Heavenly Hermanus

See, Eat, Do !

"Heavenly Hermanus" certainly seems an appropriate name for our local whale watching capital.

Most blogs and websites I have seen bang on about ‘Champagne Air’, Majestic Scenery, Legendary Hotels, Whales Running Amok (well – you know what I mean!)

What you end up asking yourself is “Can I believe it?”

We all know that visiting a place while on holiday often puts a rose-coloured tint on things. On the other hand, there’s nothing like the grind of daily Monday to Friday working routine to reveal the true grittiness of life somewhere!

I thought it was appropriate to find out what the local residents think, so here are some insights of a (almost celebrity) local to the region.

Anthony Hamilton Russell (of Hemel en Aarde Valley fame) spoke to The Times recently.

I’ve added my not-quite-as-local 2 cents in places behind my initials “AB”!

Heavenly Hermanus -- Really?

TT: Where do you eat out?
A H-R: Seafood at The Marine, Bientang’s Cave , The Deli (fantastic brunch venue) and Harbour Rock, because of its excellent sushi and great views.
A B: B’s Steakhouse and Restaurant - great steaks.

TT: What’s your favourite building in Hermanus?
A H-R: The old Anglican church — St Peter’s.

TT: What is the ugliest thing about Hermanus?
A H-R: Fast-food outlets on the high street.
A B: The economic contrast between haves and have-nots – a South African challenge.

TT:You can’t leave Hermanus without ...
A H-R: Walking the cliff path. And visiting Hemingway’s Bookstore to browse through the second- hand books.

TT: What’s your favourite day of the week in Hermanus?
A H-R: Saturday, for the ambience in the town centre as locals and tourists mill around the market.

TT: You know a person is from Hermanus when ...
A H-R: They moan about business being slow for much of the year and then moan they can’t get convenient parking when the tourists are in town.

TT: I would only leave Hermanus if ...
A H-R: I would never leave Hermanus.

TT: If you could change one thing about Hermanus, what would it be?
A H-R: I’d make it a half hour closer to Cape Town.
A B: I’d banish all property developers.