An hour north of Cape Town, the Swartland, one of the largest wine-producing areas in the Western Cape, doesn’t receive nearly the same attention as its polished neighbors in the Cape Winelands; the clean-cut vineyards of Stellenbosch, Paarl, and Franschhoek, where a hop-on, hop-off wine tram runs through the valley. Instead, the Swartland is the opposite of a wine tourism hub, with dirt roads carving through golden wheat fields that form a pattern of stripes along the foothills of Paardeberg mountain. Along the highway, carefully stacked hay bales form a makeshift café—one of the sole roadside stops—and the only pop of color punctuating the blonde, desert-like expanse (which could double as a backdrop for a Clint Eastwood film) comes from the patchwork of old-bush vines and olive groves. After the winter rains, the native rhinoceros bush takes on an inky hue, which is how the Swartland (Afrikaans for “black land”) earned its name.
A trail of two cities: an alternative guide to Salford and Manchester
07.05.2024 - 10:33 / theguardian.com / Art
On the first Sunday of May every year, Chapel Street, where central Manchester and Salford meet, comes alive with DIY art, music and spectacle at the Sounds from the Other City festival. It is a vibrant public celebration of the “community spirit and collaborative working” which co-director Emma Thompson says sustains much alternative culture in the region.
“Collaboration is core to what we do, to Greater Manchester as a city,” Thompson says. “People come together, and it crosses genres and art forms. Sounds from the Other City wouldn’t be turning 20 next year if it wasn’t for that. The fees we offer aren’t huge but people really get behind it, do it for the love of it.”
Thompson is forthright about the challenges facing those making experimental art: “It’s precarious. It feels unstable.” Costs are high, affordable space is scarce, funding is “very competitive”. Such forces are reshaping the creative landscape, literally. Manchester’s Northern Quarter still has its quirkier, arty hangouts, but generic bars and restaurants dominate. Leftfield culture is migrating to the city’s edges – or into Salford.
For the past 18 months, the band WH Lung have been based at Salford’s Islington Mill, a complex of artist-maker studios. Keyboard player Tom Sharkett says that a time when, in many ways, you’d “have to be mad” to pursue a life in music and art, it is inspirational to be surrounded by people “doing cool stuff for the right reasons”.
Opened in 2000, Islington Mill has latterly expanded into new buildings, including an adjacent trading estate. “The Mill feels like it’s taken on a new life. It feels strong,” says Sharkett. That’s also true of wider Manchester and Salford’s creative vigour. The obstacles are many, but the urge to make great art endures.
Arguably, Manchester music is as vibrant right now as at any point post-punk – from Anz to Space Afrika, Blackhaine to Sockethead, Mandy, Indiana to Michael J Blood. Much of that is down to the nurturing influence of The White Hotel, a former garage near Strangeways prison. In contrast with the bland gentrification of modern Manchester, this singular entity (grimy location, great sound, art school ethos, all-night-rave energy) has created space for new music to grow. “It’s a really important space,” says Thompson.
In the Northern Quarter, but in similar creative territory, club and gig venue Soup proves that all you need is a basement, a red light and, as well as a feeling, a programme that challenges its audience.
Other city-centre venues that defy convention include punk and indie haven the Star & Garter, Aatma, the Peer Hat and Peste (see Drink section below). But interesting things increasingly happen just outside the centre, often in unexpected places.
Two
This Museum In Ireland Pays Ole To Iconic Hollywood Glamor and Style
In the serene countryside of County Kildare, Ireland, amidst rolling hills and ancient castles, lies a hidden gem that attracts visitors from around the globe — the Museum of Style Icons (MOSI) at Newbridge Silverware, Ireland’s premier silverware producer. This cultural treasure trove, founded by CEO William Doyle and his wife Monica, offers a captivating journey through the realms of fashion, film, and popular culture from Hollywood’s good old days.
A first-timer's guide to Newfoundland, Canada
When a northern, sea-bound island goes by the nickname “The Rock,” you already have a good idea of what to expect. Newfoundland is a place of elemental beauty where the Earth’s mantle is one of the attractions. Stiff breezes can build to roaring winds off the cold Atlantic, pushing around icebergs and tossing fishing boats, even in coves protected by jagged cliffs where clouds of seabirds nest.
H World's Ji Hotels: Chinese Brand Is Heading to Saudi and UAE
As Chinese travel into the Middle East continues to increase, one of the country’s largest hotel operators sees an opportunity. While it’s not as commonly known in the West, H World is a giant in the hotel industry, with around 9,300 hotels and close to one million rooms across the world.
6 Delightful Destinations For Celebrating A Milestone Birthday
It’s always a good idea to focus on experiences over material things, especially for a big milestone birthday. Why not cash in your vacation days and revel in gratitude for another trip around the sun by hopping on an airplane, with passport in hand? It doesn’t matter if you go somewhere new or well loved, or if you travel with family and friends or solo.
Germany’s football factory: a travel guide to the Ruhr
In 1961, future West German chancellor Willy Brandt declared: “The sky above the Ruhr must be blue once more.” His words were greeted with what sounded like applause but was actually his audience falling off their chairs. Because the Ruhrpott, or Ruhrgebiet, an agglomeration of industrial cities that includes Gelsenkirchen (where England will play their opening match of the European Championship this summer), Dortmund (which hosts group matches as well as a semi-final), Essen and Duisburg was a place where the chimneys of the coal, iron and steel industries poked up above the smog like candles on a giant grey birthday cake. You were more likely to slip in unicorn droppings than breathe clean air in the Ruhrpott.
Best and Worst Cities for Grass Allergies This Summer
For Allergy and Asthma Awareness Month, Lawn Love ranked the worst and best cities for grass allergies this summer.
First-timer’s guide to Canyonlands National Park
A mind-boggling glimpse into layers upon layers of Earth’s planetary past, Canyonlands National Park is Utah's largest – and least visited – national park, even though part of it sits a short distance away from Arches National Park, a 40-minute drive from the town of Moab.
5 Of The Best Museums And Cultural Hot Spots To Visit In Brussels, Belgium
There are endless cultural experiences in Brussels to add to your bucket list—but if you’re visiting for the first time there are a handful of spots you’ll want to check off your list immediately. The following museums and culturally significant hot spots are unique to Brussels and will appeal to a broad range of travelers, from science fiends to architecture fans.
Dubai Gains Ground In The Tours And Activities Market
Two online tour marketplaces say Dubai is far surpassing its pre-pandemic popularity. The city now ranks alongside Paris and Rome as a tourism hotspot.
Slow travel, sustainability and technology highlighted as future global tourism trends
Travel & tourism experts from across the industry convened at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2024 Future Stage this morning to discuss the complexities of navigating the transformation of hospitality.
Emirates Inks Strategic Tourism Agreements with Hong Kong, Seychelles and Sri Lanka
Underscoring Emirates’ commitment to boost tourism inflows across its network, the airline has reaffirmed its strategic cooperation with Tourism Seychelles and the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau and has forged a new partnership with the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Emirates has pledged its renewed commitment with Tourism Seychelles, supporting the island’s efforts to promoting tourism and trade to the country. The MoU was signed by Ahmed Khoory, Emirates’ SVP Commercial - West Asia & Indian Ocean, and Sherin Francis, Principal Secretary Tourism Department, Tourism Seychelles, in the presence of Nabil Sultan, Emirates’ Executive Vice President, Passenger Sales and Country Management.