Most of my Joburg-themed posts are about eating, hiking, and sight-seeing (with some news and sports mixed in). Those are the topics that fit within my comfort zone.
But with the exception of some posts about African folk art and groceries, I’ve written almost nothing about shopping. There are a few reasons why: 1) I’m not a good shopper; 2) Joe, my tour guide and chauffeur, hates shopping; 3) I don’t really want to accumulate stuff; and 4) I’m broke.
Yesterday I spent the afternoon with a new friend who is great at shopping. I’m not sure if she wants to be mentioned or not so she’ll remain nameless for now. But she knows the best places to shop and makes shopping fun.
Liebermann Pottery was one of our stops. Liebermann’s is a pottery wonderland – a massive warehouse built on the site of an old gas works, stacked floor to ceiling with handmade tableware and garden pots.
Liebermann Pottery was founded by Sammy Liebermann in 1952, but is now run by Sammy’s nephew, Adriaan Turgel (a.k.a. the Pottery Detective). When he’s not in Joburg, Adriaan is traveling around the Far East looking for unique pottery to sell at Liebermann’s. But most of Liebermann’s pottery is made in South Africa and shockingly affordable considering how cool it is.
I hadn’t planned to purchase anything on this shopping trip. But Joe and I own only four bowls, which can be inconvenient in a house with no dishwasher. I purchased two pasta bowls for R70 ($10) each. My friend bought some delicate white espresso cups and a striking blue-back serving platter.
Bags in hand, we wandered into the yard to look at the outdoor stuff. We soon realized weren’t the only ones browsing the planters and flower pots.
I used to buy a lot more stuff back when I was a DC suburbanite. Now that I don’t have much money to spend and don’t shop as often, I think I get a lot more enjoyment out of the things I do buy.
Liebermann Pottery is in Aukland Park, just a couple of miles from Melville. If you’re in Joburg and in need of dishes or garden pots, I can’t see a reason to go anywhere else.
More shopping posts to come.
How have I never blogged about 44 Stanley Avenue, the coolest shopping and dining complex in Joburg, which is only five minutes from my house?
I guess it’s wrong to say I’ve never blogged about 44 Stanley; I’ve mentioned it countless times over the years (see here and here) when writing about specific restaurants or shops that are there. But I’ve never written a dedicated post about 44 Stanley as a destination and it’s about time I did – especially now, with the holidays upon us.
I’ve been dreadfully uninspired lately, struggling to think of anything I want to blog about despite having a long list of great ideas (many of which you, my readers, provided in September). I’m finding it hard to feel positive about life at the moment. But on Saturday Thorsten and I got the chance to visit Indwe Park, an indigenous garden and sculpture park in Braamfontein, and I knew I had my topic for today.
Given this week’s political nuclear bomb blast, it feels like a weird time to publish a light-hearted post about my recent (pre-election) jaunt through the United States. But I’m hoping you’ve have had enough of the U.S. election horror show – I know I have – and are ready (at least temporarily) for some wholesome American travel adventures. If so, please read on about my four-day visit to Maine, the northeastern-most state in the lower 48, with my sister, Susanna.
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It makes me smile, when I see it.