East London | Notes from the Cape

Weekend Away

Published February 4, 2006

So, we are spending the weekend in the small city (or large town) of East London. We are up here for our friend Mike’s wedding. We have left the animals in the care of our house sitter, great to leave the ‘kids’ at home! We have of course got Eccles the new guide dog with us, and she is really enjoying being top dog!

We are staying in the resort town of Gonubi, about 10km out of EL. The guest house is fantastic (the German Bay Guest Lodge) – it’s on the beach and I can watch the waves while lying in bed (the pic on the left is from our veranda). It is really relaxing to be lulled asleep by the waves. German Bay Lodge is a fantastic B&B. The owners are very friendly, and helpful, nothing is too much trouble. They were more than willing to allow Eccles the run of the house. Most importantly, they had a very well stocked wine fridge, from which we could choose our wine (there was also a beer fridge in the back). Next time we are in the area, we will definately spend a few more days there (they cook a mean breakfast!).

The more I stay in B&B’s, the more I think that they are so much better than hotels. The prices are much less, and honestly the personal services is so much better.

Eccles of course loves running on the rocks with her new friend – Sinjin the geriatic Fox Terrior that lives at the house.

The beach where we stayed is more of a shingle beach – much like the English beaches, but Eccles has a whale of a time on it.

We had a great meal last night at Guedo’s – a local restaurant. We had a pita starter to share, Lois had a pasta, and myself an Eisbein, which beat me in the end! The entire meal – without tip – was R130! You don’t get that value in CT! Also, why is it that you can buy a wine in a restaurant over 1000km from the farm for less than a restaurant that is less than 50km from the farm?

Gonubi is a very prettly (yet somewhat sleepy) little town, but I could spend a few days here. Most of the beaches are sandy, and there are some great surf spots. You can also of course spend a day on one of the many rivers in the area.

1 Time airline were fantastic – for the first time ever the airline were expecting the guide dog and had already booked off a seat for her – before we arrived to checkin! BA and SAA – take note! Two orchide to 1 Time.

I am emailing this entry from my phone (which I have never done before so I hope it works! Cheers for now.

Posted in East London, Journal, Orchids and Onions |

2 Comments

Michaela’s Restaurant – The Restaurant in the Sky

Published March 31, 2005

The restaurant is well signposted from the main road (all 50m and three shops of it). We followed the signs to the restaurant, and arrived at a parking lot. Climbing out of the car, we couldn’t see any signs of the restaurant, which was really puzzling. Looking around, we saw a path wondering into the trees. With a sense of excitement, and a great deal of trepidation, we walked down the path. Very soon, we arrived in a small clearing in the trees. Two steps led up to a wooden platform which blended into the trees.

Leading off the platform were dark, varnished wooden steps, climbing their way in large zigzags up into the trees, getting smaller and smaller as they disappeared in the distance.

Looking to the left, we saw something that looked out of place, a wooden frame with glass doors, and a single button.

Deciding to continue on this adventure, I pressed the button. I heard a click, followed a brief second later buy the noise of an electric motor, slowly getting louder. Looking up towards my right, I saw a glass vanicular slowly coming down through the trees. Slowly it arrived and gently docked. The glass doors opened and in we climbed. A panel on the side revealed two buttons, up and down. Since we couldn’t go any lower, I pressed the up button. We heard a click and with a gentle jolt, we were on our way, going higher and higher.

Presently, the vanicular slowed to a stop and the doors opened, revealing a wooden platform, and an entrance door on the left. On the right, we could see the top of the stairs we had observed from the bottom. We entered into the room, and found ourselves in the most charming restaurant – the restaurant in the sky.

Michaela’s is a split level restaurant, with a bar and seating on both levels. The top level has a deck area with magnificent views of the sea, the trees (below you), and the hills of the Eastern Cape. Since we didn’t go to the bottom level, I can’t comment on it.

While not cheap, the meal was certainly not expensive (a characteristic we found throughout the East London area). I ordered sole, with a salmon, shrimp and mushroo m dressing (R74). The sole was large, there was plenty of salmon in the dressing, and it was very, very tasty. Lois had the soup of the day, which came with a few pieces of melba toast (R24). Her bowl was large, and also very good. The salad was fresh and crisp, with plenty of veges in it.

The staff is unassuming and friendly. They have the rare ability to be there when you need the assistance, but to not be in the way the rest of the time. We were there for lunch on a Friday, and there were quite a few busy tables. I got the impression that many people are regulars.

We had drinks the next evening, and even though there were getting ready for a wedding party downstairs, we were welcome to have drinks upstairs. The wedding party all arrived while we were having drinks, and although we were tempted to gatecrash the wedding (a wedding being our original reason for the trip), we managed to resist the urge. I do however get the sneaking suspicion that we would have been welcome to join in the festivities had we done so.