Tuesday 14 July 2015

Trains, planes..... no automobiles

(Does anybody remember the movies Trains, planes and automobiles?)
Beautiful clouds from the plane
On short notice, we decided to take the chance to visit the grandparents in Port Elizabeth. When I looked at flights (not wanting to take the 2200 km per car with possible sleepovers) there were none to be found at an even reasonable cost - and I am talking expensive! In the area of R3000,00 per person. Not a possibility in the slightest for us . So the long in our minds idea of taking a train trip some time or another became the idea to do it now. It seems like a good idea. Overnight in a little bed in two compartments and in Port Elizabeth in the morning. So we booked on the Shosaloza Meyl to depart last Friday. All set and ready, I phoned on Thursday to confirm the bedding booking, only to be told that in fact, the PE train was not running on Friday. Due to a derailment of  a goods train on Wednesday night the tracks were damaged close to Cradok and the train will only run the next Wednesday. We were offered a full refund or a reschedule. There was no way we could reschedule as  we would have no time in PE. Before considering a car journey, I had a quick look at flights and lo and behold, good priced flights were to be found on Mango - but only on Monday morning and returning of Saturday. But we booked and we are here. It's great to be at the sea although it is freezing and the wind pumping. It was 13 degrees yesterday with an icy wind blowing but we stopped at our favorite Schoenmakerskop and made the most of it.


And above all it's great to see the family. Because that is what it's all about. To see L and Oups enjoying their shared love of sport. To have tea with Ouma and talk books. To lie in my ned last night and hear H and his dad talking till late. To see the joy and love on the faces of the kids and the Oupa and Ouma. Just to be here. It's great!

That is Hunter, taking a swim! 

12 comments:

  1. Sounds like a lovely, well deserved break!

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  2. So I had to book tickets for my kids to come back from Cape Town. I was struggling with Kulula but the prices actually dropped every time I checked! Hows that?

    Glad you managed to get away though!

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  3. H is crazy!!!! That water must be freezing :)

    So fun to see how God made it all work out for you guys. I will be in PE Friday night. When I booked on 20 May, my flight (return) was R1400 on Flysafair. I reserved a seat but am only taking carry-on luggage.

    PS in case you think I have an amazing memory, my booking reference is right next to the computer :)

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    1. We flew for R1066 per person return on Mango!

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  4. We were also looking at air tickets to PE and decided it was too much. I have been on the Shosholoza Meyl train to Durban twice. I found it difficult to fly with a little one on my own and driving was too scary too. So twice I took the train to Durban. It is nice to have a cabin to yourself and the little one could play and sleep.
    It does take forever though. The journey was very long, but it was fairly comfortable. I would recommend it as a family experience at least once.

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    1. Great having a first hand recommendation

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  5. Hey Welcome to PE. I know those pictures. Yes, the weather has been a tad "fresh" the last few days with some unwelcome wind.
    Cannot believe Hunter took a swim. You have to persuade me to swim in the sea in the middle of summer let alone winter
    Enjoy PE.

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    1. He will always have a swim at the sea - he is a true sea lover

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  6. I remember that movie :-) With John Candy right??

    Flight prices are a little crazy ... we went to Durbs a couple of weeks ago and ended up hiring a Kombi to drive there all together ...

    Lovely pics! Enjoy your seaside break :-)

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  7. Aw pity the train trip didn't work out, sounds like quite an adventure, always fun to do something different! Glad you got more affordable flights tho, gosh, R3k is soooo expensive!
    Enjoy it!
    xx

    http://jessv83.blogspot.com/

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  8. Glad you got the holiday. It must have been great!

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