Arts-on-Main

I eventually got there...after months of having the name skim my consciousness. Arts on Main! So instead of spending a lazy afternoon at the park we ventured downtown to check it out. Its cutely quaint, and much smaller than expected...but I love the serene green courtyard feel. You can sit at a table sipping ice cold pineapple juice and feel secluded by the tree between you and the next Joe without feeling like your 'forced to eavesdrop'. The lush green grass, spacious art galleries, along with a generous helping of edgy books at David Krut make it an inner city sanctuary. I say bring on more city courtyard spaces...despite being a forest, Joburg still needs a spot of green to compliment the concrete in the CBD.

The Colour Purple...

Jacaranda's in Jozi...Just make the streets a little more colourful. And so even though Pretoria may be called "The Jacaranda City"...I am seeing more and more blossoming every year on our side of Gauteng. You've gotta love them while they're around because in a few short months they'll be gone...thats my plan!

Highveld Thunderstorms

The gentle pitter patter of rain is soothing and lovely to fall asleep too but thunderstorms are a leap up the ladder for me. The sound of all that electrical power crackling in the clouds and unexpected streaks of light appearing at random in a dark sky; it makes me want to cuddle up to whatever is closest...bed is best!:) and you know what...you just don't get them like you do in Joburg...add a bit of hail and you've got a perfect mix of weather for a highveld summer! High on my list of things to luv in Jozi!

Gautrain

So eventually...I took the Gautrain...and not to sound too clichéd but in South Africa it really is something to love! It makes Jozi peak just a little higher in ranking than the mother city...hehe! And even though it doesn't run exactly like clockwork; the doors open and close a few times to let stragglers in, it is still the best thing in Jozi transport since the updated version of the taxi... I suppose it doesn't take much to make it at the top of the public transport system in SA, but the Gautrain does provide quite a bit of distraction from the other issues at hand. Its sleek and it speeds through traffic, you cant help but love that!

There is no title because there is no reason for me to write...And that is the challenge right there...finding things to love, to be grateful for when life is speeding by...to sometimes get off the train and just sit on the bench and wait for the next one. To take the risk of being left behind and rather take the time to think about where you're going, why you're going and what you love about it...before you get there. So guess I can say I am grateful that in this place I call home I have people I call friends who also feel this way. We all want and need to take time this time. And some of my best moments in this city are when we sit on a Saturday morning in a bustling coffee shop and stop. Contemplation is often associated with serene locations and sounds of the gentle breeze and birds...but not necessarily in Jozi!

Tough Cookies

Joburg may not be New York but it is one of those places that makes you a little rough round the edges. I am not saying I completely love this hard, grating quality about the city, but on the up side it creates people with character and a story. You're forced to toughen up while living in Joburg.... There are plenty of cons but one thing to love is that if you think you're having a hard week, rather than gather sympathy, you soon realize you're not alone and life is treating you both worse and better than the man sitting on either side of you in traffic!

Newtown...Catching Football Fever

Not quite sure how to describe this years 2010 soccer world cup…I meant to write a blog after South Africa’s game last wed nite, but it was really quite depressing and I had absolutely no inspiration! 3-0 to who ever it was and the injustice of it all! And then I realized “wow, this football fever…it shouldn't influence my moods so much!” but 2010 really, truly, is a big deal for South Africa, even if it’s just emotionally! The vibe at the fan park in Newtown before the game and the vibe after were worlds apart! And then of course it dawned…isn’t that exactly what ‘fever’ does, it chills you to the bone and fires you up moments later! So we shouldn’t be surprised by unexpected twists around the corner, Football fever is gonna catch us unawares til the 11 of July 2010…try enjoy the ride!

Soweto

I realize it's 2010 and therefore soccer is all people are really talking and tweeting about, I'll get there, but first...Soweto! Besides being an acronym of sorts(South-West Townships) and housing most of Jozi's population...Most Joburgers (the white kind)know min about it and have yet to set foot in this important place! And so all I ask is; PLEASE visit, it will begin to give you a better idea of who and what JHB is. Besides the awesome yummy deal I got for lunch; Pap, T-Bone and Salad at 30 Rond, there is so much that Soweto offers of its self to Johannesburg. June 16 coming up is a great example! This truly is the heart of Jozi and I believe in the future that whatever happens in Soweto will have an impact on the rest of the city!

Movement

It's 10h30 and 1.5 hours till I am past my deadline...here goes my fourth blog of May which is very apt for this moment... movement! Its been a busy day, I have a never ending list of things to do and want to do, there aren't enough hours to do them in and its ALREADY (almost) JUNE! What is happening to this year? This is typical Joburg, and as much as we hate the speed at which it moves, we also love it deep down! There is always another day in Jozi, always another joy ride if you missed the first one and always something new to try! I love the fact that if you don't keep moving with it, it will leave you behind, I love that it keeps you on your toes, it keeps you alert, aware and in touch...there are times when I hate it (like now when all I want to do is sleep) but more times when I love it...

German Schulbasar

Today we took on the German Schulbasar (school bazaar aka beer fest). And I have to say events like the German and Portuguese festivals are what make Jozi way cooler than the mother city! My day was stuffed with bockwurst, sauerkraut, eisbein and kuchen! And even sans festivities, where else in South Africa can you get the best Indian, Chinese, German, African or any other genuine bit of lip smacking culture... all in one city? If your pallet is watering, check out these places...
Indian - Bismillah, Forsburg
Chinese - Fishermans Plate, Cyrildene
German - Seemans, Randburg or Northcliff
Portuguese - Adega, Bryanstan
Italian - Super Sconto (Louie Botha rd) or Tortellino d'Oro (Oaklands)

Football Friday

I am not sure what the rest of the country is looking like at this moment but Joburg has definitely caught football fever!!Every where you turn the flag is flying! And since in Jozi we just love to spend so much time in our cars, these have become our preferred 'vehicle' of showing off ;) The daring ones fly two flags and the larny ones have socks for their side mirrors. My car is looking like a bit of a plain Jane...but i'll get there...

Autumn

I stand to be corrected but as far as I know Johannesburg has THE best autumn and winter...I used to live in the eastern cape where there was essentially only two seasons...summer...and an attempt at winter! But Joburg is something different; in Autumn especially...because of the amount of tree's and the perfect climate...the result...see below... isn't autumn a beaut~!

Positive People

I am writing this post at a time when positivity is not easy for me. At the same time I am realising that being positive is seeing the bigger picture and continually taking a good look at it. But despite my own struggle with this philosophy there are still gems in Jozi who are genuinely positive people! I first saw Nathaniel cycling a few weeks ago, the second time I saw him I knew I HAD to get a quick pic of him...He is for me a picture of a positive person in Johannesburg!

Radium Beer Hall and Kitcheners Carvery

What do these two places have in common?
Besides both being in areas most joburgers do not normally hang out at, they are also probably two of the oldest bars in Jozi!
Kitcheners (formerly Milner something hotel)was a local joint when my parents were at Wits University and Radium has been around since 1927...
So whats to love? The old wooden bars, the beautiful pressed ceilings (although Radium has distastefully painted the ceiling this yucky green colour)and an eclectic mix of people...
Radium is known for its Jazz and Kitcheners for its awesome head bopping tunes;)Go check them out...I was hesitant to put up this post because I have no cool pics of these places (yet) but just so you know I have been there...see below the table cloth of Radium!

The Highveld Sunsets

Even though tonight the rain feels like it'l never cease, I look at photos on my phone and remind myself that Johannesburg actually has the most amazing sunsets in South Africa...really! The sky is always so clear, crisp and the colours are amazing...
check out some pics!

Rosebank Rooftop Market

Have you ever wanted something so badly you decide to part with just a little of your precious precious pride in the hopes of getting it?

My dear friend, who wants to travel more than building a serious shoe collection, roped me into doing something just a little ridiculous (for a 20 something) in order to realise her dreams of nomadic existance… And so because its related to traveling and so is this blog (kinda) it leads me to the first thing to love in Jozi...The Rosebank flea market!
Most of the locals have been here, it’s been around for years, at the Rosebank Mall, a typical flea market in a parking garage. So what's to love... Well, this is just the place to catch a glimpse of the multi-faceted melting pot of Jozi people in action. Rose bank rooftop market is the kitch and colourful icing to a fabulous cake of Rosebank…


To explain the photo; whilst my friend was hatching plans to travel the globe she stumbled across a competition by Colgate to win the opportunity to do just that...All we needed to do was send in our biggest, brightest smiles. So we combined a trip to the Rosebank flea market with an attempt to wow the competition judges...why we needed to do all this in the rosebank public eye escapes me. I suppose the people of Rosebank are an interesting bunch themselves...Have you meet...



(above and below) - Tendai and his wife Theresa do this colourful art on mugs and bowls etc Zac and his wife, Petra, have been selling their art work at the market for the last eight years (above and below) Friends; Tryphina and Anna, have been selling there beadwork/dolls and and for 15 years

More to come... Please make suggestions of what you love in Jozi...I'd love to hear!