square to commemorate the Prince of Wales’ marriage to Princess Alexandra which was done on 22 May 1863.  Four water troughs were added in 1877/8 and were filled with water during a “tap ceremony” when water was first piped to Port Elizabeth.  The obelisk was removed in 1921 and stored until 1975 when it was erected outside the Port Elizabeth Museum (Bayworld).  One of the original water troughs was placed on the lawn at the Walmer Town Hall but the location of the other three troughs is unknown.

 

Donkin from the Campanile

Climbing the 204 steps to the top of the Campanile one would think that you would be in one of the highest spots in the city centre (this is no chirp at the fact that PE doesn't have a lot of high rise buildings), but once you are up there you realise that the Donkin Lighthouse up on the Donkin Reserve is actually higher.  Its a lighthouse who's light was supposed to be seen out to see after all.

Succulent flowers

I have succulents like these in my rock garden but it was great to find this patch in Settlers Park a few week ago.  They make for a nice ground cover and is beautiful with their pink flowers.

St Georges Bridge

Probably one of my favorite spots in St Georges Park.  The railway sleeper bridge near the Pearson Conservatory.  I should look under it one day to see if there is a troll that lives there.

Skateboarding at Kings Beach

I was looking for a video on YouTube to post for what has become the regular Friday video feature and stumbled on this vid posted by Kings Beach Skateboarding and filmed and edited by Rieyaad Saban.  It shows a couple of local skateboarders doing their thing at the skate park at Kings Beach.

Fishing boats in the harbour

Standing at the top of the Campanile one tends to wonder how many have never seen the views from up here.  I can understand somebody who is unable to climb for whatever reason not to go to the top, but most others who have never been there is probably to some degree just too lazy to take the 204 steps to the top.  So kick those lazy bones in under the bed and be adventurous.  The climb won't kill you and the view is well worth the effort.  This view is looking out the south window down onto the harbor.

Harbour in sepia

After posting a picture featuring the Port Elizabeth Harbour on Tuesday, I decided to do another one.  This time its an fairly empty harbor photographed from Fort Frederick and posted in sepia. 

I always love the "harbor giraffes".

Fort cannon

If this cannon on Fort Frederick was still in working order

I would have asked it to fire a salvo of 39 shots for me today.

Export cars on PE Harbour

Nelson Mandela Bay is a motoring mecca with General Motors situated in Port Elizabeth and VW in Uitenhage as well as numerous other motor related factories manufacturing everything from engines and catalytic converters to bolts and rubber tubing.  Both GM and VW export their cars through the Port Elizabeth Harbour and from the top of the Campanile you can see the cars lined up quayside waiting to be shipped abroad.  

St Georges

Today is the 1st of September and we are celebrating Spring Day.  Not that winter is over by a long shot but the season is turning and signs of spring is starting to appear all over the show.  I was hoping to post some flowers in celebration of spring but unfortunately had non on hand.  I'm driving back from Johannesburg after the Getaway Show and never thought of uploading a flower picture before leaving.  I do have this picture of St Georges Park in front of the Pearson Conservatory for you instead.