Greetings from a very Hot day in Cape Town,

My, my summer has really arrived with very hot weather, very strong winds which clean all the streets in the city from papers and leaves. We are noticing a large amount of visitors arriving here in the city every day, so I think our holiday season is going to be very busy.

Although there seems a shortage of accommodation in some areas. I am sure we will be able to get through the summer season. Cape Town has many new Hotels being built at the moment, which will suit every ones budget I had a very short 2 days in Ladismith again the end of October when they celebrated the ‘Padda Kuierfees’ offering a 5km fun walk for all ages, a Moonlight 10km walk, and in the evening a “Klein Karoo Kuier’ which was a Braai, music, dancing, wine and cheese tasting, amazing deserts and nearly the whole town arrived. What a wonderful idea for this lovely village to bring all the folk together to have fun.

The weather was also playing with, as it was a beautiful evening, and the stars were so bright, looked as if you could touch each one. During the day there was a great hustle and bustle with everyone getting ready for the evening festival. We were taken on a Historical walk through the town and met very interesting people such as the owner of Stanley’s a local restaurant where they bake the most amazing wedding cakes and homemade chicken pies.

Besides running this cute restaurant the owner also has a Spider, horse drawn carriage which is used to take visitors around or can be used for a Bride and Groom. In the garden of this restaurant there is also a small Wendy House where ‘Oom Stanley’ her grandfather who invented the little light that burns in the Towerkop mountain daily to notify the locals that they still have water running into the town, used to live after his view of the mountain was taken away by a large building that went up opposite his home.

The old gentleman invented many different things during his life time, and the wooden cottage has now been turned into a small Museum which can be visited with their local Tourist Guide Jonny Friedgood. During our walk I noticed all the beautiful manicured gardens in this lovely Karoo town which is really worth a visit.

Contact: www.ladismith.org.za

Are you thinking of moving to the Karoo, what about owning your own Guest House? One of CTC Marketing Members who has just put her Historical Guest House in the Market. She would now like to retire.

This magnificent historical home was built with the best materials possible between1892-1899, for one of Ladismith’s ostrich Barons. The house of 400m2 has a T-shape floor plan. Oregan pine ceilings and floors were imported from Canada. Glass for the windows from Holland, woodstove from Sweden which is still used in the winter.

All windows have inside shutters made from oregan pine with solid yellow copper hinges and locks. All doors still have their original locks and keys. The cast iron pillars on the verandah were imported from England. Should you be interested to know more about this beautiful home with its silk wall paper, and inlaid silver trimmings on the inner doors, in immaculate condition, please contact me.

I will forward more information and photographs to you directly. Some of the furniture will also be available. Should you be interested.

Contact Elizabeth: www.albertmanor.co.za

In November a visit to the winelands area of Tulbagh and Ceres were on the cards for 2 days. What a wonderful visit to this beautiful Historical Town in the Witzenberg Valley. This valley of abundance was first discovered in 1658 by Pieter Potter, surveyor general of the Cape. Settled in 1699 by 14 farmers, Before road engineers conquered the forbidding mountains at Paarl and Wellington, Tulbagh was the Trekker’s last stop en route of the Cape of Good Hope before entering the country’s wild and untamed interior to the north.

Present day Tulbagh is a bustling and cosmopolitan town despite the devastation caused by a tremendous Earthquake in 1969 which had many of the historical buildings to be painstakingly restored to their original form, now constituting the largest concentration of Provincial monuments in one street, namely Church Street.

This takes the visitor back to time travel over 300 years. Tulbagh also boasts with no less than 5 Museums. The oldest being the Oude Kerk Volksmuseum established in 1743 in the Cape Dutch architectural style. Besides the Historical buildings which is a big draw card to visit. Tulbagh also offers many Wine & Olive Estates such as Theuniskraal, Drostdy-Hof, Rijk’s. and the House of Krone and Oakhurst Olives to name but a few. There are many adventure products such as Horse Trails, Ceres Zipline Adventures, Tulbagh MTB Route, De Tour Bicycle Tours, Silwerfontein Hiking, Biking & Fishing and much more. Wonderful Guest Houses, Self- Catering Cottages, and Camping facilities are available.

Contact: Patty: www.TulbaghTourism.co.za

Just a friendly reminder that Christmas if right around the corner and we recommend the following:

With Christmas that has just been round the corner, and you have not yet decided what to buy your family, friends or relatives and only wanted something small, useful and interesting???

Then I have the answer for you whether you are living in Cape Town, Pretoria, Springbok or somewhere overseas, you are able to purchase this gem.

This South African eBook version came out in 2012 (Amazon, Kobo etc) and reached No 1 on Kobo in Canada. On Monday 14th November it was released in a paperback format, is just what you need for your holiday at the beach or just relaxing at home and reading about this amazing country by a fellow South African now living abroad.

Via Amazon: From My Hilltop: A Living History of South Africa. By Stan Daneman (Author)

This unique book is narrated by Professor Marula – an old and wise tree and Elder Statesman in South Africa. He recalls the changing scene in the country over his long time “From my hilltop I have looked on the living history of South Africa.

From my early days understanding the Rules of the Southern. We live in a magnificent world - each species knowing their role in the circle of life in Africa. As I aged and became a Professor I enjoyed meeting the leaders of the species and discussing the changes that were taking place in South Africa. I prepared lessons in on the changing landscape South Africa and I am privileged to share these with you in the book. I do so love the country and even if I say so myself I am a student of Nature, of Politics and of human development.

Over the years I have stored vast amounts of documents in my trunks – interviews with political figures and tribal leaders. In my latter years I enjoyed meeting both black and white leaders in South Africa. Sharing our thoughts on the developments in the country, made me feel as if I was given the status of an Elder Statesman.

My story covers what I have seen from my hilltop over the span of approximately 500 years – a very long time. The development and sustainability of the country rests with the youth and the leaders of tomorrow. My story gives hope that the “tomorrow” will include a place for everyone in a dynamic, honest, healthy and vibrant country. I do hope that you enjoy reading my story.

Please feel free to contact me at my email address : profmarula@hotmail.com