A tiny Lucerne hotel

Everything is just a bit more expensive in Switzerland than anywhere else...

When we looked at hotels to stay in we were quite surprised at how expensive it was. Eventually we found the inexpensive  'Etap Hotel Lucerne City'. It is situated at the back of the railway station and one has to walk over a bridge that spans across the railway lines as they converge at the station.

Lucerne, Switzerland Continued...

In my previous post I talked a little about how difficult it was for me to photograph in Lucerne...

Maybe it was the weather or maybe it was just me or maybe it had something to do with the aesthetics of the place...

Lucerne, Switzerland

I have been lucky to have had the opportunity to visit London, Paris, Barcelona and Italy.

So when my wife, Cheryl, invited me to join her for a few days in Lucerne, after her business trip there,  I was a bit hesitant at first. I always had this picture in my mind of mountains and orderly little towns and cities. 

Mozambique accommodation

Tiger fishing in Mozambique

Towards the end of last year my wife Cheryl and I were invited by our very good friends, Johan and Margie to go with them to Mozambique on a fishing safari. We travelled there by car and it is about 550km away from our home in Centurion, close to Pretoria. The trip itself turned out to be quite an adventure as the last 100km's or so was very slow going as the road was very muddy and wet from recent rains and I was not sure if my trusty Volvo Cross Country was going to make it at times...

                                  

Mozambique Landscapes

The landscape on the Mozambique side of the Kruger National Park is mostly bush veld. 

Two weeks before our arrival a massive veld fire had crossed from the South African side into Mozambique and to say the least the veld looked bleak. I was a bit worried that I might not get any good landscapes photographs...

Mozambique, a still life.

When on holiday, there are often long moments when I have absolutely nothing to do.

 Here in Mozambique on our 'safari' these moments occurred between activities...after breakfast and before lunch, or after lunch and before our sunset game drive...After I have been at a new destination for a day or so, I am acutely aware of these long moments in time when I have nothing to do...I get very bored and then I start wandering around with my camera looking for something to photograph..

Mozambique Portraits

 November 2011 my wife, Cheryl and I were invited by my very good friend, Johan  and his wife Margie, to a weekend of adventure in Mozambique. 

We were to go tiger fishing on the the Sabie river where it crosses the border of the Kruger National Park, in South Africa into Mozambique . . .

A Moment in Milan....

Next to the Duomo in Milan there is a ornate and posh shopping arcade, called the Galleria Vittoria Emanuele II.

Also know as 'Milan's drawing room' the arcade was designed by the architect Guiseppe Mengoni, who unfortunately fell to his death from the scaffolding a year before the shopping arcade's completion in 1877 . . .

On the beach, Ballito

Its not the easiest thing to walk around beaches and just point ones camera at half naked people..not here in South Africa anyway...and at this time of the year when the beaches are relatively empty, its even more difficult.

Thompsons Beach, Natal

My wife and I stayed in Ballito on the Natal north coast for a weekend at the beginning of February this year.

We managed to get a one bedroom apartment a block away from the main beach in Ballito. Ballito is a very popular holiday destination especially for matriculants after writing their final exams...and apparently there is one huge party in Ballito at the beginning of December.

Lake Maggiore, Italy

Isola Pescatori , or Fisherman's island lies just off the shore of Lake Maggiore between  Stresa and Baveno and is part of the Borromean island group.

The people that live on the island are shopkeepers, restaurateurs and fisherman. It is quite easy to walk around the island and it doesn't take long either. Lake Maggiore is surrounded by majestic mountains and with the lake in the foreground makes for a dramatic backdrop...

click on images to enlarge...

The first image posted here is a photograph made from Isola Bella towards Isola Pescatori. One can see that the island is very small. In the foreground is a fisherman rowing which looks like a toy rowing boat to me and he is probably rowing to the other side of the lake....quite a distance away....!

This island forces one to slow down and absorb its atmosphere. Life is slow and measured here and one can just sit all day long watching the passing parade, and always there is the backdrop of lake and mountains and the pleasure of knowing that you are sitting on a tiny island in this great lake that stretches all the way to Switzerland.

All the images were made with a Canon 5D2 and a 24-105L lens. This combination, although a bit on the heavy side makes for a great travel camera. The lens has a good spread and with IS can be used almost anywhere and at anytime....

There is a tourist office at the harbour in Stresa where one can get all the info and tickets for the excursions to the islands. They have a very comprehensive website that helped us a lot in planning our trip, not just to the islands, but the whole area around Stresa. The website can be found here....http://www.visitstresa.com/

regards, Ivan...

Bethulie accommodation

I have posted quite a few images and thoughts about our photographic journey to Bethulie and Philippolis.

Undoubtedly the non photographic highlight was our stay at the 'Old Watchmakers Guesthouse and Bistro'. We only stayed there for one night, and I am sorry we couldn't stay for more..

When I phoned to book I jokingly mentioned that I must be the only person in the country that would travel all the way from Centurion to Bethulie to celebrate his wedding anniversary...! The owner of the Old Watchmakers, Mrs M Frewen,  immediately offered to put flowers, champagne and dark chocolate in our room....she also asked if we would  like to have dinner...not knowing whats available in town I accepted the dinner reservation.

When we arrived there late the Saturday afternoon we warmly greeted as only South Africans can and shown our superb room. In our room was the champagne, flowers and Lindt dark chocolate..as promised! One must understand that Bethulie is about 200km from the nearest large town where luxury items like this can be purchased... it must have been some effort to get all this for ready for our arrival. The Karoo lamb meal that evening was also superb and was personally made  by Mrs M Frewen, the owner. So was breakfast the next morning...

But our biggest surprise was that all this came to a grand total of about R700-00 ( about 70 euro)...!

I can heartily recommend this establishment, and I can honestly say that we were treated like royals!

Check out their website at..http://www.oldwatchmakers.co.za/.

regards, Ivan...

Centurion to Weppener.

At 0km...,

In December 2011 my wife, Cheryl, and I took a quick three day photographic journey to Philippolis via Bethulie. Both these towns are in the southern Freestate. The area is quite arid and flat with of course the 'mighty' Orange river flowing into the Gariep dam.

We stayed in Bethulie the first night and then drove to Philippolis for our 2nd and last night. On the third day we drove back home. We drove  a total of about 1600km over the three days.

I wrote about this journey in my blog starting at the end and working my way back to the beginning.

........this is the beginning.....

At 210km's...

We left Centurion early the morning and drove as much as we could to get out of the City environment and to reach the 'platteland' as quickly as possible. Our first stop was at 210km where I was attracted by the row of bluegum of trees on the horizon and the ubiquitous watermill that is found all over our country.

click on images to enlarge...

At 334km, just outside Welkom where we stopped for breakfast,  I saw this typical farmgate with the names of the farmer and his wife written in red on the white gate. ...'Jan' en 'Koekie'...I always wondered why we Afrikaners name so many of our woman after a biscuit......opposite the gate on the other side of the road was a lone telephone pole assisted by another pole with the flat Freestate landscape behind

At 416km's...

Because of roadworks on the main road to Bloemfontein we took a detour through Brandfort. We stopped and stretched our legs in front of this beautiful and well preserved old Dutch Reformed Church...

At 511k's...

Bloemfontein was a big disappointment, not that we wanted to stop and take photographs, but it just looked so tatty and dirty, and this was just before the 100th anniversary of the ANC which was held there a few days later....I hoped the city council made an attempt to clean up the city..

After we had left Bloemfontein we drove through the townships adjacent to the city for a very long distance before we reached open and clean landscapes. It is quite nerve wracking driving through the township areas as the normal rules of the road don't apply. The are no more fences next to the road so one would have cattle and goats casually strolling across the road in front off incomming traffic, pedestians walking all over the place and taxis doing what South African taxis do.....

Once we had left the city behind we were in the typical Freestate landscape again were there are only yellow grass land, clouds and telephone poles....

At 558km's ...

On the road to Dewetsdorp we saw this typical rural bridge over a small river. The bridge was painted white and reminded me of my youth. In those days we didn't have any highways and we always traveled on roads just like the one we were on now.....narrow roads through an unending flat grass landscape with the only points of interest the telephone lines, black tar roads and every now and again the little white bridges.....

regards, Ivan...

Weppener

At 599km's...

Weppener is a small Freestate town named after Kommandant Louw Weppener. It is a very sad looking town with one part of the once beautiful Town Hall burnt down...and with no sign of any activity to repair the fire damage. Once again, unfortunately, proof that many of the small towns are very poorly managed by mostly uncaring, unqualified and incompetent ANC councillor's.

It must have been a beautiful town in its hey day and there is even an arch across the main road signalling the pride that was once here...

click on images to enlarge...

I met a local mechanic, Stefan and he graciously posed for me at his mothers very color full house and garden. His mother complained about constant water shortages and Stefan said that there was nothing to do for the youth in town. Once again the local Dutch Reformed Church was in a relatively good condition which is remarkable if one takes into account the dwindling number of the people attending the churches on the platteland and as a result a shortages of funds to pay for the upkeep of the structures and salaries of the dominie's.

Just another once proud little town just off the beaten track on its way down...

regards. Ivan...

From Weppener to Bethulie...

At 671, 738, 769 & 783km's...

We left Weppener after a picnic on the lawn of the Dutch Reformed Church and looked forward to the last leg of our journey to Bethulie. The areas we drove through were quite remote with few things to see except windmills dotted all over the landscape.

click on images to enlarge...

Bethulie Landscapes

At 789km's...

Just before we reached our final destination for the day we saw, from afar, on the horizon a symmetrical 'koppie' or hill . . .

Bethulie Portraits

Still at 800km's...

As we drove out of Bethulie on our way to Philippolis I saw a new RDP  hosing project being built. I stopped to take a few photographs of the toilets....I remembered that this was a favourite subject of documentary photographers in the days of apartheid. I looked at them and wondered....

Bethulie Houses

Still at 800km...

I enjoy photography best when I have time and I don't have to hurry. That's why I like to stay over in a place that I think will be interesting to explore at my leisure. One nights sleepover is adequate for this and if one can arrive at ones destination in the early afternoon have a bit of a rest and then one has the rest of the day, evening and the following morning to walk around and explore. I usually just walk rather aimlessly around and look for images that I could make . . . 

click on images to enlarge.

Bethulie - Facades

At 800km...

Bethulie is a small town that resides almost on the banks of the Gariep dam. Its famous for being the town were Patrick Mynhardt was born. Patrick was well known for his performances of the Herman Charles Bosman's characters on stage . . . 

Click on images to enlarge . . .

Bethulie to Venterstad

At 820, 821 & 839km's...

After leaving Bethulie our first stop was the bridge over the Orange river just outside Bethulie. This bridge is the longest road and rail bridge in South Africa. From the main road there are no satisfactory views of the bridge itself and I left a 'good' photograph of the bridge for another time. The are large sandbanks here and in the distance I could see fisherman, and eland grazing on the river banks. The Orange river is our biggest river and it certainly looked large standing on the bridge and looking down. We crossed the river a few times on our journey and it didn't always look this impressive...our rivers are rather small by the rest of the worlds standards.

Click on images to enlarge...

Venterstad, architecture...

At 858km's..

Venterstad, not to be confused with Ventersdorp of ET fame, is a small little town below the Gariep dam. We travelled through Venterstad on a very hot Sunday morning. The only open shop that we could find that was the pub in the local hotel. We wanted to buy ice for our cool box but they don't sell ice so we had to settle for a couple of cold cool drink cans to keep our food for the 'braai' (barbecue) that evening cold . . .

Venterstad to the Gariep dam

At 870km's...

The road from Venterstad to the Gariep dam  was rather uneventful and the only interesting scene was the gate to the Gelykfontein Stud, owned by SW vd Walt . . .

click to enlarge...

Gariep Dam

At 915 and 874km's...

The Gariep dam is our largest dam and is situated almost halfway between Johannesburg and Capetown. Its always a nice stopover as the countryside is quite arid so its almost a bit surreal to see all this water in this sparse country side. The dam wall is massive and its quite a sight to lean over the ledge and look down the side of the concrete slab. The town is very modern and thus quite ugly from a photography point of view, but the sight of this expanse of water always makes me want to stop and take out my camera for a few photographs . . 

Karoo Cloud Landscapes...

at 1000, 985 and 979km's...

The stretch of road between the Gariep dam to Philippolis via Colesberg, was uneventful. We were tired and hot and bothered and just wanted to get to Philippolis for a rest. We stopped anyway because we found some great cloudscapes and the landscape was really desolate with  fine yellow grass on either side of the road as far as the eye could see.

Selfportraits...

at 1000km..

From Colesberg to Philippolis is about 57 km. We didn't stop in Colesberg because by this time we had been driving the whole day and we just wanted to get to Philippolis to rest and eat something, preferably in a shady spot out of the sun!

Philippolis accommodation.

I can heartily recommend the Starry Nights Karoo Cottages ( http://www.starrynights.co.za  ) in Philippolis. The cottage was spotlessly clean and tastefully decorated in old farm style furniture. The cottages are in the centre of town and within walking distance from all the sights and restaurants. We had a large one bedroom cottage and at R440-00 (44 euro) per night is not bad although there are more affordable rooms and accommodation available. The old jail cells have been converted into guest rooms and apparently is very quiet at night, not that the town is noisy at all...

click image to enlarge...

Typical Karoo cottage, similar to the one we stayed in...

Philippolis Portraits

Still at 1030km...

Before we leave Philippolis (I think you might have had enough by now! ) i will show my last few portraits I made here...

With my big camera slung over my shoulder I took a very early morning walk through town. I also had my small little X1 with me for quick portraits. As I walked and photographed the buildings I would come across early risers and ask them if I could take their photograph. All said yes, these small towns have very friendly people!

              Johan Louw, 30 year resident in Philippolis, fixes old trucks and drills water boreholes...

Philippolis, portrait of Claire...

Still at 1030km...

Here we have a portrait of Claire..she works at Ko Ma In ( Afrikaans for 'come in' ) a restaurant and coffee bar in Philipolis. It was very early on the Monday morning and Claire was on her way to work and she graciously agreed to have her photograph taken. She was a bit apprehensive about going to work and when I asked her why she replied that sometimes the customers give her a hard time...

Philippolis Architecture...

Still at 1030km...

With my camera and shift lens on a tripod I took a walk through Philippolis. The buildings hint at a prosperous past...there is even an art deco style building that was once a bank....

Philippolis, boys will be boys...

At 1030km...

As we drove out of Philippolis on our way to Trompsburg I saw these youngsters playing soccer in the street. I stopped and asked them to form a group and made some exposures. Then one of their friends a little further up the street saw what was happening, shouted and said he wants in as well. So then I asked each one to grab a pillar on the 'stoep' (veranda) and to give me a 'serious' pose...

Between Pilippolis and Trompsburg...

At 1040km..

As we left Pilippolis on our way to Trompsburg we drove past this horse and cart going at a fast trot towards Trompsburg. 

Between Jagersfontein and Bloemfontein...

at 1158km...

I am going to start at the end and work my way back to the beginning...Why? I thought it would make it easier reading the whole blog when its all finished, as blogs have the last entries first......and just to be a little different.....

Freestate Journey 2011

In the next few post I will be telling you about my journey to the Freestate in December 2011.

Pilippolis, Gas Station

Its all in the mind...

The image here is of a petrol station in Pilippolis, in the southern part of the Freestate. Last year in December I stayed there for a night. The next morning I got up early and went for a walk with my camera to photograph the structures of this rather old town...