S1 - Ep 370 - Pinetown - A True Marvel of Time and Aesthetics!

Upon our arrival in Pinetown, we were greeted by its vibrant bustle, perhaps because the morning rush of residents commuting to work. Delving into some preliminary research, we opted to embark on a journey to discover the Marionhill Monastery-a choice we would soon revel in. Along this path, we stumbled upon the captivating St Joseph’s Cathedral, seemingly intertwined with St Francis College's history. The cathedral, an exquisite architectural wonder, enticed us for an exploratory stroll, before we eventually reached the Monastery-a true marvel of time and aesthetics. The venerable church, erected in 1887, exuded an irresistible charm within its walls. This encounter proved to be an enthralling experience, delving into the annals of history. Our exploration continued, revealing Pinetown's lavish homes adorned with meticulously manicured gardens, though a veil of disappointment fell as we were barred from filming within the museum-a minor blemish on an a otherwise captivating journey. #DustBugs #adventuretravel #southafrica #southafricavlog #travelongravel #kwazulunatal #pinetown
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[@danielprinsloo2917]

Well done Curtis and Sonja - excellent video

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, Pinetown actually had much more to offer than we expected! 🚙👌🏻

[@ericsa2636]

Boy! Was I salivating over those old woodworking machines! Heavy, solid cast iron stuff, probably all British made, from the 50's and 60's, and last for ever!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I know what you mean! 😁 I'm not even a woodworking guy and I thought it was super cool that Brother Albert still uses many of the old machines in the workshop. It blew my mind that the incredible High Altar was made with some of those machines! 💒 Sonia's father would've not wanted to leave that workshop.

[@pietersmith6408]

Thank you both, excellent!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you enjoyed Pinetown! 🚙😁

[@phillipleboa5167]

My old home town... and, LOVE the camera work. VERY professional. And thank you for all the extra info during your visits.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Your old hometown! 😍 Thanks for revisiting it with us today, I bet you were reminded of some special times in your life! I appreciate your kind words, thank you very much. 🚙😁

[@1812nico]

Hi you two! Thank you for this wonderful trip to the bustling, beautiful and peaceful city of Pinetown. The area around that stunning cathedral and church really is impressively beautiful. So are the neat tree- and garden lined streets. Pinetown is such a well known name, but I never thought it was so varied in city life, religion and natural beauty. It is clear that a lot of ora et labora was spent there since the 1860's. Brother Albert is living proof that this is continuing. The view from Spy hill embraced it all. Thank you again. I'll be waiting on the roadside for the next trip! Keep safe!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Pinetown was bustling indeed, but a very interesting visit all the same! 🚙👌🏻That street with first the school, then the cathedral and then the monastery had us exhausted from gasping the entire time about how beautiful all the places were. Those buildings blew our minds! 😍💒🏛️ The tree-lined streets of suburbia were actually a big surprise to us as well. When we were driving around in the city, we didn't expect to find such beauty a short distance away. 🌳💚 Brother Albert was a legend, it was an honour meeting him. 😇

[@tshephorailo6025]

I have learned more about SA small towns especially Northern Cape,thank you

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you're travelling with us. We also learn a lot on every trip and I hope we always continue to! That's a big part of what makes it so much fun! 🚙😁

[@mariusroos]

Wow the monestry is a beautiful place. And so huge setup! Brother Albert has a huge workshop going. Amazing that they still use old equipment. Th pulpit must have been a huge job to get all the detail done. Beautiful. Fascinating is the best word Sonja could use for what we saw there! The properties are well kept and very nice - the trees complements the area. Like always this was a very nice trip. Thank you for keepring my seat for me, please do so for the next one!

[@DustBugsTravel]

I was also quite taken by the fact that Brother Albert still uses some of the machinery of old and even some of the ones which helped make that incredible High Altar in the church! 💒⛏️ The residential areas we happened to drive through, were spectacularly green and beautiful, a real delight for the eyes! 🌳💚 Thank you for coming along to Pinetown today! Your seat is ready for the next excursion, don't you worry! 🚙😁

[@pastorsjgina3660]

I'm so happy to see Pinetown again I was staying in Pinetown for more than 15 years but now I stay in Capetown I really appreciate your video's🇿🇦

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, I'm glad you enjoy our videos! 🚙😁 Hopefully you were reminded of many good times you had in Pinetown!

[@hughbritz]

You people are real South Africans 👊🏻

[@DustBugsTravel]

Yup, that we are! 🇿🇦😍 Thank you for watching!

[@mikemortlock6969]

Really enjoyed this one, we lived in Pinetown for 17 years. You drove up our old road, Tyrone Road to the unfinished "castle"! The "urban myth" of the Spy is always an interesting story. He was never a spy and there is no military record of submarines receiving signals off Durban.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you for watching our video of your old hometown! 🚙😍 It's certainly very green and leafy in some of the residential areas we drove through, we really enjoyed that! You must've been very happy there. The spy story was fun while it lasted! 🧐 Because we travel for fun, we don't really fact-check everything we find online and it's exciting to read up a little on a place and look for interesting things. We were super happy to have seen that gorgeous view from Spy Hill though, that made it all worthwhile!

[@desh7120]

19k Subscribers and growing 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 I loved visiting the Monastery, school and that beautiful Cathedral - the scenic drive through the lush and apparently affluent suburban stretch was really super. Another awesome adventure - thank you!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you, thank you for the good wishes! 🍾🥂 Those school, cathedral and monastery buildings had us oohing and aahing the entire time. One wanted to be more beautiful than the other, but they all eventually blew us away! So glad you thought they were gorgeous too! 🚙💒

[@bramprins229]

you two are great

[@DustBugsTravel]

Nice of you to say, thank you! 🚙😊

[@charlietreston4035]

Hi guys another gem these towns never fail to surprise me the cathedral was stunning inside and out amazing workmanship I'm glad you liked the grottos definitely a RC thing when I take my granddaughters to the Carmerlite monastery near to me they love going to the grottos what a character Brother Albert I've used all of the old machines that when things were built to last .the church from 1887 amazing especially the high alter .the whole place was pristine and self sufficient. Then to the industrial area and the biscuit factory I could tell you enjoyed it we had a biscuit factory near me and it was great when my mum worked there and she would come home with a bag of broken biscuits fantastic! Loved the drive through the suburbs especially the castle love the story of spy hill you couldn't be too careful back in them days .during the blitz in London my mother inlaw said the kids thought the hat maker was a German spy and sent messages to the planes to bomb the street but actually she was Jewish but the name on the shop looked German to them .brilliant video thanks for taking me along cheerio till the next one

[@DustBugsTravel]

I actually thought of you when we saw not one, but two grottos! 💒 I bet your granddaughters have an amazing time with you as tour guide when you visit the monastery close to you. 😍 I couldn't believe it when Brother Albert told me that that incredible High Altar was built in the same workshop that he still works in today. That was unbelievable to me! How lucky were you with a mom working at the biscuit factory! Sonia envies you for having that special experience to have mom come home with bags of broken cookies! 😁🍪 I thoroughly enjoyed reading the story of the hatmaker believed to be a German spy! 🤣🎩

[@terrimeyer3815]

I was so excited when I saw pinetown. Wondered if you would pick the monestory and you did. The cathedral wooden roof structure ....I have no words. I have never been inside so thanks for showing us. It is very beautiful. Pinetown is hectic busy. Loving everything ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ very nostalgic indeed 🎉

[@DustBugsTravel]

We couldn't miss the monastery, it was our first one and it did not disappoint! The entire place was awesome and authentic and I could imagine it not looking too much different from 100 years ago. The cathedral was breathtakingly beautiful also, we loved that entire street full of incredible buildings, right up our alley and a perfect way to start off our visit to Pinetown! 🚙💒 The place was rather busy on the day of our visit, especially to us out-of-towners. 😳

[@terrimeyer3815]

@@DustBugsTravel pinetown never sleeps. It's like that everyday except maybe sunday afternoon...😎😎😎😎😎 loved all the red buildings in the monestory as well. Was a huge treat to see it

[@nikkiviviers7978]

I really enjoyed sharing Pinetown with you, especially the Monastry. You must be enjoying the weather. Best time of the year.

[@DustBugsTravel]

This trip was about a month ago now and we're long back home already. We did have fantastic weather most of the time! 🚙☀️ I'm happy to hear you enjoyed the monastery, it was super cool to see!

[@hannesvanniekerk499]

Another wonderful trip. The old church brickwork was so beautiful. Fantastic.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you agree about the brickwork. It was simply phenomenal! 💒🧱 Appreciate your and Aussie wife's company! 🚙😁

[@bramprins229]

This was so nice.

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this one! 🚙👌

[@simonemason5352]

Wow Curtis and Sonja, a treat of note!! I was gobsmacked and thrilled by the monastery, cathedral, church, workshop, grotto, sho I'm out of breath. Totally beautiful. Thanks a million.

[@DustBugsTravel]

It was our pleasure to treat you! 🚙😁 We also thought the cathedral and the church and the other buildings at the monastery were next-level incredible! 😍💒 So glad you enjoyed the outing!

[@gillian8293]

A lovely old Nun there called Sister Amanda made our wedding candle. She worked in a beautiful spacious workshop where they made all the Church candles. We light ours once a year on our anniversary. Marianhill is a very special place ❤

[@TerroYoung]

Very good scenery. Show me more places that you've been please thank you❤🎉🎉🎉

[@DustBugsTravel]

Here you go! All our videos are under the VIDEOS tab. Enjoy! 🚙😁 youtube.com/@DustBugsTravel

[@nikkiviviers7978]

You are now right on my doorstep. We stayed in Pinetown from 1976 to 1992. We are now in Waterfall.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Your old hometown! 😍 Thank you for watching our video. You certainly live in a very beautiful area. We're long back home, but still think fondly of our trip through part of KZN. 🚙🤩

[@irenemasterson146]

Beautiful beyond words thank you for sharing.May you always be blessed

[@TerroYoung]

I think you guys are adorable. Love the closeness you have❤❤❤😢 very sweet

[@deonzar]

Well done on 19 000 subscribers! Pinetown looks good to me...busy it is but then we now they are making money....hopefully to plow back into the town. I also remember now that there are still some episodes somewhere in the middle that I still have to watch sometime...

[@DustBugsTravel]

Thank you so much for celebrating 19k with us! 🥳 Pinetown is for sure a busy place! I thought you had long ago caught up on all the older episodes, but you're always welcome to check them out again! 🚙😁

[@tonynz9954]

Thanks Sonia for finding the BAKERS bakery in Pinetown. There is also one in Cape Town I think. Love their Marie biscuits. I bet that smell of sweet biscuits must have had you two drooling !! Almost as nice as the smell of fresh bread in the morning. I was hoping you would have found the Beacon Sweets factory. Just love their nougat bars. I wonder if Beacon Sweets had any connection to the Beacon area you stopped at for that wonderful view ? So disappointing that Curtis was not able to film in the museum. It is a national treasure and should be able to be viewed and photographed by all. Sadly many of the artifacts in the SA museums are being sold off and the museums are falling into disrepair. The name Pinetown always makes me think of pineapples.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We never really visit the industrial areas of Cape Town, but I'm sure there must also be a major biscuit factory. 😁🍪 We didn't see a chocolate factory. If we did, I guarantee you you would've seen it too! I'm not sure, but I don't think the name of Beacon is associated with Pinetown or any landmark in or close to it. It's so weird that I wasn't allow to film in the library or the museum, while other towns we've visited in the past, actually invite us into their facilities to film. 🤷🏻‍♀️ It was great to show you Pinetown nonetheless! 🚙🍍

[@ronnykenny3965]

Oh my, I am literally stunned into silece, biggest thank you ever, 🚗

[@DustBugsTravel]

Those buildings had the opposite effect on us, we couldn't stop talking! 🤣 Glad you enjoyed. 🚙💒

[@nelsonchinasamy9857]

Dustbugs Travel, you are really bringing back more and more nostalgic memories to me with your videos. I worked in the Pinetown area before I left to Cape Town in 2000.

[@DustBugsTravel]

They sound like mostly good memories to me, so I'm happy that we could let you have a glimpse of present-day Pinetown! 🚙😁

[@user-rv2et1yk8l]

Beautiful drive through the industrial town ❤❤

[@DustBugsTravel]

I'm glad you enjoyed the industrial area as much as we did! 🚙😎🍪

[@LuckyHoneyBadger-ex4ze]

Gosh it looks so clean

[@user39h2j8il]

😂Sonia, we both love kitties and zoo biscuits😂😂😂 When i was a kid you could buy bags of broken biscuits from Bakers in westmead for next to nothing. Pinetown is now dubbed Crimetown which is such a puty. Was always like a village and has a really fascinating history dating back a long long way.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Wish we could have got some of those biscuits. The smell was awesome. 🚗🍪

[@annawitter5161]

Wow! Really enjoyed the cathedral. So beautiful. Grotto? Looks more like a shrine to me. Ora et labora is literally through prayer and work, in Latin. The workshop is so interesting. Love the beautiful architecture in the church, would so love to hear that organ! Can just imagine the smell at the bakery factory, enough to send me on a koekie binge! Just imagine how fat we would get if we worked at such a place!The nicest thing about the zoo koekies was licking the icing off! Love all the beautiful trees and the scenic drive...Pinetown is looking more and more like Bishops Court!How awesome is the Spy Hill view!What a pity you couldnt film in the museum, I dont suppose you could have done skelmpies! Interesting about the German immigrants. Back to the koekies!

[@DustBugsTravel]

Grotto / shrine, basically the same thing to me. I read online 'that the word "grotto" is used almost exclusively to refer to Catholic shrines built in to a rock formation'. Ora et labora fascinated Sonia and she looked it up right away. Those folks are a shining example of that, we could see that in the short time we spent with them. 😇 Both churches were absolutely stunning, but no organist in sight, as usual. The cathedral was wide open and we were super lucky to find the cleaner at the other church who could unlock for me. The workmanship in both these churches is truly phenomenal! 😍💒🧱 The zoo cookies haunted my darling wife and we promptly had to acquire a stash! She also licks off the icing. The animals have changed shape somewhat over the years, but it still tastses just as good, she says! 🤣🍪 The view from Spy Hill was really fabulous and worth the drive. I never expected to find such lush greenery in the streets of Pinetown, it was awesome to see! 🌳🏡

[@annawitter5161]

@@DustBugsTravel yes I suppose grotto is closer to the original Latin. I used to teach Latin about a century ago! All very interesting. Have a zoo koekie on me, I don't get them over here

[@sicko_the_ew]

I don't know whether they still do this, but at one stage the monastery made itself available to people of any denomination/ belief state as a retreat for meditation, and "modern-life-detox". I knew someone who would go there once a year, and live in one of the cells for two weeks or so, for the sake of his sanity, but that was a very long time ago. (And as is the case with the hostels along that Compostella walk in Spain, there's no charge as such, for this. (You're expected to "do the right thing", so it's not free. It's just not for those who can pay, only. Or was. All these places are fading away as the people who would've run them choose secular lives. I suppose they could try a drive for retired Catholics to spend a few years as monks, though? Retire while still strong enough to work. Work the monastery till you're too old to. And them maybe retire from there to make space for a replacement, if it becomes a popular retirement plan for what remains of the Faithful.

[@DustBugsTravel]

Interesting. The monastery is a beautiful and expansive place and I wouldn't be surprised at all if folks from the outside were still allowed to come and stay over for that detox you're referring to. It still is a functional monastery, so I have no doubt that they still have many brothers there, I just can't remember exactly how many. Brother Albert is an example of them continuing with their age-old way of life, that became very clear as he was showing us around his workshop. 💒🔨

[@sicko_the_ew]

@@DustBugsTravel This was the very best view you could've chosen to show of Pinetown. (The rest of it, as you probably saw, was just a blend of Earth-anywhere, and Africa-urban-but-anywhere). Great episode!

[@stuff0music]

1887 was also the year that the British annexed Zululand. You can imagine the mood of the people during that period. The battle of Isandlwana happened less than tree years prior to when Francis Pfanner established the monastery.

[@clivehill2384]

My Pinetown. Has grown realy when I was a child small town

[@sophie7571]

The Trappist monks who founded Mariannhill were a contemplative order, spending much of their time in silent work and prayer. Abbot Francis Pfanner realised the need to do more active missionary work with the community, and so started the Mariannhill order of priests and brothers, and an order of religious women, the Sisters of the Precious Blood. At one time Mariannhill was the largest Mission station in the world.

[@charmainecoetzee8031]

Beautiful KZN go north and see the tiny town of Kwa-Bonambi

[@shix2847]

Mariannhill!!

[@user-ig7dn1xv2p]

Come to Umdloti

[@lionridds]

You were in my neighbourhood!!

[@Simz627]

My small littel town❤😊🤘🏾

[@TerroYoung]

Beautiful accent❤❤❤

[@ProvidenceMsomi-do1cn]

My home in New Germany!!!!

[@philyew3617]

Wow that Cathedral and the associated buildings are magnificent. I'm in PMB at the end of October so Pinetown is going to be a ride out. Thanks for sharing this. Question... You were advised about safety- Did you feel unsafe in the area. I'll be travelling solo so do you think it's just keeping eyes and ears open and nothing on show in the car? Thanks as always for another great video. Cheers from the UK. Phil.

[@DustBugsTravel]

We never felt unsafe, but you must prepare yourself for a very busy place and for some crazy driving! 😳🚙 The cathedral and monastery are definitely worth a visit, you'll absolutely love both places. As always when travelling (anywhere), if you're vigilant and aware of your surroundings, you should be just fine. There may also be routes you can take to avoid most of the traffic. You must be super excited for your upcoming trip! 😁✈

[@meemawsmoonpies]

Hi guys, the reason that there are not that many NPN registrations any more is that NPN ran out of numbers so they now use NU, so not sure if this answers your wonder of why there are not that many NPN registrations anymore. :)

[@DustBugsTravel]

It does indeed, thank you so much for clearing that up for us. 🚙😁 We had no idea!

[@gregorycotton1]

🤩

[@DustBugsTravel]

😎

[@ZuluBirdman]

Ballito next by any chance?😅

[@DustBugsTravel]

You'll have to wait and see! 🚙😁

[@TerroYoung]

Send me more videos. Very adorable

[@DustBugsTravel]

Here you go! All our videos are under the VIDEOS tab. Enjoy! 🚙😁 youtube.com/@DustBugsTravel

[@TerroYoung]

Beautiful Cathedral❤😢😢😢😢❤❤❤❤ would like to be your friend.

[@alistairmclean2667]

Were youse ouens chowing boerewors rolls when you were driving?

[@DustBugsTravel]

Nope, we got some boerie burgers from McDonald's in town and we chowed those. We showed us buying those in our video! 😁🍔