The local flora and fauna (pt 1)

One thing that strikes me about our new place in Grahamstown is how much nicer my commute is than back in NJ.  Part of it is that it's a 10 minute walk instead of 45, granted.  But part of it is just that it seems on the whole nicer.  I submit the following pictures that I took on my way to/from the office as evidence.

First, there is the Drostdy Arch.  It's some sort of historical structure, but it seems to date from well after the time period when arches were necessary in daily life.  It makes for an interesting view out over Grahamstown, though.  Or, it would, if I knew how to frame photographs better, so as not to cut the cathedral's head off.  



Also, on the left, inside the arch building, there are two little shops.  One I haven't been in, but it sells crafty things.  The other is about the size of a jail cell, and is where this dude sells his own custom-roasted coffee. I recommend.


And then, looking up the hill instead of down, there is the clock tower.  It looks almost messianic in this picture, because I am not good at adjusting shots for lighting....yet.

This is it up closer:
 

The flowers are exactly as yellow as they look.  That's not photoshopped.

Even the obnoxious birds are prettier here.  Instead of common blotchy sparrows, we have these lovely red-winged starlings:

 The underside of the wings is red.  You can't really see it except when they're flying.  I tried to get a picture to illustrate, but they were too quick at flying away for me to catch it.

And then, just around the corner past the clock tower, is the linguistics building:

My office is the one on the second floor with the open window.  I love it to pieces.  I'd like to show you some cool picture I took looking out the window, but really all you can see are trees:

This is a thing called a Jacaranda.  They are magenta, almost violently so.  You now know about as much about them as I do. NOPE.  Turns out that's a bougainvillea.  Jacarandas to be seen later.

This is what it looks like when I come home:

Gloating achieved.

And this is the mongolian death worm that lives in our back yard.  That's why I don't have any pictures of the yard...yet.  More to come.