Good morning dear friends. I've just heard over the news that temperatures in our region will be 2 degrees, warming up to 21. So its bearable.

I still have some photos that I want to share of the Karoo.

Looking across the river that runs through the village of Nieu Bethesda, to another part of town that houses gift shops, art studios and a restaurant that also produces its own beer and homemade ginger beer!! Absolutely divine. I'm not a beer drinker, but could get quite used to their beer. You have a choice from three different 'flavours' or strengths but you don't need much more than that!
Seriously!! You can sit outside, weather permitting, under an oak tree and stare for hours at the surrounding mountainside, contemplating whether you should just forget to go home! They also have a selection of cheeses, salami and homebaked bread that you can savour!! Yumm!! Delicious!

One of the special platters!

Cheers!!

Now where shall we start, baby?

You will notice that the most common architectural building styles of the Cape are Cape Vernacular and Cape Dutch. Vernacular follows a Victorian 'look', without all the period details, but is plastered and painted white. Roofs are corrugated iron and normally high pitched, painted grey or green. Some verandahs may run right around the outside perimeter of the house or along the front. Windows are narrow and small - to keep out the scorching heat of the Karoo sun. Walls are incredibly thick.

Cape Dutch is unique to the Cape. The 2nd and 3rd generations of settlers to the Cape used the gable as a sign of status. Characteristics are : white walls, lots of woodwork, pitched / tiled roof - thatched or tiled) and an open stoep. Unfortunately I do not have any examples of this style to share with you at the moment, but will do so in the near future. One of the best examples of Cape Dutch architecture is the homestead at Groot Constantia Wine Estate. Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch boasts the greatest number of beautifully preserved Cape Dutch gables, dating back to 1692.

(Oops!! Lost my angle a bit...... sorry!) I just love the old churches!

A lovely old homestead on the outskirts of town

Would you believe that this beautiful building is a public toilet?

The world-famous Owl House that belonged to Helen Martin

A restaurant in the centre of town
Take note..... it's still safe for small kids to cycle around town!! Almost unbelievable.