lunch @ the Troyeville Hotel

The fact that it rained in Johannesburg last night says it all. Winter is now really over. It was welcoming rain. Nature is smiling today. For those unknown to the meteorology of the City of Gold, be advised that winter here on the so called Highveld is dry. Very dry. As dry as the Algerian desert on a hot summer day. And thus as the flowers are waking up to the new season and the birds are happily busy with a new family, the rain was very much welcomed. Drops of life.

260 Days to go to high fever. That’s 37 weeks and a few days to the kick off whistle of the opening game in Africa’s football/soccer first world cup ever. Madness guaranteed. The opening game will be played in the brand new FNB stadium in Johannesburg’s south-western township Soweto. That stadium is now officially named Soccer City. Joburg is also host to another world cup football temple. Ellis Park. I think it’s called Coca-Cola Stadium now. That is TBC.

Ellis Park lies in the middle of town. Down town is a metropolis with a bad reputation. But down town is also a city with a shiny new bus system. And a stone throw away from Ellis Park stands the Troyeville Hotel. It’s indeed just a stone throw away. You don’t even have to be an Olympic athlete to throw this imaginable stone. From the terrace of the hotel you could nearly touch Ellis Park. The giant from Gulliver’s Travel would not even have to stretch his arm. So that stone throw is for us mortals easily within reach. Unless of course you are a plastic-human, socialite type like the Paris Hiltons of this world. Then that stone throw might upset your hairdo or undo your botox treatment.

Anyway. Last Joburg winter the 4 of us were having a relaxed lunch at the Troyeville Hotel. Portuguese lunch because that is what the menu there has to offer. Simple but perfectly tasting. The company was great, the food good and the winter sun spreading warmth through the large windows. I see that this week the menu highlights grilled kalamari with chips. Mouth-watering. I wonder when a game is on in next door Ellis Park if the rolling thunder of the fans stamping their feet and blowing their by now famous Vuvuzela trumpets would tremble your plate of fine food. An Ellis Park earthquake ripple effect.

For more on the Troyeville Hotel just copy and paste this link: www.troyevillehotel.co.za



Last year November the Troyeville Hotel was also host to a pretty big and loud party celebrating Barack Obama’s victory in those historic US presidential polls. It was red, white and blue all over.