Matjiesvlei

The last straw..the straw that broke the camel’s back.  I often wonder what was the final straw that made me decide to start travelling alone.  Somewhere among over reacting over a runny nose, ill-temper, ducks(!), motorbikes, disrespect, lack of future plans, laziness, lies, facebook (!!!!) and issues I will rather not mention, I’ve decided enough is enough.  G4 was replaced by a rescue dog and now we are girls travelling alone with our dog. 

One of the first places we visited was Matjiesvlei  near Calitzdorp.  There is a turnoff just outside Calitzdorp on the R62 as you travel towards Ladismith.

We stayed in Douglas House at Matjiesvlei Guest Farm.  http://www.matjiesvlei.co.za/accom.php  It sleeps 6 in 3 bedrooms.  There is one bathroom (shower only) and a lovely farm style kitchen with a huge fireplace.  Bedding and towels are provided.  There is no electricity, so nights are spend in front of the kitchen fire playing board games.They are dog friendly by prior arrangement and there is no cellphone reception..bliss!

Matjiesvlei has a rich history. Originally it belonged to Michael Le Grange. Once upon a time there were about 25 families living in Matjiesvlei.  There were two schools and a Post Office with the only phone in the area.  The Post Office building is still there today and beautifully restored.

The Old Post Office is a short walk away.  You have you own key for the Post Office making it possible to visit whenever you feel like it.  It was fun for BB to see an old phone, bed and books.

Our house was lovely..there are two “stoepe” to choose from, enabling you to follow,  or hide, from the sun.   The one had a lovely view over a stream where you can watch the baboons frolicking in the trees or mountain tortoises slowly making their way across the clearing.

The other overlooks the dirt road where tractors wind their way down to the valley.

We had a lovely stay and cannot wait to return for another weekend in paradise.

Christmas in Prins Albert

Prins Albert became even more popular after the screening of the Kokkedoor TV series.  I do not own a TV but did manage to watch a few episodes and followed

it in magazines.  This was not the reason for our decision to have our  Christmas lunch there though.  Both my mum and I have a love for Prins Albert, long before Pam Golding spotted the potential!

My great grand parents once owned the dairy.
The original house was in De Beer
street, opposite the school.  The cows grazed on the veld stretching on the
edge of the town and at milk time the cows slowly returned to the stables,
each one had her own spot and Oupa Loots milked them by hand.  There were
plenty fruit trees and fruit were exported via train.

Later years they moved to a small "dorpshuis".

During my stay in Johannesburg I often stayed overnight at Prins Albert en
route to Mossel Bay, even if it was out of the way.

I watched the town grow and "inkommers" opening guesthouses and restaurants.

Prins Albert has not lost its allure though, the "watervoor" still offers relieve from the heat and everyone still greets.


Back to Christmas 2013 though.

We decided to have Christmas lunch in Prins Albert.  It was just my mum and I this Christmas and cooking for two really is not fun.

It was hot, very hot and we had a flat tyre after crossing the mighty

Swartberg Pass.  The Swartberg Hotel offered cool relief from the dry Karoo

heat.

Tables were plain but stylishly decorated.  Individual menus were printed and

lovely presented.
The appetizers were simply gorgeous.  Stuffed mushrooms, Thai veggie

springrolls, Ostrich carpassio and blini with smoked salmon, all served at

room temperature.

Starters were prawn cocktail with lychees and avocado.

The main meal was a buffet of different meats, salads and veggies..too many to

mention.

The nice touch was that they prepared a veggie Wellington for the vegetarians.

This was delicious..a crisp, buttery crust and lovely spinach filling.

Dessert was a light lemon dessert, egg nog and brownies.

It really was a lovely meal and day..the only downside was having to drive

back!!

Greyton

Every now and again you have a weekend where everything is just perfect.  We had such a weekend in Greyton.  The road leading us there from Mossel Bay is gorgeous..even in Winter.

Greyton had its origin in 1791 as a farm known as Weltevreden and was owned by Marthinus Theunissen .

Quirky art in Greyton!

Several owners later is was owned by Herbert Vigne in 1845.  He planned the layout of the town and the first plots went on sale in 1854.  He named the village "Greyton", after Sir George Grey, the then Governor of the Cape. There is a lei water system and residents can still keep animals.  It is therefore common to see a cow or horse going for a leisurely stroll down the street. 

We left Mossel Bay early to be in time for the wonderful village market that is on every Saturday morning at the Greyton Village Centre.

It starts at 10am and runs until about midday. 

Fresh produce from the area, including jams, cheeses, organic vegetables, pies and other mouth-watering treats are on sale.

After the market we also took a drive to Genadendal, the first mission station in Southern Africa.

We went to Greyton during a cold winter spell.  There was snow on the mountains and a cold breeze seems to cut through you when outside.  We  were very lucky to stay at the Geelbos Cottage.  There was a lovely gas heater in the cottage that has no electricity. 

The cottage is well equipped with lovely decorations, including a beautiful quilt. 

I love the movie “How to make an American quilt”, so this quilt intrigued me.  I can imagine ladies sitting around a table sharing their ideas of love and caring. 

It was a lovely stay on a beautiful farm where dogs are also welcome.

Lovely atmosphere

Fully equipped cottage.

Part of the farm where Geelbos cottage is

Geelbos cottage on the left..

View from Geelbos cottage..note the snow capped mountains..