Budget Getaways Review
"I was bruised and battered and I couldn't tell what I felt. I was unrecognizable to myself…" (Bruce Springsteen, Streets of Philadelphia)
Never heard of Philadelphia, have you? Well, it exists, and it does so a mere pebble's throw from your front doorstep - 25km north Durbanville, to be precise.
This quaint little village dozing at the Swartland's gateway actually sprung up 150 years ago, when local farmers got gatvol with the long Nagmaal trip to Cape Town. So, like any good farmer worth his salt, they maaked 'n plan and built a church of their own. And so Philadelphia came into being…
A century and a half later this tranquil and pretty much unknown village remains as appealing, as a quick-and-easy breather from the Mother City. Heck, there are even Capetonians who've made a permanent home of the place!
Appointed behind an olive grove Stone Roof House is a creative eco-effort, with a stone roof set above a layer of wood and clay, and below that a nice mix of exposed rafters, white cement and raw wood finishes split over two levels.
Downstairs you’ll find the dining area, fully-equipped open-plan kitchen (with dishwasher), and a comfortable lounge with fireplace. All of which open to a veranda and braai area.
The main bedroom with Queen bed and en-suite bathroom (with bath) are down below, while up the curved timber staircase you’ll discover two more spacious rooms with twin beds and a Queen bed, respectively - plus, another full bathroom. As such the house sleeps seven total.
The sprawling upstairs timber deck is probably where we would find ourselves most of the time, surveying the Swartland's wheatfields and Perdeberg in the far distance - naturally with stiff sundowner in hand.
It appears you have a good spread of home comforts at Stone Roof, ranging from wifi internet, TV (SABC) and a Weber braai. So while the house and immediate surrounds has enough to hold your attentions, for the restless there are the delights of Philadelphia itself. Art galleries, nearby wine farms, coffee shops, a boerekos buffet at De Malle Meul (the old village grain mill), mountain biking, walking, horse riding… Man, this sounds like an undiscovered jewel in the making!
Pack the station wagon, crank up The Boss on the Blaawpunkt, and head for hills. This is one getaway where there will be none of the usual, "Ag daddy, when are we going to get there?"