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Parliament Street’s LOSS is Stanley Street’s Gain

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One of the things that we as a family do on the Longhair and other family member birthday’s (27 June) is break bread – lots of it.

Invariably we have, for the last three years, ended up in Parliament Street for brunch and then a walk through historical Central – and this as a result of the amazing work done by the Nelson Mandela Bay Development Agency in the area.

This morning we were shocked to see the rapid degeneration of Parliament Street in the space of a few short months – smiling sidewalk restaurant patrons have been replaced by smiling bejeweled drug dealers openly plying their trade in broad daylight. Once proud shops and restaurants are looking decidedly run down, battered and dirty. Civilisation has been replaced by anarchy.

I have to say: “WTF – see what happens when you give people a hand out – they farg it up in a few short months. Or is the area looking decidedly down-market and disheveled as a result of the lack of good security. See fat security, will jog away with impunity”.

Whatever the reason for Parliament Street’s rapid decline, the owners of each establishment in Stanley Street must be smiling at the rapid deterioration just over the road.

I have eaten in braai shops all over the location – choosing my meat displayed cheek by jowl with dirty tripe and even eaten mystery meat and vegetables in the old original rusty Red Location homes so am pretty damn proud of my constitution but, driving down Parliament street this morning, my stomach literally turned in contemplation of what may be served to us.

Off we went to Vovo Tello at Stanley on Bain.

A first time for all of us at this particular Vovo Tello and, in the absence of a brunch menu, we all settled on pizza – Cold Salmon Pizza for the Longhair, Bianco Blanc with Chicken for her Apprentice, Salami with extra mushrooms for the Kangaroo and Anchovy for myself. The old Scot in me rebelled a bit at the prices but that thought was soon forgotten with the quality and taste of the pizza’s. I had an espresso and the rest had a soft drink/juice each and the total bill was R360.00.

Afterward we toddled off to the Donkin hoping to catch a sneak peek at the additional art installations for the 67 Art Display but were disappointed. Still the view from the lighthouse was magnificent – another first for us. It will cost you Five bucks at the NMBT offices to climb to the top and is a workout for aged legs.

Come on Parliament Street the state of your area is losing you money hand over fist.

Five Bucks will get you to the top of the Donkin Light House
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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE
Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.
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