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Tuesdays and Thursdays afford me a little spare time in the afternoons as Jude has soccer practice which is two hours and whilst I generally like to be there for the last 30 min of actual "game time", I am not particularly interested in watching 90 minutes of training, so I normally head off for a little bit and go exploring. Originally, I had intended to do the Hermanus Cliff Path or at least a section of it... because it is 11km long, but my dad said it probably best I don't do something like that alone, so I decided to hit the retail sector of Hermanus instead... a little less isolated and plenty to discover!

I parked and headed out on foot - no specific direction in mind. I turned a corner and spotted a quaint little (or not so little rather) shop called Amulet - the name on it's own already had my attention (hippie at heart here), so I headed in and what a fabulous place it was - I spent ages in there and will definitely do a post on it, but that is NOT the venue which THIS post is about, haha!

The lovely young woman behind the counter got chatting with me and mentioned another really fantastic shop just a stones throw away. When she mentioned the name, I recalled it and the fact that my dad had taken me there years ago, and I WAS actually thinking about going there, but I could not remember where it was or if it was even still there - it was!

ROMANTIQUES

Hermanus - Overstrand, Western Cape - South Africa

It has probably been nine years or more since I was last there - a good sign for a retail outlet, especially here in South Africa... but then again - this is really not your average shop! It is difficult to just "walk in" because you get sidetracked by so much eye candy and history! Now some people will probably smirk at that statement, because history in general is REALLY not my thang!!!! But this, is not just history, it is DECOR and that I have ALL the time in the world for, haha! I suppose, I would have to admit then that there are CERTAIN aspects of history which DO captivate me... just not the text book kind, lol!

THE HISTORY

A fascinating beginning to say the least!

Just reading how this story began gives me goosies! Most adults DREAM of opening their own business but we forget that some individuals are just born with a natural drive for life. Romantiques was started by a young girl in 2006 - not a young adult, a young GIRL! She was looking to make extra money after school and originally occupied a REALLY small little space, the size of a single bedroom in someone else's shop.

Things clearly grew VERY rapidly and in 2010 her little "shop" was featured in one our National Afrikaans newspapers called Rapport. She got her friends involved and so the business continued to grow. They eventually took over the entire premises of which they originally rented one room.

Clearly the young ladies were doing something right, because eventually their shop of memorabilia was featured on one of South Africa's most "Premier" Lifestyle TV Shows - Top Billing! I am not sure if the actual television show still runs, because- well, I don't watch TV and also because I caught wind somewhere that our government driven broadcasting Cooperation could no longer afford to pay them... because, well... um - haha... moving along swiftly! Point being, they made it to one of the most prestigious TV shows when it counted!

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I literally JUST discovered that they eventually moved in 2011 because they needed more space, so I was pretty spot on in years since I was last there... this also explains why I could not find them whilst roaming the streets today, haha! In January this year (2021) the shop found itself a new owner... James Ludick. I Shudder to know what he paid for this business considering all the priceless memorabilia and simultaneously smile out loud at one young girl who had the courage to start this now Internationally recognised treasure in Hermanus!

THE SHOP

You will need an entire afternoon for this!

The shop as it stands in it's new premises is essentially an old school house, so you enter and then wander from room to room. Each room has its own unique theme and decor. Like upon arrival, I was greeted with the "candy counter" shown in the pic earlier. Well DAMN, did that take me back to my childhood!

You really do feel like you have stepped into a time warp as you walk through this incredible space. There is so much care and attention given to every little last detail, every single corner has been attended to and offers a little slice of conversation from yesteryear.

Just when you think you are done, you turn a corner and there is more - another room and the years continue unfolding before your eyes... and like the shop itself was not awesome enough on its own... they actually have their own theatre!!!! YIP! An ACTUAL "vintage theatre" where you can go and enjoy vintage films, FREE OF CHARGE TOO! They send out the announcements via channels which I have yet to find, despite my efforts on Google, lol. I suppose it is somewhat of a "local affair"... I will need to get in on this, because I would absolutely LOVE to do this with Jude! My dad said he has done it and it is SUCH a great experience... go buy your popcorn, settle in and spend a little while in a bygone era!

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Another corner, another slice - I headed outside! This is where all the REAL history is! World War memorabilia, the Army stuff, shoe makers, mechanics and the list goes on - essentially, everything which was "hands on"... something which is almost forgotten in today's world. I have to admit, walking through these parts had a VERY different impact on me. It is not crockery or toys... no, there are soldiers jackets, hats, badges - shoemakers blocks, tools and just so much more. There is a very specific energy in spaces like this, because the items of history which lie there now, carry toil. You cannot look at the badges, tools, hats, guns, swords, knives and "stuff" used by a person and not be impacted by it.

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Appreciating history in a "real sense" I guess I don't disregard as much as I thought. I may not feel the need to know every detail, but I have always been a more energetically driven individual anyway... I have my own approach of appreciation and respect.

Each one of those facets had a section dedicated to them and I have to say that I felt a little heavy when I left. I was quite relieved to be greeted with a garden offering more...

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As I headed into the garden, the "last leg" of the shop as it had lead, I took a moment - stopped and thought about just how many generations of experience, life, emotion and circumstance I had just walked through. It was a little overwhelming really, but to be honest... it afforded me perspective - one which I need to keep in the forefront of my sights at this point in time. No, I did not buy anything... but I walked away with many riches.