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MMD > Archives > April 2010 > 2010.04.08 > 03Prev  Next


Player Piano in Matjiesfontein, South Africa
By Jeffrey Borinsky

In August 2000 I also visited Matjiesfontein.  I had stopped for lunch
to break a long drive from Graaf Reinett to Stellenbosch and I saw the
same player piano.  It wasn't being played at the time and I wasn't
able to find out if it was working.

Matjiesfontein is a strange town -- it looks more like a Victorian or
Edwardian period film set than a real town, though a red London double
decker bus adds a further twist.  I believe that MMDer Bernt Damm
restored this instrument many years ago.  He used to live in Capetown
but has now moved to Australia.

I can't find any interior photos of the hotel but here's the hotel
exterior and the bus: http://www.karoo-adventures.de/karoo-safari-en.htm 
http://www.sa-transport.co.za/buses_and_coaches/w-cape/rtl_841_matjiesfontein_2_bd.JPG 

Jeffrey Borinsky
London


(Message sent Thu 8 Apr 2010, 15:56:09 GMT, from time zone GMT+0100.)

Key Words in Subject:  Africa, Matjiesfontein, Piano, Player, South

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