My memories of East London, South Africa !!

Posted in Africa, Food and Wine, France

Again on nostalgia lane, this is East London, South Africa. Of course, I have been in the country since 2015 visiting every year until 2019. Next, who knows, but the friendship and fondness of the place will continue. I am updating this older post with new text /links and pictures ! Let me tell you a bit more on my memories of East London, South Africa !! Hope you enjoy the post as I.

sa-east-london-city-center-sep15

Another nice trip and was able to touch base with old friends again. These are the nice visits where one can combine business with pleasure, and always but very nice memories. This particular trip got out early by car from home with a bit extra time as it was raining on the N165 road, and to my surprise there was an accident and work construction on the road that was creating one lane only. Big slow down almost standstill. I thought would miss my plane at Nantes Atlantique airport (see posts). Hopefully, it cleared up but needed to do 150 kph, about 93 mph , and got there just as the plane was been board! After this event flew well on AF to Paris CDG T2F, and easily went over to T2E for the flight to South Africa on AF .Then, change plane at J’Burg airport to a domestic SAA flight to East London. Once at East London I was picked up by car and taken to my hotel, the Riverbend B&B, which locals put me there, it was very nice like been at home and friendly service. This had gorgeous views and would love to be back again, official webpage : https://www.riverbendguesthouse.co.za/

East London Riveside BB front sep15

sa-east-london-riverside-bb-from-window-sep15

I had dinner at a pricier property like a spa hotel resto,but only have the front in the photo, this I believe is the Donner House resto hotel but not sure….

East london Donner resto hotel sep15

We moved for another visit later on after returning to J’Burg and this time stayed at the Thirty Six Bonza B&B hotel this was an oasis and well treated. Another nice   boutique lodge ,gorgeously done, and great friendly service. We had dinner on request here. Sadly, could not find me a picture! Official webpage : http://bonzacollection.co.za/36/

Then, we went to Abbotsford Arms pub , 1 Nord Avenue, where in addition to some real fine Carling Black Label beers we had this special menu 500g T-Bone smothered in our herb butter sauce, served with freshly cut chips and 2 veggies, This old restaurant come pub , has the best T-Bone and secret sauce on offer in East London . Offering a 600 gr A Grade T- bone at a very reasonable price , and sitting inside or outside . Great service , staff are quick . Great atmosphere , you can sit inside or outside. This pub is perfect for both after work pints and relaxing mixers over the weekend!  I came inside and very friendly service to enjoy a great evening with friends. More on their Facebook page:  https://www.facebook.com/abbotsfordarmsel/

The RestaurantGuru reviews on the Abbotsford Arms:https://restaurantguru.com/Abbotsford-Arms-East-London

East london abbotsford arms pub inside sep15

A bit of driving in town to practice my right side wheel and it was off to the East London airport again, The King Phalo airport at East London is smaller but then easy to manoeuvre and I was told the most expensive place to visit by plane as not too many connections available. It has an interesting zulu type shape roof. The great bar there was Mile High Bar but do not seems to find it now so probably closed as well.  The official SA airport page has a bit on it : https://www.airports.co.za/airports/King-Phalo-airport

And they ,also, have a Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/kingphaloair/

East London driving mai12

East London airport arriving jun16

East London airport departure sep15

I was even close to a beach at East London, very nice beaches in the area, especially Buffalo Beach , that just saw, ,and sure a promise to come back. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be back again,eventually.

 A bit of history I like tell us that East London is a city on the southeast coast of South Africa in the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province. Still as far as tourism it is known as Buffalo City. The city lies on the Indian Ocean coast, largely between the Buffalo River and the Nahoon River , and hosts the country’s only river port.

John Bailie, one of the 1820 settlers , surveyed the Buffalo river mouth and founded the town in 1836, a memorial is on Signal Hill commemorating the event. The city formed around the only river port in South Africa and was originally known as Port Rex. This settlement on the West Bank was the nucleus of the town of East London, which was elevated to city status in 1914. The existing port, in the mouth of the Buffalo River, adjoining the Indian Ocean, began operating in 1870. The unusual double-decker bridge over the Buffalo River was completed in 1935 and to this day, is the only bridge of its type in South Africa.

Things to do here with time which I did not see are:  The East London Zoo; East London Museum, Inkwenkzezi Private Game Reserve, and the Mpongo Private Game Reserve.

The Buffalo City (East London) tourist office on its heritage : https://www.buffalocitytourism.co.za/places-of-interest

There you go folks, another nostalgic place for me in our world, Many nice memories of been driving around here with locals into nice areas not all could take pictures, The memories lingered forever, and looking forward one day to come back here, eventually, For now ,again, hope you enjoy this post on my memories of East London, South Africa as I

And remember, happy travels, good health, and many cheers to all !!!

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Published by pedmar10

I am a lover of travels to Europe , Americas , Africa and Asia as well ,who like to share my experiences of the last 53 years with the world, visiting so far 81 countries; living in 6, working in 5, and Citizen of 4, speaking fluently 4 languages. I can deal with sports especially football/soccer and love music, arts, wine collector/drinker, and go out to restaurants, and just visit the world. My background comes all the way from Candelaria and Pajara in Tenerife, Spain where my grandparents came from ;not knowing each other then, to Punta Brava, west of Havana, Cuba. There , my parents born in Cuba met and later on I was born there too. 100% guanche (annexed Tenerife to Spain on April 10 ,1496). I left Cuba as many have to Madrid, Spain where I lived for 4 years. Then, move to Perth Amboy ,New Jersey USA (living there 13 yrs) ; where I completed high school, became a US Citizen, learned to drive a car, and learned English. Afterward, went to the university in Florida, ERAU, and upon graduation decided to moved there to Ormond by the Sea, near Daytona Beach, finally moving North Miami, then Hialeah, then another moved to Silver Lakes division in Miramar, Broward county, Florida; in Florida I lived a total of 18 years. Finally , moved to France in 2003 ,Versailles call me for its royalty, and working in Paris was great. It was time to seek frontiers again and moved to Brech near Auray, Morbihan in Brittany , and later move to not too far Pluvigner. Total so far in France has been 20 years, and counting. Moving average a home every 5.5 years hopefully this will be my last. Cheers All rights reserved. No part of this blog may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a retrieval system of any nature, without the written permission of the copyright holder, me. No part of this work may be modified, without the written permission of the holder, me.No part of this work may be exposed to public view in any form or by any means, without identifying the holder as the author, and with the before mentioned permission.

2 thoughts on “My memories of East London, South Africa !!”

  1. The guesthouse where you stayed (Riverbend B&B) is very close to where we lived for 3 years! And we drove past Abbotsford Arms Pub almost once a week, but unfortunately never ate there – I’m now regretting it after reading your post! And did you know that East London doesn’t have just one river (the Buffalo River is the longest), but that there are actually 4 rivers! I wrote about that and you can read it here: https://wetanddustyroads.com/2023/11/27/four-rivers-of-east-london-south-africa/.

    Thanks for a lovely post on East London – I really enjoyed reading it.

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