South Africa has a phenomenon known as “a dorp” and for those of you who are not South African… a dorp is a small town in the country. So we packed up our bags and headed for a weekend in the country.
It was lovely: crisp white linen on a King size bed… and everybody but me and my youngest having to dash out to an early morning meeting… heaven and and a mini-lie-in.
Stanford is a small town in the country, just past Hermanus as you drive away from Cape Town, and it has everything that a “dorp” requires for survival. Firstly it has a SPAR – and we all know there is a friendly Spar where ever you are!!!
And a grassy slope with a couple of banana boxes…
And a village green… (it has been a long summer)
And a grassy slope…
With typical street signs…
And a grassy slope…
And a Saturday morning market, full of good things to eat…
And a grassy slope…
And the friendliest people you could ever imagine… with everyone stopping to say hi!!!
And a grassy slope…
And wonderful shops… for pottering…
And a grassy slope…
Who can resist a dresser…
And a grassy slope…
And I love these boats from Madagascar…
And a grassy slope…
And would you look at this vintage tent – sigh!!!
And a grassy slope…
And a fabulous coffee shop
And a grassy slope…
With the most excellent coffee…
And a grassy slope…
And the sweetest church…
And a grassy slope…
And lovely wide stoeped homes… where a stoep would be South African for verandah.
And a grassy slope…
And dusty streets…
And a grassy slope…
There is plenty to do in Stanford… where the river runs through…
And a grassy slope…
There is a wandelpad… which is really a wandering path…
And a grassy slope…
There is canoeing…
And a grassy slope…
And stilts…
And a grassy slope…
And late night chats…
And a grassy slope…
And trees to climb…
And a grassy slope…
Frankly if my kids can’t be mudlarking in Stanford then they would rather be box surfing down a grassy slope…
Thanks to the most hospitable friends for inviting us to stay and giving us such a fabulous weekend!!!
looks like an amazing place – kind of makes me think of characters like 7de laan
What a gorgeous place! Your children are beautiful! Love the grassy slope! And I would LOVE to have that dresser in my kitchen!!
A Spar and a place selling panettone. Sounds like a metropolis to me! What a beautiful setting. Thanks for explaining some of the SA lingo that I read and only half understand.
Hay Melanie!!! It’s lovely and really is a piece of heaven in the South African countryside. Hope you have a fun week!!!
Hay Denise, I have a thing for dresser’s!!! A good thing!!! I can’t resist them and I have learnt to take a picture and move on!!! Yup that grassy dresser was simply the best!!! Hope you have a fun week!!!
Hay Cheryl!!! Good to hear from you … a veritable metropolis!!! I know sometimes I quite forget that most of my readers aren’t local and half of what we say is very South African!!! So from time to time I promise myself I will blog a “translation post” but I just never get round to it!!! hope you guys are having a fun week!!!
That grassy slope looked like fun – I SO would have been on that box with the kids.
The “grassy slope” interlude made my day. Thanks se7en
Hay Irene… Isn’t that grassy slope so fun!!! So glad to be the interlude in your day – have a great one!!!
What gorgeous photos…. You could work for the local Tourist Board – you certainly ‘sold’ that place to me! You know, the church in the photo could easily be in Scotland – just very slightly different colouring in the stone, and it would look totally at home here in the Highlands.
Sorry, should have introduced myself! Thanks for stopping by at my blog, and I look forward to seeing more of your life in your wonderful country x
Hi Homeschool on the Croft – Great you stopped by!!! The little Church was lovely, we actually attended it on the Sunday evening… it is always nice to visit a church when you are away from home… we sneaked in ever so quietly, so as not to disturb, and merrily doubled the numbers!!! Clearly we didn’t go that un-noticed!!! Have a good weekend, I so look forward to your blog posts!!!
Stanford welcomed you, and so did we! It was great to catch up, and to share our fantastic environment with you. You can be sure our local tourism members will be viewing your amazing photos.
Hay MaryMaple!!! Can’t believe you stopped by!!! Thanks so much for a fantastic weekend!!! It was just what we needed!!! You are simply a genius at hospitality… Hope you guys have a great week of sunshine!!!
Love it! And I love the way you captured our Special Village. I saw your kids box surfing on the bank above the wandelpad and the river… I would have done exactly that at their age. Actually, I want to do it now! 🙂 Lovely blogpost… and please come back sometime. That coffee and panettone was at Graze Slow Food Cafe – the foodie jewel in the Stanford crown. “Like” their page on Facebook and keep up with what’s happening here! Very warm wishes from Stanford, Fred
HI FredHatman… Nice to meet you… We had a great time in Stanford, what a welcoming spot you live in, and I am sure we will be back to have lots more fun there!!! Have a great week in the country!!!
hey. Catch – of Graze – in Stanford. It was a pleaseure meeting you – I am so fascinated by your many beautiful children. I would have liked to been able to chat to you more. – maybe the next time you visit. Thanks for posting a pic of our spot – and the best coffees in town, you take a good photo! my cousins kids love the box surfing aswell – we do live in an amazing place. thanks for visiting. may you and your family have a blessed day and a happy Easter.
Hay Catch, It was lovely to meet you too!!! You have such a great spot… so wish I could pop over for a Friday night dinner… I know it would be very fine!!! Hope you enjoy all the holidays!!!