Travel Photo Thursday – Durban Rickshaw

Posted on September 15, 2011September 15, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

A year ago, my friends and I traveled to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Lesotho. When I was researching the Durban leg of the trip, I saw a photo of a rickshaw on Golden Mile Beach and decided I had to find one when I got there and go for a ride.

Durban Rickshaw — Rickshaw, Golden Mile Beach, Durban

On our way to the airport, I spotted this one near the beach and asked our driver to stop. We had only a few minutes but each of us got to sit in the rickshaw and have our photo taken.

The rickshaw was brought to Durban from London in 1893 by sugar magnate, Sir Marshall Campbell. At that time, there were only a few cars in the city. By 1902, Durban had approximately 1,700 rickshaws for more than 24,000 pullers who came to the city to work and returned home to the country with their earnings. Now, there are only about 20 registered pullers left.

Run by the Zulus, beautifully decorated rickshaws can be rented from pullers, who are dressed in colorful, handcrafted beaded headdresses and are usually stationed on the beach. They not only transport, they entertain in true Zulu fashion.

Rickshaw Rides on Golden Mile Beach cost between US$2 – $50.

This is my submission to this week’s Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday series. Be sure to check out other photo and story entries on their website!

Travel Photo Thursday – Nobel Square

Posted on September 8, 2011September 8, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

These sculptures which honor South Africa’s four Nobel Prize winners, Nkosi Albert Luthuli, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, former State President F.W. de Klerk and former President Nelson Mandela, are located on the V&A Waterfront in Cape Town.

Created by two of South Africa’s most accomplished female sculptors – Noria Mabasa and Claudette Schreuders – they were unveiled on December 16, 2005, South Africa’s Day of Reconciliation.

This is my submission to this week’s Budget Travelers Sandbox Travel Photo Thursday series. Be sure to check out other photo and story entries on their website!

Travel Photo Thursday – Harlem

Posted on September 1, 2011September 3, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

I took this photo a few weeks ago, looked at it, loved it and then forgot about it. Continue reading “Travel Photo Thursday – Harlem” →

Travel Photo Thursday – Stonehenge

Posted on August 18, 2011August 17, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

Screen shot 2011-08-15 at 5.58.01 AM — Stonehenge

Looking back at the photos I took at Stonehenge, the one of this stone always grabs my attention. Maybe because it’s separated by several feet from the main stone circle and seems to be keeping watch over the others or maybe because of its shape — it looks like a large animal — I’m not sure. I look for clues and see body parts where there’s only stone.

Travel Photo Thursday – New York City

Posted on August 11, 2011August 10, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

New York City has an unmistakable skyline but it’s difficult to see it when you’re in the city. Some of the most spectacular views are from New Jersey. I took this photograph in Jersey City, which because of its close proximity to Lower Manhattan is fast becoming part of the business and financial area of New York City.

The tall structure on the left (with cranes on top) is the new building going up at Ground Zero.

Enjoy!

Travel Photo Thursday – The Apollo Theatre

Posted on August 4, 2011August 3, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places, the Apollo Theatre is the landmark music hall that introduced performers such as Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, Lauryn Hill, James Brown, Billie Holiday, Marvin Gaye, Luther Vandross and countless others. It’s also been home to Showtime at the Apollo. Amateur Night introduces new musicians to the public.

The Apollo Theatre is located on125th Street between Adam Clayton Powell Jr and Frederick Douglass Boulevards in Harlem.

Travel Photo Thursday – Old and New New York

Posted on July 14, 2011July 14, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

New York Buildings — Old and New New York

One of the newest hotels in New York, the Hyatt 48Lex, will open in August.

The old building, which housed a camera store, a deli and an antiques shop, was demolished around 2005 or 2006. I was curious to see what would take its place.

Once the scaffolding was removed, I was surprised a thoroughly modern structure which is a lovely counterpoint to the building next to it.

Several gargoyles adorn the older building, also a hotel. I wonder where the water that they normally channel will go. I guess it’ll roll off the glass siding of the Hyatt.

I’ll definitely take a closer look when it opens.

Travel Photo Thursday: Lunch at Makalolo Plains

Posted on July 7, 2011July 17, 2021 by Marcia Mayne

I’m not what you’d call an animal lover so going on safari would not have been on my list of things to do on vacation. But when my friends and I decided to go to South Africa, we also decided we’d do everything on each other’s lists.

Since all three of us wanted to see Victoria Falls, our travel agent suggested we do our game-watching in Zimbabwe at Hwange National Park.

She also recommended a lovely safari camp, Makalolo Plains, which is located about 2 hours’ drive into the park. Even when she told us that Makalolo was not like the kind of camp we would have been exposed to, I still didn’t know what to expect. We were very pleasantly surprised.

They treated us to tasty lunches, sherry when we returned at nights from game drives and sumptuous dinners, including wines.

Since the camp is surrounded by animals – elephants, lions, buffalos, zebras, giraffes, etc., we were surprised to return from our morning game drive on our second day to find lunch would be served al fresco.

Looking at these photos brings back warm memories of the wonderful time we had at Makalolo Plains.

Travel Photo Thursday: Table Mountain

Posted on June 30, 2011July 4, 2011 by Marcia Mayne

Table Mountain was not on our itinerary, not for that gorgeous day. After an emotionally charged visit to Robben Island, all we wanted to do was have a meal and take a nap.

But Ian, our guide, insisted. The weather was perfect, he said. There was no guarantee we’d have another one, best to take advantage. If the clouds came in, visibility on Table Mountain would be reduced. I know this mountain, he said. You only have five days, why wait for tomorrow when you could see something else? We’re so close.

We insisted. We huddled among ourselves. We were adamant. We didn’t want a tour guide to commandeer our vacation. After all, for more than a week, we’d had people telling us what to do and when do it. And after Cape Town, we’d have another tour guide shepherding us around. Independent people, we wanted our freedom or a least a little latitude.

I can’t remember now what Ian said that clinched it. But I’m glad he didn’t give up. It was the best decision we made that day. As it turned out, it rained all day the next day and for several days after that, Table mountain looked as if a crisp white tablecloth had been spread over it.