Our time in the Jacaranda City

We departed Howick on Tuesday morning, 21 May, on the Greyhound bus. We traveled from 09h45 to 18h00, 8 hours later we arrived in Pretoria. It really is so good to see our family. Warren, Gail, Aila and Faith! After a delicious cup of tea, a hearty meal and some good conversation, we settled in and slept like the dead... Lol! 

If you haven't yet had the pleasure of visiting Pretoria, here is some history and a couple of photos to wet your appetite.

Pretoria itself was founded in 1855 by Marthinus Pretorius, a leader of the Voortrekkers, who named it after his father Andries Pretorius. The elder Pretorius had become a national hero of the Voortrekkers after his victory over the Zulus in the Battle of Blood River. Andries Pretorius also negotiated the Sand River Convention (1852), in which Britain acknowledged the independence of the Transvaal. It became the capital of the South African Republic (ZAR) on 1 May 1860. The founding of Pretoria as the capital of the South African Republic can be seen as marking the end of the Boers' settlement movements of the Great Trek.

Pretoria is best known as The Jacaranda City, due to the enormous number of Jacaranda trees planted as street trees and in parks and gardens. In flowering time the city appears blue/purple in colour when seen from the nearby hills because of all the Jacaranda trees. The time of year the Jacarandas bloom in Pretoria coincides with the year-end exams at the University of Pretoria and legend has it that if a flower from the Jacaranda tree drops on your head, you will pass all your exams.

Next stop, Meyerton on Sunday, 26 May. There we will spend time with our good friend Jason. It will be good to spend time in the bush :-)

11 more sleeps till we fly....