Stone Houses of Chrissiesmeer

 one the original Stone houses of Chrissiesmeer, with a newer addition 

(note brickwork) and other detail below ...

these are mostly abandoned - at the time I visited I was unable to ascertain 

what is intended with these old homes, which surely 

qualify for heritage status.  It would be wonderful to see them restored and used.

 I have soft spot of old homes, buildings, structures - so am inclined to want to a 

capture their beauty, even though they look worse for wear - it's as if feel I need to

record a memory in their honour!?    These just spoke volumes, still standing 

proud and steadfast, with their weathered detail and colours - 

amidst wild grasses and solid large oak trees ...

An Outdoor Wednesday Post

Image(s) All Rights Reserved 

Copyright 2010 Gena D Images and {Gena D Photography} for thinking aloud

Prison Door

Details of an old prison door at Constitutional Hill,

photographed in May this year....

 and a sneak image of the staircase ...

Wordless Wednesday post
Windows & Doors
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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Beauvais II: More detail shots

On Saturday I accompanied the Parktown Heritage Trust and a vast number

of other members on a tour of one of Johannwsburg's iconic homes, Beauvais,

or also known as Tracey's Folly. 

It's an amazingly beautifully constructed home, standing testimony to the

craftsmen who worked on all it's fine detail.

It's been restored and renovated and is currently home to a corporate company.

The irony of this beautiful home is that it was not built to be admired

from a distance, hence it I found it extremely difficult to get decent shots of the exterior

 and it's grandness.   It was built to look out upon vast open spaces and wonderful

views over the suburbs. 

I choose then to focus on detail shots of the lovely cast iron radiators, door

and window handles, parts of the building which can only really be viewed

from an internal window, the vast number of fireplaces, and awesome woodwork ....

These are some of the detail images. 

See also Monday's post and click here to view a lot more images on

my facebook page.

A My World post

Windows and Doors Post

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Quinta da Bacalhoa, Portugal

Quinta da Bachaloa in Azeitao, Portugal

this estate dates from the 1500's and is obviously much smaller in size

now, but still highly impressive.

I've wanted to visit this palace for quite some timw now, and this year

when in Portugal finally got there, only to discover that you need to

prebook in order to access ... oh well, still got to enjoy the vineyard part of the

gardens, although the building and formal gardens are something to behold.

a Wordless Wednesday post.

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Signs from the Gen

a few of the signs from the Old Johannesburg Hospital precinct, taken during our

heritage walk there 10 days ago (see last week's posts for more fascinating

pictures and great detail).

a Wordless Wed post

and

 Midweek Blues post

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

A tribute to times gone by ....

a selection of images from a heritage trip which I did (together with a number of

others') to the SAA Museum at Rand Airport (South Africa). 

It's one of those amazing places that many don't realise exists.

Rand Airport is still very much a functional airport (for light aircraft mostly),

and on weekends there are a number of interesting aircraft out and about - 

 either in the skies, doing aerobatics, or parked waiting for lift off. 

apologies to the fundi's, as I cannot remember the names of the

 two exquisite "specimens" above and below.

 the control tower (below) is built to resemble the "front" of an airplane with

 Art Deco detailing.

 These are some of the old planes that have been retired into the

open air museum space.

and finally some detail of the Harvard Cafe - a vibrant cafe/ restaurant that

serves great food at reasonable prices and overlooks part of the runway.

A Ruby Tuesday post

and

That's My World post

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Playing with Light

 another3 images taken on the old Jhb General Hospital heritage walk.  

Image(s) All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Ventilation Spires

two views of the ventilation spires on one of the old Jhb General Hospital 

precint buildings

 - see yesterday's and Monday's posts for more info and pics.

a Wordless Wed post

and

Sepia Scenes post

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Worn and Weathered

More images from my downtown trip to the Old Jhb Hospital precinct

 (see yesterday's post for more info).

This collection of of the worn and weathered - an old door, worn brick and

plaster work and painted down pipes ..... I just adore the brick red colour,

contrast and textures.

 bugweed growing against a weathered wall

bugweed is on the invasive list, but here, it just fits in

so well - tenacious and determined, like the building ....

peeling paint, breaking plaster and still the fine detail of

years gone by stands out....

A My World Tuesday post and

Ruby Tuesday Post

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

Unexpected Finds

This past Saturday, I attended one of the Parktown Heritage Trust Walks - this time of

the old Johannesburg General Hospital precinct.   It was sad to see decay and run

down buildings, but at the same time, amazing to see what great work is being done

 to restore most of them.   Photographically this was a truly an exciting time - the

 contrasts, the details and the unexpected were around every corner.....

So the image above is part of the Johannesburg Hospital building with wild flowers

 growing around it and just for a Blue Monday, offset against a gorgeous blue sky.

These two images are close ups of the the wild flowers and of a dried seed head

- growing abundantly amidst apparent chaos and decay. 

Blue Monday here

Macro Monday here and here

Flowers for today here

Image(s) All Rights Reserved

Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

In honour of a great pilgrimage II

a view of the monument from the parking lot, seen through a mass

of the inidigenous Bauhinia shrubs which were in flower.

This is part II of my visit to the Voortrkker Monument 
(click to view post I). 

This monument commemorates the pioneers who travelled from the coastal
areas inlands between 1835 and 1855 - this trip was called "The GreatTrek".

During this time approximately 15,000 pioneers moved inlands to
 establish the provinces of the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, effectively
 the start of  South Africa as it was to become.

Images clockwise from top left:        
Monumnet from the parking lot; a view over part of Pretoria; internal architecture;
Woman and Children statue by  Anton van Wouw; a view of the monument from
 entrance as you approach;  the numerous arches and circles.

Click here to see previous post

View more Scenic Sunday posts here

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

With an African Touch

This is one of the many old homes in Parktown  - a suburb of Johannesburg.

A vast number of them are heritage homes i.e. they have historical and heritage value.

The others? 

Well, people buy them, renovate them and make the best of the vast spaces ....

This is on of those such homes, where the style of the house and the large patio

(with it's columns) retains the old world architecture.

The difference? 

The use of old, rustic and african items, to make this space individual and

special to it's owners.  I particulary adore the upholstery on the patio furniture,

being a traditional South African fabric called Shweshwe - a great blend of styles,

I think ...

a close up view of the upholstery and some of the african styled influences...
View more Ruby Tuesday posts here

View more Outdoor Wednesday posts here

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Copyright 2010 Gena D Images for thinking aloud

St Johns: Mosaic Monday

Scenes from St John's Johannesburg - Link for more info, click here

to view more on my mosaics/ collages - click here

to view more Mosaic Monday participants, click here

a ww post :  

Irene Dairy Estate: Mosaic Monday

click on image to enlarge

this is a collage/ mosaic of images taken on an outing the the Irene Dairy Farm, just outside and north of Johannesburg. 

It was an old family farm in years gone by and is still functioning today, but obviously in a more modern form, so the old building pictured here is no longer functioning, but preserved for historical reasons.  This farm belongs to the original family, who still reside on the large property - a great piece of history. 

It's a very pretty place to vist, there is a great country style restaurant to enjoy lunches or breakfasts at, and you can buy fresh milk to take home!  

To view more wonderful mosaics, visit  Mary at little red house - click here

Pictures: Gena D Images of thinking aloud, december 2008

Mosaic Monday: Hope Road

a mosaic of pictures taken on part of "8 Hope Rd" in Houghton, Johannesburg.   These are part of the old garden and one of the original (old) buildings.    There are a number of homes and gorgeous gardens on this property, some of which are used for weddings and events.   I hope to post a few more in the future.

Thanks to Mary of "little red house" for hosting this great meme.
For more posts and wonderful mosaics, click here

Picture Credits : Gena D Images

Mosaic Monday: The Old Gate

These are some of the pictures taken whilst on a Heritage Walk some months ago.  they depict the details of the very old gates and gate posts of what was the originally the Barney Barnato (mining magnate) property in Berea, Johannesburg.  This property now holds a school on it's grounds, retaining part of the original buildings and garden layout.

Note:  click to enlarge image

for more fascinating Mosaic Monday posts, visit the Little Red House, click here

and click here to see Mary's AMAZING!!!!! mosaics/ collages!!!!

South Africa in Pictures: Castle Walls, Kensington

These are views (from the street) of the Kensington Castle - yep a real castle in Johannesburg!!! [Sadly] it is privately owned, so one is not able to acess the property.

For more information on this castle - why it was built for example, and other's around Johannesburg, click on this link for more details - you will need to scroll down about halfway for details of this castle.

For other great Johannesburg secrets : click here.

Gena.