Archive for Western Cape
Taking The Plight Of The Rhino To Lisbon
Posted by: | CommentsThe Portuguese still have strong bonds with South Africa and when Adrienne and John Silva met Ana Paula Cabral at her gallery in Lisbon she expressed her longing or ‘ Saudades de Africa do Sul’.
Ana Paula was interested in Adrienne’s work on Searching for Roots and Meaning and also her Bonsai-people. Adrienne has painted the idea of how we force our children to shape into the people we want them to be, in Bonsai culture it may be a ’formal-upright’ or ’informal-slanting’ etc.
It was a year later that Adrienne Silva was invited by Ana Paula to exhibit with artists, Isabel Fideiro and Jirina Nebesarova. The exhibition opens 8 July until 6 August.
Adrienne’s worked with a theme, Breathe in the Future, Breathe out the Past, Savour this Moment Long as it lasts’ (Bonobo).
Day of Freedom
I Came to Look for You
On the Way
The Stars and You
The Pattern is Evident
Adrienne Silva, Cape-based painter with Dr George da Fonseca, Consul General of Portugal. Dr Fonseca wishes Adrienne well on her trip to Portugal for the exhibition and here is the work, First Step, that will also be shown.
For further information please contact;
Paula Cabral Art Gallery
Rua do Secula 171
1200- 434 Lisboa
Phone 91 236 6519
Winelands of the Western Cape – Discover Stellenbosch
Posted by: | CommentsSometimes known as ‘Eikestad’ (Town of Oaks), Stellenbosch is considered the oldest town in South Africa immediately after Cape Town, a 45 minute drive away. Founded in 1679 by governor Simon van der Stel, the Stellenbosch Wine Route is South Africa’s earliest and arguably the most acclaimed. Having been established in 1971, it now offers 106 cellars in the wonderful Jonkershoek valley.
Modern-day Stellenbosch is a buzzing place populated by students, academics, business people and their familys. You shouldn’t miss Dorp Street, a national monument with among the longest rows of historically conserved properties – including Georgian, Cape Dutch and Victoria architecture – in South Africa.
With scores of open-air cafes, places to eat, galleries, retailers, hotels and guest houses – many housed in these ancient architectural structures – it is the ideal base for a winelands adventure. Then there is the wine route , with around 130 wineries and 5 sub-routes, known for their wine production – notably Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinotage and Chenin Blanc. The five sub-routes are Bottelary Hills, Greater Simonsberg, Helderberg, Stellenbosch Berg and Stellenbosch Hills.
Half and full day wine tours are incredibly popular and can be booked with the tourism office. Alternatively, you are more than welcome to drive yourself to one or more of the wine estates even though that would mean the driver missing out on sampling any of the wine.
You will find a wide range of hotels available in Stellenbosch from camp sites, youth hostels, B&Bs right up to luxury hotels. The requirements of each type of traveller are catered for in Stellenbosch which is perfect for the independent holidaymaker to use as a starting point to discover the various visitors attractions of the Western Cape.
The recommended means to orientate yourself in Stellenbosch is to join one of the normal walking excursions that depart from the tourism office at 11am and 3pm each and every day. As an alternative, you are able to investigate all on your own and footmaps can be obtained. As Stellenbosch lies in a valley, there are also hiking routes outside of the town which allow you to absorb some of the fantastic landscapes and nature of the Cape Winelands.
