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Our journey continues with the adventurers from last ‘Someones Vintage Eyes’ and remains ‘around’ the African continent. I think this post is likely both a prequel and afterward of the last as we bounce between Canary Islands first (going by slide number) and then to East Africa. But I am taking this box by box and not all the slide numbers line up, so lets just stay a little in the dark!

So here we go ‘Coming into the Harbour of Tenerife, Canary Islands’ The largest of Spains landings in the Islands. Blessed with ‘eternal Spring’, countless beaches and plenty of inland nature to boot. Im sure it looks a bit different now 60 odd years later!

Our adventurers arrive in the harbour and set foot on land to walk off those weary sea legs. The city of Santa Cruz – Even today it has things like its church from the 1700’s – so some sights might not be so different to our adventurers then as it would be to us now!? We see Candelaria Square and waterfront walkways in their warm glory.

In arrives the Brasil Star enroute to South America. The Brasil Star was a historic 10,716-ton cargo-passenger liner operated by the Blue Star Line in the mid-20th century. Built in 1947, she and her sister ships (Argentina Star, Uruguay Star, and Paraguay Star) primarily maintained a 1940s-1960s route between Europe and South America. Later in 1973 she was sold to a Japanese company and made her final journey from London to be demolished… Roughly within the decade of the adventurers trip – I wonder if they read about it.

We then pop up in Lourenço Marques – Portuguese East Africa. Where? – ah yes – now days it is better known as Maputo, the vibrant capital city of Mozambique. Times change and much like the Brasil Star, Mozambique got independence in 1975 and the colonial name was put to rest. Putting aside many many political and ethical things, it must be quite strange growing up with all the colonial cities/countries and later in life seeing them change from/back to other places. To a smaller degree, I can see it with my own country as the indigenous people of the land have gone from a darker period of time and in my life time have seen a regrowth/rebirth of their mana.

We leave ‘once was’ Portuguese East Africa, regaining our sea legs. I love the image of the Tug. Whilst we leave, our adventurers pass the TS Infante Dom Henrique – Portugal’s largest liner. Built in the 1950’s she was ultra modern with beautiful first class facilities. Unlike other stories above, she lasted a fair deal longer – until 2004, where her last journey took her to India for breaking. There is a decent amount of material about her to read over out there!

An the last shot above, ties us back into the previous posting of the adventurers – ‘Early Morning View of Sugarloaf Mountain, CapeTown’

A note on my opening and closing images.

Opening: ‘City Street Tenerife, Canary Islands’ Those look like narrow streets to navigate by modern day standards!

Closing (below): ‘Mr Bell (Tasmania), Self [our adventurer!!!], Dr Navotny’ – quite possibly Dr Novotny who’s early trials on diabetic and hypertensive subjects laid the groundwork for how eye specialists treat systemic diseases today!

More next time!