City of Gold, City of Education
A City of Education is emerging as the latest incarnation of the City of Gold, bringing wealth in the form of educated, young people ready to take on the world!
Read moreCategory: Wander & Wonder
Finding Humanity on an inspirational Hill
A work of art inspires an imaginary visit to Constitution Hill where I find a perspective that restores my faith in humanity.
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A bar of Sunlight
On my way back from shopping at the Kerk Street market in Johannesburg I receive an unexpected gift.
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Happy New Year!
I only completed about half of the action items I set for the December holidays, yet my rest in nature has served me well and brought me new insights and ideas.
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Go well Lambropoulis family, we will miss you in town!
Over the past eight years the Lambropoulis family built City Perk Café into a vibrant inner city landmark. We wish them well, but they will be sorely missed.
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Being seen in inner city Jozi
My regular walks in town are accompanied by a pleasant rhythm of sawubona’s and how are you’s. They make me feel ‘seen’ and I try to return the pleasure.
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Laughter warms a cold Jozi day
Things are not what they seem in my encounter on this cold Jozi day and when I realise that laughter echoes in Trader’s Alley.
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May we all wear our skirts often!
Observing the urban hustle and bustle after lockdown I was reminded of what Dutch writer Martin Bril famously called ‘Rokjesdag’ (Skirts Day).
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Papa’s legacy and quizzical city strolling
When I began wandering the city and wondering about the buildings, people and sights I encountered, I found myself channeling Papa and chatting to passers-by.
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The Flying Cows of Jozi – the story of our origins
The Flying Cows of Jozi story is about following your dreams, finding connection in unexpected places and about Jozi, the city that grows your heart and horizon.
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Our Community: Creativity & Care
My Inner City Creativity & Care Walk highlights inner city entrepreneurs who in true Jozi style push the boundaries during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Connecting inner city Chants to Zen wisdom from the Karoo
Faith47’s description of chanting as “a traditional means of preparing the mind for meditation within the Chaotic world.” turned out to be prophetic.
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Our community: Enduring entrepreneurs
I took the opportunity last week to find out a bit more about the origins of Gelvan’s Pharmacy and its long trading history from Mr Vallabh.
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Our community: Leiden alumni abroad in times of Corona
Leiden University collects stories of alumni abroad on how COVID-19 impacts their lives. I’m delighted that my lockdown experience in Joburg is included.
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Bank of Lisbon to be imploded a year after the devastating fire
May the sounds of the implosion resonate long in the ears of all those involved in building, renovating and maintaining spaces where people live, work and play.
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City of wander, city of wonder
I love wandering in town with no goal or destination in mind, witnessing the sights, sounds and special encounters that for me spell Jozi.
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The plums that keep on giving
With my eye out for colour on my walk in town, I can’t miss the shiny red plums on offer and somehow a bag of them brings joy to many.
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Colourful Jozi
A quote by Rebecca Solnit in her ‘Wanderlust’ encouraged me to walk again and reconnected me with the vibe and colours that are very much part of life in Jozi.
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Site of activists past and present
Soon after I moved to this part of the city centre I realised that activism, like social and economic turbulence, is not at all a thing of South Africa’s past.
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Guardian angels
It was quite an adventure to be stuck on Nelson Mandela Bridge without any petrol. Then guardian angels appeared in the form of JMPD officers.
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