"I'm going to speak my mind because I have nothing to lose."--S.I. Hayakawa
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Saturday, June 14, 2014

The Africa Journals, Ch. 51, The Huguenots to the Rescue




The Africa Journals

Chapter 51
The Huguenots to the Rescue


When a woman is told that her husband drowned in a vat of wine, she laments,  ‘I hope he went quickly.'   ‘Well, actually, he didn’t,’ responds the messenger. ‘He got out to pee three times.’
—Our esteemed tour guide Brian Heywood.




Brian holds out his arm to bar my way and says, “You can’t get on the bus yet.”

Wondering what I could have done now, I ask, “I haven’t spent enough money yet?”  I did buy some  paltry trinkets worth only a few Rand.  

“No, come with me,” and he walks across the shaded gravel parking area.   “I though you would appreciate this.”   He points up into a tree.






It takes a moment, and then I see it—a spotted eagle owl (yes, eagle owl) in the crook of a eucalyptus tree.   He’s right.  I do appreciate it and am pleased that he thought of me, but then he stays there to point it out to everyone who wanders over.

We are parked in a gravel lot next to a Dutch Reformed Church, and I have just finished a quick exploration of this town known as Fraanschhoek.

































"Dutch Reformed Church   The oldest portion of this church was erected in 1846-1847 and inaugurated on 18 April 1847.   The northern and southern wings were added in 1883.  National Monument Council 1978"


When the Dutch East India Company established a mid-way supply station in the mid-1600s at what is now Cape Town, the Dutch farmers (Boers) were able to provide the company's ships hauling lucrative spices from India to Europe with produce, meat, and fresh water, but the wine left much to be desired.

French Huguenots, escaping religious persecution, were subsidized by the Cape government to emigrate to Cape Town.   Their knowledge of viticulture and wine-making vastly improved the quality of South African wines.   Today South African wines are among the best in the world.





Because of the conditions imposed upon their immigration, it did not take long for the Huguenots to become assimilated into the Dutch population.   Those conditions included that all schools be taught in Dutch, that official correspondence be done in Dutch, and that all assemblies be tightly restricted.  The crafty Dutch also made certain that land allotments to the Huguenots were spaced between Dutch farms.

Eventually, a valley in the beautiful mountains became known as Franschhoek, or "French corner."  Today it is a bustling tourist town, streets lined with shops catering to tourists and abundant wineries offering tasting rooms.























I think everyone in our group found this shop.



In fascinating gift shop, I found these porcupine quills, which really put our Alaska porcupines to shame.




Guessing these to be 14 to 16 inches long.


This bundle of quills I brought home are 8 inches long.



South African porcupine




Alaskan porcupine


At one end of town, there is a large monument to the contributions the Huguenots made to South Africa.










"Erected on this dedicated ground in 1943 by a grateful South African people in honour of the Huguenots at the Cape (1688) and their invaluable contribution to our nationhood.  The three arches symbolize the Holy Trinity; the Sun and the Cross form the emblem of the Huguenots.   Design by d. C Dongens.   The central figure represents the freedom of conscience.  Sculptor: Coert Steynberg."








And then, it was time for lunch and for that we drove to a winery in Franschhoek.










The view from my dining room seat.   The wall was floor to ceiling glass.
















Found this book on a fireplace mantle.



Published in 1912




The lady next to me had Wood-Roasted Mozambique Chicken.



I opted for a luscious ostrich steak.   Mild, tender, incredible.


Creme brulee.



Fossils in the steps and walk outside the restaurant.
























Oh, goodness.   On to the wine-tasting room.










Restio, the thatching grass, make a fine ornamental plant.




Chandelier in the tasting room.










Tony, Carol, and me.



Then it was back to the Spier hotel and .....   yes, more wine.   This time, paired with chocolate.   For some reason, I don't have any photos of this event.   Curious.   Maybe too much wine.




4 comments:

  1. absolutely beautiful country.....you captured it well. <3

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  2. In all honesty, before you made this trip I would never have imagined Africa to be as beautiful as you have captured it in your pictures. I had envisioned the animals but not the scenery. And an Ostrich steak...tender?...who would have ever guessed!! They are such lanky birds!!! Thanks for each and every installment!!! Patti and Cap

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  3. Another .. yet another .. in a seemingly never-ending series of incredible and phenomenal posts! How on earth do you manage to accomplish all of this?

    Nine generations ago .. a French Huguenot by the name of Pierre Chastain .. escaped with his very life from his homeland in France and went to Switzerland. Pierre somehow then got to England and there boarded a ship (I think it was named .. the Mary and Ann) .. crossed the Atlantic ocean and arrived in the year 1700 on the eastern shores of the United States in what we now call Virgina. Each and every Chastain here in the United States has descended from Pierre. Until the year 1970-71 when I was living in Fresno California .. I had never heard of nor knew what a French Huguenot was .. and here nine generations later I am a direct descendant of one! They seem to have done some good things in the world since escaping with their lives from France. THANKS FOR MENTIONING THEM .. Smiles .. Cap ..

    Patti and I had a good giggle about your closing words .. too much wine maybe?

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  4. Now I KNOW I've met my match when it comes to wanting to capture ALL I SEE with my camera. We'll never regret it; that's the up side. I'm glad you bought some porcupine quills to bring home--I would have too.

    I'm glad you relaxed with wine. And that you put your camera down for a spell. Any photos you would have have taken may have been uncentered, blurry and so on anyway. :)

    Thanks for sharing your day. I know that putting together each and every blog post it quite a task. More time consuming than folks could imagine.

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