A quiet day in Argomaniz

We had settled into a wonderful Parador, overlooking this plain with Vitoria in the distance, and decided on a quiet day in Argomaniz. We decided not to tackle a big city, but amuse... READ MORE

Sos to Argomaniz

Sos to Estella We took the usual road into Sanguesa but this time crossed the River Aragon, leaving the town behind us as we drove westwards along the river valley. The valley is... READ MORE

Luesia

It was a nice day, too nice to return to the hotel, and so we decided to go on, further into the countryside, and visit Luesia. READ MORE

Historic Houses in Church Street, Tulbagh

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On 29 September 1969 Tulbagh was hit by an earthquake of 6.8 on the Richter Scale. Although the old buildings in Church Street were badly damaged imaginative and careful restoration has returned them to their original structures. Sadly, however, the … Continued

The Old Church Museum in Tulbagh

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The Roodezand Church, the Old Church of Tulbagh, was built in 1743, one of the four early churches in the Cape Province, the others being in Cape Town, Stellenbosch, and Paarl (Drakenstein). The first minister was the Rev Arnoldus Mauritius Meiring. … Continued

The head of the Tulbagh Valley, Cape Province

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The Old Drostdy in Tulbagh lies about 4 kms outside the town, further towards the head of the valley, and so after visiting we drove as close as we could into the head of the valley and the Groot Winterhoek Mountains which … Continued

The Old Drostdy in Tulbagh, Cape Province

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Tulbagh is the fourth oldest town in South Africa, after Cape Town, Stellenbosch and Swellendam. The valley was ‘discovered’ by Pieter Potter, the surveyor to the Dutch East India Company, who found the way into the valley via today’s Nuwekloof Pass and … Continued

Bain’s Kloof Pass, Cape Province

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Andrew Geddes Bains is legendary in South Africa for his ingeniously engineered mountain passes and poorts. Bain’s Kloof Pass was his first mountain pass and connected Wellington with Ceres and Tulbagh. The 30km pass was built in four years, 1849-1853, … Continued

Gatwick to Cape Town

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Gatwick really has very little to recommend it while waiting for a flight. You can eat (and many people were) and shop (sort of) but the building is not attractive. The BA Lounge (temporary) provided a welcome refuge however and it … Continued