South Africa - Vergelegen Wine Estate, Somerset West

Vergelegen Wine Estate

This interesting name, Vergelegen, means "situated far away" but it depends where one is coming from as Somerset West is within easy reach of Cape Town these days. Perhaps in the 1700's it was far from the harbour and hence considered so far away, especially by ox-wagon or on horseback!!

The land was originally granted to Simon van der Stel in 1700 - today it is owned by the Anglo-American Group (since 1987)

If you are looking for history, architectural beauty, great gardens, very good wine plus restaurants, this is a special place to find all of the above.

The gardens are truly worth a wander as they encompass many different areas with the "Camellia Garden of Excellence" being the most prized when the blooms are at their best. The huge Camphor trees grace the front of the Homestead which is open to the public and furnished in shades of yesteryear.





The Library houses an amazing collection of books with the oldest being around 1686 and the "old" buildings blend in with the more modern wine tasting building and the Stables Restaurant.

Picnics are offered during the summer months (November - April)
There is nothing better than relaxing under magnificent, ancient camphor trees on a hot summer's day!

The Stables Restaurant is situated in a modern, glass building with stunning views of the Hottentots Holland Mountain range.

Camphors Retsaurant offers lunch or dinner (check times) paired with the Estate Wines.




I love visiting wine estates even though I never drink wine! The history behind so many of the Cape Wineries/Homesteads is fascinating, the buildings are often in immaculate condition despite being very old and most have incredible gardens. Thankfully, many of the Wine Estates restaurants now serve beer so I am saved from having to resort to the likes of Appletiser (which I love!) when enjoying a lunch time meal with all my wine drinking buddies!

Vergelegen Wine Estate ticks all of my "boxes" when it comes to a great outing!

Vergelegen Wine Estate

© Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

South Africa - Stellenbosch - Historic University Town

Dorp Street, Stellenbosch

When one thinks of Stellenbosch, the first things that come to mind are; oaks trees, students, wine, art galleries and food! Not in any particular order as they are all in abundance except during the University holidays when the younger set all depart for their home towns and leave the town in quiet mode for awhile!

Stellenbosch Pavement Cafe

It's a fabulous place for students, they basically have the run of this beautiful tree-lined place during term time. It's an idyllic situation and most students will always fondly remember the Varsity days. Sometimes, I wonder how they ever pass any exams - it is just such a laid back kind of place where students are king! However, having attended a graduation ceremony, it seems that most do pass and with excellent results!



Stellenbosch, founded in 1659, is the 2nd oldest settlement in the Cape after Cape Town and is fondly known as the "City of Oaks" or "Eikestad" due the the huge number of oak trees. These trees were planted by Simon van der Stel and lend a gracious air to the streets in both their autumn, winter or summer coats. During autumn the foliage is so picturesque, during winter the bare branches cast intriging shapes on the surrounding buildings and, in summer, the beautiful green foliage provides welcome shade from the heat of the day.

Dorp Street, Stellenbosch

Anybody who is interested in architecture will love the more well-known streets of this town as the Cape Dutch buildings are picture perfect. Dorp Street, which has been declared a National Monument, has one of the longest rows of historic houses in South Africa. Walking is an absolute must - start at "Oom Samie se Winkel", an "olde world" type of store where you can get lost in bygone times! Then walk the rest of the street to admire the buidlings of yesteryear.

Near the end of Dorp Street you will find the Theological Seminary. The gates are normally open and one can wander around. This became the first university-level institution in 1859.

Food and Wine - what can one say! This area is renowned for both and boasts the oldest wine route in the country. Check out:  www.wineroute.co.za

Food lovers will revel in this town with many, many restaurants - from coffee shops to 5* dining - you should find something that caters to your pocket and your palate. 

Astronomer's Head by Anton Smit

The Stellenbosch Botanical Gardens are rather hidden away but we managed to find them purely by chance. These gardens are not very big but worth a 10 minute stroll or a respite from all the food and wine! 








This is just a brief blog to whet your appetite to explore this renowned town - there is much to see and do, much to eat and drink, and loads of art galleries and shops in which to spend your money!

If you over-indulge, there are many places to choose from for an overnight or week-end stay.

Enjoy!

The drive to Stellenbosch is stunningly beautiful!

© Judelle Drake

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

om Samie se Winkel (a ‘living museum’) is the ‘old world’ village store housing antiques, collectables, old-fashioned sweets and local products and produce.

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• Theological Seminary, Dorp St.. On the site of the original settlement, which was on an island in the Eerste River until one of its watercourses was filled in. This became the first university-level institution in 1859. The garden contains two pines from Norfolk Island, near Australia, which the University's students sometimes like to climb!  edit

Theological Seminary, Dorp St.. On the site of the original settlement, which was on an island in the Eerste River until one of its watercourses was filled in. This became the first university-level institution in 1859. The garden contains two pines from Norfolk Island, near Australia, which the University's students sometimes like to climb!  edit

South Africa - Gordon's Bay

Gordon's Bay Harbour

Seaside villages, both in South Africa and abroad, usually offer charming harbours, quirky shops and interesting places to eat.  Sometimes, one will chance upon a coastal village in South Africa which appears to be totally soulless with only huge, pretentious mansions lining the shore. We tend to avoid those as they don't have much to offer unless all you require is a very laid-back beach holiday with nothing but sand and sea. This scenario is great for relaxation but not much else!

However, sometimes, one just wants to escape the city, so we decided to head out towards Gordon's Bay, one of my favourites, just 50 km or so from Cape Town. Gordon's Bay is very spread out and the huge mansions do line the hillside but they don't detract from the pretty beachfront area. This beachfront simply buzzes in summer which makes parking rather a nightmare. During winter, the scene is much more laid back, parking is not an issue and there are no queues at the restaurants.

This seaside village has the most dramatic backdrop of the Hottentots-Holland mountains, making it extremely picturesque and well worth some exploration, especially along the shore. The small harbour and the quirky, interesting shops will also draw one in. Personally, the Book Store is my best - I can lose myself in that place for hours, wandering the aisles looking for an interesting read. Take loads of cash as temptation is sure to strike if you are an avid reader.  Although it is named "Bikini Beach" books it is not above Bikini Beach!

Bikini Beach Books

The village has a number of restaurants and the town boasts over 400 accommodation establishments should one wish to stay over. It's idyllic for a week-end away, during both winter and summer.

Bikini beach is a secluded beach next to the harbour and this is hugely popular during the summer months. On a slightly chilly July day, needless to say, there were no slim beauties for any male to feast their eyes on.

Walk along the harbour wall for interesting views of the town, the sleek yachts and possibly a whale or two during the whale season (August & September)

The South African Naval College is situated next to the harbour - this facility is an officer training centre.

The anchor with GB high above Gordon's Bay

High above the very opulent houses there is a huge GB sign on the mountain. Now most folk would take that to mean "Gordon's Bay" but, in fact, it stands for General Botha which was the original name of the Naval Station in the town. This should be a lesson to all of us never to "assume" that we know everything!





There are a number of restaurants in town - check out the Trip Advisor Reviews before making your choice as quality can vary substantially.


The town was named after Robert Jacob Gordon (1743 - 1795) - this man was a Dutch explorer of Scottish descent - a strange combination? As well as speaking French, Dutch and English , this gent also learnt to speak Xhosa and the local Hottentot dialect. He obviously enjoyed a talent for languages. If you ever wondered where the merino sheep in South Africa came from, this was the man who introduced them to South Africa!

Artwork depicting a poem by Ingrid Jonker

There is an interesting art work along the walk near the beach depicting a poem " The Child" by Ingrid Jonker (1933 - 1965). This poem was read out by Nelson Mandela at his inaugural address to the first democratic parliament on 24th May 1994. Sadly, the poet herself suffered from severe depression and took her own life.







So, if you are looking for a fun day out, just 50 km from Cape Town, give Gordon's Bay a try.

Gordon's Bay

© Judelle Drake

                        http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com

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Cape Town - Camps Bay

Camps Bay - Cape Town

Camps Bay conjures up the glamour side of Cape Town with the many mansions perched on the mountainside, housing the wealthier Cape Town's citizens.

However, it is a welcoming suburb and the beachfront rocks during most of the year, even during the winter months as the vibe is usually "sunny" despite what the weather may be doing.

Camps Bay - Cape Town

During winter, the pounding surf can be just as invigorating as the gentler summer waves.

Camps Bay attracts both locals and visitors who enjoy the famous Camps Bay strip with it's many restaurants; catering for all tastes. Some restaurants only seem to last a season while others have stood the test of time and are all-time favourites.



The wide beach attracts many sun-lovers during the hot summer months but it is big enough for all. Parking can be a nightmare though so take a cab if you are staying in another suburb. Take a stroll, play a ball game, take a bike ride or just sit and gaze at the waves.

Theatre on the Bay - Camps Bay - Cape Town

The "Theatre on the Bay" is the local spot for some magical musicals, serious drama or side-splitting comedies, The program changes on a regular basis in this intimate theatre. A life-sized sculpture, which was unveiled 20th March 2012, welcomes patrons who arrive from the Victoria Road side.
During the day, it casts an interesting shadow -  unfortunately, the air-bricks in the wall behind spoil the photo, so I deleted my attempts to capture the theatrical bow.

  The Red Top Open Bus stops in Camps Bay and this is a great way to enjoy the city for an orientation tour or if your time is limited. Hop off for a stroll along the beach or a sundowner and absorb some of the atmosphere of this seaside suburb.





 

Sunsets are magical in this suburb, whether in summer or winter.
Sit quietly on the beach and bask in the last rays of the sun as it sets over the ocean.
Many restaurants have lovely views over the sea so pop along for sundowners!




Its a suburb bursting with LIFE so take some time out to enjoy the beauty of Camps Bay.

Camps Bay - Cape Town

© Judelle Drake

                      http://www.flickr.com/photos/bradclinphotography

                For Accommodation Cape Town, South Africa

                                      www.bradclin.com