No really. Added to the fact that I had a black hormonally-induced cloud moving in fast, we could n't find one thing or place where we a) wanted to go and b) our dogs were allowed. This is, I am afraid, testament to the suckiness of the Magalies area. I have tried now a few times since moving to Gauteng to find charming places there. Perhaps I am forever ruined by the Cape, but what's with advertising a rural luxury self catering cottage while reality is that trucks lumber past, psycho inbred dogs bark at the gate all the time (fortunately ours were a bit above it all) and a view of the neighbouring battery chicken farms (ok let's be honest, they ain't farms, they're buildings as the chickens don't exactly peck peck around the yard) pervades the landscape.
Eish.
And the one places that looks quite elegant and intriguing - the Nirox art foundation - was not open to the public.
To be fair if we had had more energy, and were sans dogs, we could have gone on a canopy tour. Maropeng and Sterkfontein caves are both worthwhile too, but i've done them. And hot air ballooning requires a certain frame of mind, and weight of wallet. I have heard there are a handful of good restaurants too. But the Magalies map has lots and lots of places and you just can't get excited by 99% of them. I don't know what it is about the place, but it lacks style.
So next time we want to weekend somewhere less than 3 hrs from Jozi we will return to Kokopelli which is well priced, and feels quite special and rural on a big property with a river and lots of bush. In short, it's a log cabin with class. Having no competition to speak of also helps.
No more expecting the Magalies to deliver a top SA experience. I'll save up for my holidays to the Cape.
Surely there's a business opportunity in here somewhere if you can face peri-urban hell?
Monday, March 9, 2009
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