Road is signpostet from a certain point of the main road. There was nobody on side when I arrived but a cat and a dog, both having their nap on the tables of the attached restaurant. I phoned to the owner and she said she would send somebody. After ten minutes a young lady appeared on the road to the guesthouse, said hallo and ask me if I could help her wirh ten or twenta Rand. I ask if she was belonging to the establishement, she shook her head. After five minutes another young lady turned up and checked me in. She was very friendly and helpful, but her odour was nasty (sorry, but I can´t help myself !) The lousy road towards the house, the town itself which makes a run-down impression…that is not untypical for the rural Eastern Cape. But what I booked was a room with bathroom and seaview. Room was under the roof , accessible by a very steep stairway (more a ladder). Bathroom – including toilett- was ground floor, equipped with just a bathtub and no shower. Everything in the bathroom looked shabby and not realy clean. The look of the room itself was not towards the sea as described in my booking confirmation, but into the green. Flynets in front of the windows would make more sense than mosquito nets over the beds, even if they look more romantic. The whole establishment consists of three rooms. All party have to share the kitchen with one relativly small fridge/freezer. Cuttlery/Crockery is fine so far. Fridge and stove are also shabby and old. When some people are busy in the kitchen down my apartment, I could hear every word. Not that they were loud or reckless. It is just a fact that walls practically are not exististing. Security guard is on side, friendly and looking trustworthy. Not an unimportant issue; because the area around looks quite neglected and, francly spoken, a bit suspicous. The attached restaurant is average, fish & chips maybe slightly more than this. They waitress was the friendly lady who checked me in, still smelling unpleasently. Not nice if somebody hands you your plate of food. Music from the neigborhood was annoying at night (stopped after one in the morning). The near beach is sandy with pittoresque rocks, more or less clean, but mind the broken bottles which may lay here and there. Nobody but a single sign on the road warned about shark danger. As I found out later Second Beach in Port John´s has the reputation of being one of the most dangerous beaches in the world: Bull Sharks are common seen here, and they are killing men, Life guards are on side (one was killed by a shark some years ago), but I have my doubts what they can do when a shark is behind you. In a nutshell: The whole spot has more the atmosphere of a backpackers – and should better be advertised in that way.…
We had booked a room with bath, but the shower was a open one in the garden. We didn't know it was a place for backpacker. We sleept on first floor, nobody told us that, or it don't stood anywhere. I was in that situation that I just had been thrugh a operation in my foot. Stairs and a bad foot are not a good combination. We survived our one night and I think we never come back. There were no people sunday morning, to make breakfast, as promised, so we waitet for a long time.
Booked on line for the night after completing the Imana Wild Ride. As we followed the GPS through the most discusting rubbish dump they call Port Saint John's, we were releaved to find ourselves winding our way to second beach. Then we came to the point that the GPS said we had arrived and again we wondered whether we had made the right decision. Fortunately we hadn't arrived and an old signboard directed us a little further up the hill to the Delicious Monster. The "Reception area was manned by a cat and a dog that had made themselves comfortable. But after calling we were greeted by the charming owner who took us to the loft. Which is part of a very quaint cottage overlooking the bay. It has two en suite room at ground level and a three sleeper loft that we got. Bathroom downstairs was a small problem but not the end of the world. There are signs of lack of maintenance but everything works, pillows need replacing, and no tea or coffee in the cottage but otherwise it was really great to relax in the lounge area. For Dinner we went to the little Restaurant run on the property. We ordered the catch of the day and I kid you not I have not tasted better anywhere. Such a pity the Municipality and community can't get there act together. If they did this would really be a little gem. …
The road was terrible, the view terrific. Need for a big makeover as the cups are chipped and lightbulps not replaced. Shared living areas. Fan in room needs cleaning. Please note no tv nor wifi. Restaurant was great.
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