Human ancestory: fraught with complexity Africa and South Africa in particular, have been the site and source of many ground-breaking finds of our human ancestory. The world of paleontology is fiercely competitive with specialists arguing about classifications – where are humankind’s roots? Hominin or hominid? the transition from ape to man; dating; new species, etc. […]
Craighall Park has it all I’ve blogged often about Craighall Park and its surrounds and what a great area it is to live. Craighall Park is a wonderful mix of rural country, suburban tranquility and urban convenience. How many Joburg suburbs have a nursery, horseriding, vegetable gardens and a spruit (or stream) running right through the […]
Secret Johannesburg Some time back I purchased the gem of a book called Secret Johannesburg by Lisa Johnston and Claire Bell. These two photo-authors have gone on a treasure hunt through Joburg and its surrounds, and have found 93 little known objects, sights or sites. It’s really beautifully researched with fascinating histories and contexts and […]
Javett Art Centre, University of Pretoria I think art-loving Jozi-ites have a little of the green-eyed monster in them in the face of the latest additions to Cape Town’s cultural scene. As if Zeitz Mocaa is not enough for one city, they now have the Norval Foundation as well. So when I read about the […]
Sandton Central- the financial centre of South Africa I personally seldom go to Sandton Central and when I do, every 3 or 4 months, I am always amazed, somewhat cynical and more than a little disillusioned by the widespread evidence of rampant consumer capitalism on steroids. Buildings, which are often no older than 40 odd […]
Liz at Lancaster or Liz@Lancaster? To all our wonderful guests, friends and family and those who are connected with Liz at Lancaster in some way 24 years ago I started Liz at Lancaster (with one room), and before communication via email was commonplace, I did not realize what confusion the ‘at’ in the establishment name […]
With an amazing woosh the December holidays have landed on us once again. Time to look at keeping youngsters busy and adults sane this year-end. Family and children’s theatre Goggas at the National Children’s Theatre, Parktown There’s a fair bit of theatre for youngsters. Who can resist Antony the ant who helps Lady Caroline the […]
Liz at Lancaster arranges birding tours for guests A recent guest from the United States who came to stay at Liz at Lancaster is an avid birder. Arriving on a Thursday evening and leaving on Sunday morning meant he only had 2 days in Joburg. He was completely amazed at what Liz managed to arrange […]
Reviving the city in different ways The collapse of inner cities is a world-wide phenomenon, as is their revival and reinvention. There are so many ways in which life has been brought back to Jozi’s inner city. Here are some of them: Walking tours Walking tours are also part of a global phenomenon, giving a […]
The future Manhattan of Joburg? Well this might be a glamorous by-line but if infrastructure, traffic access, services and occupancy do not meet the supply of the huge number of new buildings going up in Rosebank, it’s going to be another business district snarl-up like Sandton. However it does seem that there is a conscious […]