Had a nice breakfast at Outlook Guest house, and ready to fly to Port Elizabeth . The flight was good, and in PE, I easily found the Grahamstown shuttle. Chatted to an interesting Mozambican guy about to lecture a group at Rhodes. Arrived at the Bartholomew's Loft. It is one of the original Grahamstown buildings built by the British. It is enormous, really like a home!! It has 5 beds, a huge dining room table, great African decor, incredibly spacious. It is self catering, so I bought groceries, and stocked the fridge to feed myself. Lots of counter space, crockery, everything. There is a nice sitting area, and of course huge wooden steps going up to a lovely upstairs main bedroom that I occupy. Security is tight, as expected, with remote controlled sliding gate, metal grate door in addition to the regular door, plus alarm system!!! Of course the whole place has an original wall around the property. I walked down the road to the music department, and found a lady lecturer and explained my mission: to enquire about and see my mother's gorgeous Beckstein Grand, which the music department had used for student concerts. However they had bought two Bosendorfer's ( concert performing grand pianos). No-one seemed to know about the fate of Eunice's piano. I asked for Tim Radloff's phone number, as he lectured me when I was at Rhodes, but of course has since retired. He told me that the piano had been sold to a dominee ( pastor ) in Port Elizabeth. The funds will become available to us, although it sold for virtually nothing!! Tim has given me contact info to contact the dominee and see the piano when I leave Grahmstown. I walked towards the main university gate ( Drosty Arch ) and enjoyed the emotional ride back in time when I was a student at Rhodes University. I walked down High Street, stopped in at Checkers to get groceries, enjoying the South African foods, I used to like. I went by the Anglican cathedral, where I was married, and down towards Beaufort, and Bartholomew street where I reside. I enjoyed a quiet dinner, and organized, and that's all! Thanks for checking in! Have a great day!!
Above: Coastal dunes along the PE Grahamstown road
Above: outside Grahmstown, 1820 English Settler's Monument, is a performing arts centre. I mounted a huge musical production there with St. Andrew's College many decades ago.
Above and below: Bartholomew's Loft with very high ceiling, chandeliers, rafters, and loft!
Above: steps to the bedroom loft, also 2 bedrooms on main floor.
Above: entrance to Beethoven Hall, where dear Eunice lectured long ago. Below is a bust of Doc Gruber who started the Rhodes University Chamber Choir, and who instilled in me a love for choral music, and persuaded me to do a music teaching degree.
Below: Drosty Arch, Rhodes University entrance, traditional meeting place.
Below: path linking Drosty Arch to the university in next pic below.
Below: Grahamstown Anglican Cathedral where I was married.
Powerful experiences, Dave!
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