Tulbagh

Apart from in the cities, it is always a pleasure to drive in South Africa, with its well maintained long, open roads, and ever-changing magnificent scenery.

This morning was no exception as we drove from Paternoster through the Swartland wine area to the little town of Tulbagh. Tulbagh and nearby Ceres were devastated by an earthquake on September 29th 1969. I realised today that Barbara and I drove only a few miles west of the earhquake epicentre only a week earlier, en route to Rhodesia and then to my first job on the Zambian Copperbelt.

Church Street is just one block back from the main street and has an 18th and 19th century streetscape perfectly restored after the devastation of the earthquake.

We are staying at one of these restored houses, the excellent Tulbagh Country Guest House. Just down the road we ate tonight at the Readers Restaurant, the oldest house in Church Street, built in 1754 for the 'Readers' or 'sick comforters'. We were the only clientelle but the food was impressive.