Hello Travellers!

Greetings All

It’s impossible to believe that in four months’ time we will be celebrating Christmas and then starting another new year, where is the time going too? It seemed like it was only yesterday that we were celebrating the arrival of 2018 and wondering what this year would bring. Is it because as one gets older that the time seems to go by so quickly??

Talking of time, I have been going through a wonderful pictorial publication written by the late Karel Schoeman called “Bloemfontein in Beeld or Portrait of Bloemfontein 1860-1910”. This is an absolute gem of a book and I would recommend it to anyone, especially for us living here. It shows some wonderful old black and white photos of people and places of days gone by. I found it amazing to see how this city has developed from a small, dusty development to what it has become to today. As I reside at the base of Naval Hill it was fascinating to see photos of when there were no roads and buildings around it and that there were bushes and trees instead. How I wish I could be transported back to those days and to get a better understanding of how our city originated. I am certain it would have been a lot cleaner back then!

Oliewenhuis – Classical Cape Dutch Architecture

As you are well aware, I do offer city tours and attempt to give the client a good understanding of our past, as it is through our history that has made this place as it is today. It is a shame that many of our old buildings are neglected or vandalised, but we must not only blame the present administration. Beautiful old buildings were demolished in the 70’s and 80’s to make way for parking lots and shopping malls. Thankfully though we still have some architectural gems scattered throughout the city namely Oliewenhuis, Freshford House and Thomas Maphikela house to name but a few. 

Still on the historical note, for those who are interested in old Anglo Boer War photos, please visit the War museum as there is a fascinating display of old time photos which have been digitally coloured. They are amazing to see and show so much detail which you would not notice if they were monochrome. The “artists” who done these photos spent many hours bringing these photos to life and now I get a far better understanding of those photos. I hope that more photos will eventually be “coloured” and perhaps a book published to show their amazing works.

Please contact me if you are in need of any brochures or tourism related issues.

Thank you

Yours in guiding

Tony Horn

Email: tony@bushjunkies.co.za

www.bushjunkies.co.za