The Eagle Above Us

I got a glimpse of you......

The Eagle In Our Trees

The Springbokke Of The Somerset East Hotel

Pool Table With The Wall Mural Of The Somerset East Springbokke

In the old Victorian Somerset East Hotel situated in the small Karroo town of the same name, which was founded by Lord Charles Somerset in 1825, you will find a room with a pool table standing on dark, polished Meranti floors, some dart boards, a Bamboo lounge suite covered with blankets - and a wall mural of the "Somerset Springbokke". Figure that!

The view across the street from the Hotel's Beer Garden to the Boschberg Mountains

The owner of the hotel, who relocated from Cape Town to Somerset East a couple of years ago, to bring the calm and the peace of the Karroo into his and his family's life said the mural was already there, when he bought the hotel. 

How can you not find peace and tranquility, if you own a Victorian hotel in a quaint, serene little town that's as famous for the natural beauty as it is for its many beautiful provincial heritage sites, situated at the foot of the Boschberg Mountains.

The Somerset - Oos Wall Mural Of The Springbokke

The story goes, that an artist passing through Somerset East offered to paint a mural for the pool room and for the adjoining bar in exchange for accommodation and food for a week.

The Springbokke in all their pride

It was done deal and so the "Somerset East Springbokke" wall mural saw the light of the day!

and glory......

After finishing the Springbokke mural, the unknown artist dedicated more of his time to the large bar walls and the landscapes he painted on all the bar walls are full of African magic. They are so nice, that they deserve a special post, which I will deliver shortly.

The Springbokke Eternalised On The Walls Of The Pool Room Of The Somerset East Hotel

Apart from the wall mural the hotel kitchen offered mighty portions of Fish and Chips with salad and onions rings, that were served in the small beer garden overlooking the main street and the  forested, mountainous backdrop creating a dramatic setting for the town.

Most of the provincial heritage sites in Somerset East are all buildings and even though the bar of the Somerset Hotel is not counted amongst them, we think by its impressive appearance it belongs in-officially to the same category!

A Decent South African Karroo Bar

The Somerset East Hotel Bar- Equipped And Decorated As It Should Be In True South African Style

The Somerset East Hotel

With upstairs balconies, flags and lots of room

The Owner Of The Somerset East Hotel Has Found Peace In Somerset East 

Mary And Jacomo

Jacomo, always curious even at a young age

Once upon a time there were two green eyed, snowy white furred cats living at the SPCA in East London. It was their destiny to find a new home with us and this is their story told in pictures.

Mary,and there is one question? Are we gonna come with you.

Mary Minzu

In their play room at the East London SPCA

Brother and sister in arms

And a couple of weeks later .....

Jacomo loves red

Jacomo "sniffing the wind"

What his sister is doing looks interesting

Pretty Mary

Looks like this is gonna a be a good day for Mary Minzu

Green eyed Mary in the woods

And Model Mary

And the better climber

\

The whole lot of them - cats and rabbit 

And if  Mighty Lucy thinks enough is enough there is still the roof - for now Lucy ....

The White Lions of Inkwenkwezi

A sleepy white male lion at Inkwenkwezi

Affection....

The Resting Place

If you listen you will hear

White Lion At The Inkwenkwezi Game Reserve close to East London

The Scars Of The Years

The Fisherman's Tool

The Tools Of A Fischer Man

Courageously Colorful - Colonial Houses in Cradock

Salmon Pink and Bleu Majorelle on the walls of a colonial Cradock house

"Bleu Majorelle" is the name of a color, that you find in Morocco. A deep Mediterranean blue.

Morocco is known for this color. But you can find it in Cradock in the South African Karoo too. Bleu Majorelle develops. It is not a color, that just comes from the tin like this. Ok, it is a deep blue in the beginning, but it develops under the bright sun and the dry air of Morocco into something spectacular. It cannot be described.

A verandah in subtle rose. The back wall is painted yellow!

I asked my brother again and again to drive up and down some of Cradock's streets. Thank you brother. It was worth it!

This Cradock house is courageously colorful in true baby colors

The same light and air conditions as you find them in Morocco exist in the Karoo.

Terracotta and Bleu Majorelle Again

And there is the Bleu Majorelle!

In all its might!

Sky blue and a corrugated iron roof that was once painted chest nut brown

But not only that!

A Cradock Verandah in Purple And Olive

The beautiful thing is, that all this is probably not intentional. It is simply art that creates itself over time.

Two different shades of green and pink, just pink

Mauve.....

Energetic Deep Purple

A crazy dance of colors - old and new