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

Baskets From The Kingdom Of Lesotho

And in between something from my archive of "Africa's Past".

 
This old image dates back to the 1950's and is entitled" Basutos storing grain".

Basutoland or officially the Territory of Basutoland, was a British Crown colony established in 1884 after the Cape Colony's inability to control the territory. It was divided into seven administrative districts; Berea, Leribe, Maseru, Mohales Hoek, Mafeteng, Qacha's Nek and Quthing.

Basutoland was renamed the Kingdom of Lesotho upon independence from the United Kingdom on October 4, 1966.

Welcome To Pearston - Karoo Travels

Welcome to Pearston. Somewhere between Graaff Reinet and Somerset East in the Karoo.

It appears to the foreign visitor, that Pearston is just one road in the middle of nowhere. But nothing is what it seems in rural Africa.

Welcome To Pearston in the Karoo

General Dealer in Pearston

Welcome and Thanks!

Street Life in Pearston

The tail of a windmill in Pearston

A tine roof house in Pearston with a beautiful old "Stoep" (verandah)

Something cold on a hot day

My yellow ride....

An old Karroo house in Pearston

Afrika Hair Salon in Pearston

The Sentrum Kafee in Pearston

What does one do in Pearston?

Rommel Trommel in Pearston.......

The Karoo sun makes everything white.....

Street signs in Pearston remebering those who came here long before us

old age in Pearston

Farmers buying their supplies

Pack it up...