S1 - Ep 421 - Aliwal North (Maletswai)!
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- Опубліковано 21 сер 2024
- Our visit to Aliwal North was unexpectedly delightful. Just 10 kilometres from the town, Sonia suggested we take a turn into the Toll Inn, leading us to a charming surprise. The entrance featured the historic Sauer Bridge, built in 1881, which set the nostalgic tone for our entire visit. While exploring the town, we marvelled at the stunning architecture, including the Sacred Heart Cathedral with its impressive spires reaching into the sky. The General Hertzog Bridge, a massive structure spanning the Orange River to the north, the converted old station, now serving as a college, added to the town's unique character. The Memorial to those who passed in the concentration camp during the Anglo Boer War touched us on a very deep and emotional level. Aliwal North turned out to be a true treat, filled with history and architectural wonders. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #easterncape #aliwalnorth #maletswai
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You visited my town. Born and bred here. How beautiful is my town.
It was a pleasure to visit your hometown! Thank you for watching our video. 🚙😍
This was the first time I've seen a proper and appropriate memorial for all the innocent victims who died in the concentration camps.
Very suprised that its in this out of the way border town.
I wasn't surprised to find the concentration camp memorial in Aliwal North since the concentration camp was located there. It was a very emotional experience for me walking around there and reading about all those lost lives who deserve to be honoured. 🏛️
Lovely to see the Hot Springs have opened again and looking nice & neat. It's a great place to go and soak in some hot mineral waters. We were there two years ago and was it was in a bad state of affairs and closed. The town itself is also looking better. Hopefully they tidying it up at last, as its a beautiful place with all its history and old buildings. Yes, the bridge over the Orange river is very impressive and the Toll House too.
Thanks for taking us there 😊
I'm happy to hear that the hot springs look better than when you saw it last two years ago! It did look like families and groups of friends were having a fantastic time on this hot day! 🥵🏊♀️ Both bridges were phenomenal and so were all the old buildings, monuments and historical sites, there is so much history in this town and its surrounds. And of course the mighty Orange! 🚙😍
Yes i visited with a friend on Nov 30-Dec1st 2002 after drive on road trip from Port St Johns via Mountain Shadows Hotel on Barkly Pass north of Elliot, Larger pools were not in use, only a small hotter indoor pool. Good to see it seems functioning again.The neat tidy layout of town is credit to the townspeople.
My hometown 😊
Thank you Curtis.
Our pleasure! It was fantastic visiting your hometown! 🚙😍
Hi 👋 The Kraai River runs past my Sister's Farm in Barkley East. It's so beautiful. My Sister's Grandkids love fishing, rowing, and swimming in the Kraai River. In April I sat with my feet in the river it was ice cold but very refreshing 😅 Lovely to see Aliwal North again I was 15 last there and swam at the Warm Baths in June Winter time😂 was great fun. Was bloody cold outside! Enjoyed the trip with you guys, saw such lovely places which i will never see😢Thank you so much, you both rock😅 ❤
The Kraai River is a surprisingly big river and from your comment, I realise it's even longer and bigger than we thought. 🌊 Your sister must live in a very scenic area with a river running past their property. We were there on a very hot day and the folks seemed to be having a lot of fun at the hot springs. I can only imagine how cool it must be to swim there on a cold day, that sounds awesome! 🥶🥵🏊♀️
Than you very much for bringing back great memories of Aliwal North, as children in the 1960's we spent many enjoyable hours in the town and especially the "warm water bronne" during school holidays! To this day I can still recall the very strong Sulphur smell of the water, especially in the enclosed spa pool which is built over the eye of the spring. Really looking forward to your next stop in the area🙏🙏
Oh yes, I think the rail traffic from East London to Gauteng will run through Burgersdorp and not Aliwal North.
I'm so glad you came back to Aliwal North with us and even more so that you were reminded of special times in your own life. It sounds like you spent many fun times at the Spa! 🏊♀️🤽🏽♂️ Thank you for the info on the train route from East London, I was convinced it would go through Aliwal North, but clearly not! 😁🚉
8 4eally love the trees, so beautiful 😊😊😊😊
Like Sonia always says, trees make a place! 🚙🌳
Wow what a nice welcome the toll inn is. A beautiful place and so nicely kept. And a monestry on top of it. What a huge primary school -amazing. Anglo Boer War memorial is a huge place - rememberance gardens. Lots of interesting places to visit. Absolutely fantastic. They surely maintain and look after the town. Hot springs very nice. What a nice visit and so much to see. Thank you a trip well done. Now i sit and wait for the next one...
The Toll Inn was a fantastic find! That old bridge blew us away, we never expected to find that there. 🤩 And the town of Aliwal North didn't disappoint either. You mentioned many of the things we enjoyed seeing. The concentration camp memorial was quite an emotional visit for me. 🏛️😥 Don't you worry, I'll be at the pickup point for the next trip, be ready!
I was hoping to see inside the warmbronne. I was there as a kid with my parents and my brother and i loved it there. Now my boet and parents are gone 😢
Wowzer, deze episode is een topper uit jullie video’s tot nu toe ❤. En ook qua duur volgens een nieuw record met die 1 uur en 15 minuten 🤩. Geen wonder want er zit werkelijk alles in. Een prachtige oude brug met hoeksteen & de Oranje rivier, Kraai Rivier herberg & River Inn hotel, een nog helemaal overeind staand stationsgebouw & beul van een old age locomotief keurig onder een afdakje, veel groene bomen & de wonderlijke kale afgetopte exemplaren, jullie Kwid & rond 42.12 minuten op de kruising een fraaie vintage Mercedes die je mooi in beeld brengt, het verleden in vele moving monuments zoals het concentratiekamp & de grafstenen, een originele & nieuwe plaatsnaam, steak & chicken (die eenmaal op tafel hopelijk nog voldoende warm waren 😋🐓), een TLC behoeftige kerk & de imposante NG kerk qua ontwerp met een soort van Midden Oosten vibe, een heerlijke warme buitenpool & knisperende motregen en …. het mooiste van alles, als altijd: jullie wederzijdse schattige benadering, waaronder jouw “my angel” voor Sonia 💖
Het konsentrasiekamp het werkelik mijn hart geruk. niet hoender maar vis, eigentlik. Mmmm...lekker! Spa poel heb ik wel bezoeken. Aangename ondervinding, net een klankje maar men raak gou gewoond eraan.
@ingeborgvanderveer789 Aliwal North was a bumper package of history, historical sites and old buildings. 🚙🏛️💒 That stone bridge at The Toll House and the concentration camp memorial had to have been two highlights for us! The steak and fish were lukewarm by the time we got to eating, but we make do and fill the tummies! 🥩🐟 I'm glad you enjoyed Aliwal North with my Angel and I. 🥰
@@annawitter5161 ik zou graag eens in die warm water bron zwemmen, ondanks de lucht van scheetjes die je noemt 😂. Zelf heb ik thuis geen bad dus altijd heerlijk om elders in warm water te zitten. Zeker gezien het koude weer dezer dagen in Nederland, de regen klettert nu tegen mijn ramen 💦🥶. Het is ontroerend om een mooi en nog steeds in goede staat verkerend monument te zien in herdenking aan de Boeren in het concentratiekamp. Het is een deel van de geschiedenis dat helaas in Europa geheel ondergesneeuwd werd door de 2 wereld oorlogen die erna volgden en daarna ook door een in mijn optiek ‘valse schaamte’ over de blanke aanwezigheid in Afrika. Gelukkig zijn je voorouders pas na 1902 geëmigreerd maar je familie zal vast wel Boeren afstammelingen gesproken en/of gekend hebben die het aan den lijve hebben ondervonden. Toch mooi dat het huis van de dokter in de Levystraat behouden is 🙏🏻
Hi guys amazing video so many surprises from the toll House Hotel old bridge the boer war memorial. The town seems to be thriving the main road was busy with plenty of choice of shops. The monastery and the Catholic cathedral were impressive to have this type of facilities in a small town in rural SA is mind blowing and the style looks Italian Roman ? .the concentration comp memorial was moving with the original grave stones. Loved the iron bridge. So many churches the DRF church was stunning lovely flowers and theWW1 memorial. At every turn there was another lovely looking old buildings .the River Lodge was out of this world views of the river amazing the bucks heads and stuffed lion only in South Africa the history of the name interesting Sikh wars !!! The light and stone monument was a new one on me Loved the sleeping lions. Your accommodation topnotch again like a little house. The station buildings were in great nick being repurposed as a school inspiring. Really enjoyed this video. Thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one
The stone bridge at the Toll Inn and the concentration camp memorial were two definite standouts for us! 🚙🏛️ You're the architecture expert, I'll take your word for the building style, I just admire them for their beauty, but don't know much more than that! 😁 The cathedral was magnificent, I can only imagine what it looks like inside. 💒 We loved the old steel bridge over the mighty Orange River!
We've been to Aliwal a couple of times, once for a wedding and stayed close to the Aliwal Baths. This was many years ago, and we were quite surprised at everything you showed us. And I think it was the longest video of all! I wondered if you noticed the food gardens when you left the area of the old train station. I loved it.
Nope, didn't notice the food gardens as we were driving along. There is just too much to see in real-time that we'll always miss certain things along the way. 🚙🤷🏻♂️ We had seen so many incredible things in town though, I'm glad you enjoyed our visit. 🚙🤩
Nice to see Aliwal North again....haven't been here for a long time. That Spa was wonderful but I heard that it had deteriorated a lot but maybe it is fine now by just the look of the surroundings.
We were pleasantly surprised by how Aliwal North looks after most of its old buildings and monuments. 🏛️💒 It certainly looked like folks were having a grand old time at the Spa. In the temperatures I believe they get there, I would imagine they need every little bit of relief they can get! 🥵🏊♀️🤽🏽♂️
Hi you two! This was a most interesting tour! A beautiful approach through the rocky hills, with your turn in to the Toll Herberg a warm welcome to the town. The Sauer bridge is a credit to our predecessors. The town must be fast approaching city size. I love those wide streets with the beautiful trees. There are surprises everywhere you look, whether on the high street or round a corner. Really old buildings, churches, old cemetery... .And, as you said, Curtis, how 'cool' 😀are the Hot Springs! The Holy Cross Primary school looks more like a university! Impressive! Memorials everywhere, tracing South African history. The concentration camp memorial is a sad remembrance. Our country owes much to Emily Hobhouse.
Thank you for all your effort you put in this trip. I'm glad you could take some time off to watch the cricket.
Looking forward too the the next trip!
Keep safe!
That Sauer Bridge blew our minds! 🚙😍 Aliwal North is most definitely a place which deserves a whole lot of credit for how they preserve their old historical sites and buildings, which is of course an explorer's dream! 🏛️💒 I'm sure many folks cool off in the Spa baths, I believe they get scorchers in that area! 🥵🏊♀️ So glad you enjoyed this medium-sized town, it certainly felt like a city to us two! 😁
Personally cannot wait until the bugs are back in the Free State
No plans at the moment, but I'll always adore the province. 🚙🧡
When I was small, I used to think it was Animal North! The old bridge is very picturesque. And the Toll Inn, very atmospheric. Would love to stay over there. So steeped in history. A lucky find. The buildings are all so well preserved. I love the word herberg. It comes from French , auberge. Which also sounds beautiful. When I hear the word Maletswai, I immediately see people playing croquet! Wow! One beautiful old building after the other. The catholic church...well, words fail me! The concentration camp memorial really overwhelms my heart, Emily Hobhouse was so amazing. Guys, I have tears! Aha! You found the spa! Me and my first husband took a trip north via Aliwal North and we stayed overnight in a hotel not far from this spa. Needless to say, we had a very enjoyable visit to the spa, which smelled of farts but we got used to that. Thank you for bringing back many happy memories
Yup, the old stone bridge and the concentration camp memorial were two special places in a long line of special places. 🏛️🚙 I felt quite emotional myself walking around that memorial site. 😥 The hot springs looked like a great place. Luckily we couldn't smell anything from the car! 😨🏊♀️ Those sound like fond memories of special times with your first husband. 😊
Hi guys, great shows, very informative, just to note on the trains from JHB to EL as you mentioned, they dont pass through Aliwal North at all. The route is, JHB to Bloemfontein, then Springfontein, Bethulie, Burgersdorp, Molteno, Sterkstroom Queenstown, Cathcart, Stutterheim, Amabele, East London to name the main centers. Currently the passenger train on this route is only running from JHB to Queenstown and not EL anymore.
Thank you for the interesting info on the train routes, we always love hearing that trains still run. 🚉
Hi Curtis Sonia and Dusty, awesomeness is definitely the word, Sonia 😁. What amazing town with so many special places and clearly people with a proud heritage ❤. Safe travels
You're 100% correct. The town of Aliwal North certainly deserves a lot of credit for looking after their buildings and historical sites the way they do. We love seeing that! 🚙🏛️💒 I'm so glad you enjoyed the awesomeness with us, we loved it too! 🤩🧸
I'm not really fan of towns in South Africa being renamed. Like in March of this year, the town of Somerset East was renamed to KwaNojoli. And Fort Beaufort was renamed KwaMaqoma.
I don't always understand it either. I'm particularly not a fan of the money it costs our already-poor country. 🇿🇦😥
Hi guys, spent last week visiting fam. No place like home, not that I didnt have a good time. Lovely part of the world your visiting. Thank you, couldn't agree more about the names. Take care.🙂🙏🤗🎶🎶
come see us here Lady Grey❤
We did! Check out Episode 420! 🚙😍
❤
My home town i grow up and study the at Egqili secondary school this is a nice town we call it stroke 5... small jozi
I am born and raised in this town
I go to that school At holy cross I go to that school holy cross
It's such a pity you went right past The Toll House that you said was the prettiest farm stall. That was one of the oldest toll houses. We ran a restaurant from there called The Saffron Kitchen
Well, at least we mentioned it and included it in our video! 🤷🏻♂️ We have limited time to travel, so it's simply impossible to stop at every single place of interest, there is just not enough time for that.
I'm curious about people walking alongside the sidewalk on the road when the sidewalk is sometumes 3 to 4m wide. Does anyone know why I see this so often?
We're supposed to walk on the sidewalks (or pavements as they're sometimes referred to here). Not everyone obeys the law unfortunately. I'm not able to explain why. 🤷🏻♂️
Wots rong with 2 naims.
The major issue I have with name changes, is the money it costs the country, while it already doesn't have the necessary funds to provide essential services to its citizens. 🇿🇦🤷🏻♂️