Welcome to Thursday Doors, a weekly feature allowing door lovers to come together to admire and share their favorite door photos from around the world. Feel free to join in on the fun by creating your own Thursday Doors post each week and then sharing your link in the comments below, anytime between 12:01 am Thursday morning and Saturday noon (North American eastern time).
You can join in Thursday Doors here: https://nofacilities.com/2022/03/24/back-to-frog-hollow/
During our brief 24 hours in Graaf-Reinet in January this year, we visited Reinet House which is now a museum.
Reinet House was originally a Dutch Reformed Church parsonage and was built in 1812. The most well know of the ministers who occupied the parsonage were Rev Andrew Murray and his son Charles. Rev Andrew Murray was a writer and teacher in addition to being a minister.
Charles Murray planted a Black Acorn grapevine in 1870 which still survives today. This is the second oldest grapevine in South Africa. The oldest is a Gross Chenin Blanc sown in 1771 that still exists in the central business district of Cape Town.
We visited a local restaurant in Graaf-Reinet called Pioneers.
I had a traditional bobotie which is a South African casserole with curried ground beef at the bottom and a thin layer of egg custard on top.
roberta-writes.com 
Wonderful doors and history, Robbie. I love the look of those back doors. I also love the look of your dinner. It sounds very good. I hope you have a great weekend.
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Hi DAn, this was an excellent meal although the service was a little slow, something we have learned to expect in smaller more laid-back towns. I hope your weekend is also good and you have nice weather.
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What beautiful buildings, Robbie. I wish I’d get out as much as you do.
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Hi Jacqui, I do like to visit new places of historical interest. I am very keen to visit Kimberley in July for a long weekend. I have seen the ‘big hole’ and museum before but I want to show the boys.
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The ‘big hole’? From an asteroid?
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HI Jacqui, the big hole was created by miners looking for diamonds in the area. It is very deep and big. You can read a little more here if you are interesting: https://thebighole.co.za/
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I’ve never heard of that, Robbie. I’ve read about efforts to dig as deep as possible into the Earth and they all fail pretty quickly. I’m going to check this one out.
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Interesting, enjoyable post, Robbie! I especially loved the look of that old “Laundry” door.
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Hi Dave, this was a great way to spend part of a day. I found the grapevine very interesting. I had no idea they could last that long.
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Robbie – you always have marvelous Thursday Doors presentations, which sends me looking for more information. Reinet House witness many events over the years. Oh if only the walls could talk. I love tagging along on your travels.
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Hi Rebecca, this was the first time I visited Graaf-Reinet and I was astonished at how historical it is. There are a number of museums and art galleries we didn’t manage to visit. We are planning a trip to Kimberley in July and to Namibia later in the year. I am very keen to learn more about the desert and the creatures and people of the Kalahari.
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I am looking forward to tagging along, Robbie. You are the epitome of an adventurer!
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Great architecture. Looks like a good dish.
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Hi Timothy, I am glad you liked the building. I am fond of this style of architecture.
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What a cute restaurant! Delightful.
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HI Jan, thank you, it was a great evening.
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Thus us as cool as that fact that you always make every minute of every adventure count!
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Hi Annette, yes, Terence and I do like to see as much as possible and our boys have grown up with that approach to holidays.
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I’ve never seen a house in that style before. The facade gives it a very impressive appearance.
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HI Liz, this style of architecture is fairly common in the Eastern and Western Cape of South Africa. It was introduced by the Dutch. I’m hoping to visit Cape Town again soon as it has some wonderful examples of this style of building.
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I’ll look forward to your sharing the photos!
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Always fascinating Robbie…for my “52 In 22” cooking challenge, I’m going to find a cookbook I own that has a “bootie” recipe so I can make that!
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Hi John, I look forward to your post. I am making Greek moussaka today.
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That sounds great – we have been on a greek food binge ever since our trip there last summer!
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Thanks for this tour, Robbie. I feel like I spent a charming day with you. I love everything about the look of the Pioneer restaurant — including that delicious meal. That grapevine amazes me — it’s huge! Hugs on the wing.
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Hi Teagan, I am glad you enjoyed these pictures. This was an interesting house to visit. The food at pioneers was very good.
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That is a handsome house! Great geometry. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe. I think the Cape Dutch style is very pretty.
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I like a door that requires both hands to open! BIG doors!
That grapevine, does it produce grapes Robbie?
I liked your meal, looks scrumptious!
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Hi Wayne, I understand it does still produce some grapes.it’s quite impressive.
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The Reinet House is striking! I’ve never seen anything like it.
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Hi Priscilla, the style of this house is quite typical of this period in the Western and Eastern Cape provinces. I think the style is attractive.
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It looks like the grapevine spreads out quite a distance. Impressive! And the house looks very interesting.
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Hi Audrey, yes, the grapevine is quite large. I enjoyed the house but no pictures are allowed to be taken inside.
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The house is beautiful and the restaurant is very charming, Robbie. Your meal looks delicious and that acorn vine is something else! I just posted about our trip last week and could’ve done a Thursday Doors post as well. I didn’t think of it, but maybe I’ll try someday 🙂 Thank you for taking us along. 💗
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HI Lauren, I am glad you enjoyed this visit to Graaf-Reinet. This mean was nice and I must make it again at home. I loved the acorn vine, what an interesting story. I planned to join Thursday doors for a while before I started participating to get a good stock of pictures.
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I like the colors of that restaurant. and it is amazing to think of a grapevine being over 250 years old!
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HI Jim, I was very impressed by that grapevine. The restaurant was great fun.
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it looked like the type of place that would be fun…
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That looks pretty filling. How did it taste?
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Hi Craig, I do like bobotie and this one tasted very good. Sometimes, people add to much chutney and it makes it to sweet for my taste.
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The architecture and the food are so familiar, Robbie! Why I love it here. 🙂
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Hi Chris, yes, this style of architecture and Cape Malay food is very common in the Western Cape too. You would like Graaf-Reinet.
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I’ve been there in a book! (I can’t remember which one) and I know all about the Imibala Gallery there having been long associated with the charity here in SW.
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Rev. Andrew Murray’s home is very interesting. I loved the photos. The restaurants looks like a nice and fun place to eat. The food looks yummy too!
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Thank you, Brenda, I’m glad you enjoyed this post.
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Hi Robbie – I always like these door pictures – there’s something about the opportunity with doors that makes me think. Also, it’s a powerful thought to realize that a grapevine has been around for hundreds of years. Thanks for sharing your pictures!
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Hi Barbara, I didn’t realise a grapevine could live for that long. It is rather awe inspiring. I’m glad you enjoy the doors. I like them too – the doors to adventures.
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Yes!
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Beautiful doors, Robbie. And your dinner looks amazing… 😊
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Thank you, Gwen. This was a really interesting small town.
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That vine looks amazing. And the food. It does seem like a fun restaurant.
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Thank you, It was a great town to visit.
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Lovely doors. And a wonderful looking homecooked meal!
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Thanks Jules, this was a great town to visit.
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