I had a couple of other topic ideas lined up for today, my third day of ‘a blog a day for seven days’. But instead I decided to go with a fun one and write about why we choose to live in the so called ‘armpit’ of South Africa’. It was only ever one funny man radio presenter who called us that about 10 years ago, but we have never quite gotten over it.
A lot has changed in this city over the last 10 years. This isn’t the same place it was a decade ago and many returning visitors are surprised to find a city with a depth and energy that invite a closer look. With reason enough to visit the place, outsiders might stay long enough to discover it’s charm.
Here are my top 10 reasons for loving life in this often-overlooked city. These are all coming from my perspective and my experience of PE, so feel free to comment below if you have anything else to add.
1. It’s an unassuming city with secrets that need to be discovered
Port Elizabeth is an unassuming city. The great thing about being unassuming is that you can also be surprising. Drive right through PE and you will never know our secrets (you will see stinky factory and industrial port and no mountain and you will think it’s totally average). Stay a little while and get to know a local and maybe they will share some of their favourite local places and pastimes with you. Maybe they won’t. We also like to keep our secrets to ourselves. Our beautiful beachfront ticks the box for holiday makers, but they don’t necessarily know where the locals go to escape the crowds. I’m not going to tell you either, you must come and discover them for yourself.
2. It’s okay to arrive barefoot
It’s not like everybody here is a barefoot pleb, but we can be if we want to be. I myself will pop into Spar barefoot with sand between my toes and won’t feel judged. I feel like being barefoot in this city has a ‘just popping in to the shops to pick up some braai meat after a day in the sun’ air to it, rather than a ‘I just crawled out of some hippie commune’ kind of air to it. There’s nothing untypical about it, we just really are that chilled. I appreciate it, I like barefoot.
3. You can get everywhere in 15 minutes (which keeps us connected)
We are horrified if we find ourselves caught in traffic. Our city has grown and expanded over the past decade, and traffic can happen, but it’s not our thing. We can generally get anywhere that we need to go within 15 minutes. And so we leave 10 minutes before we need to get anywhere, even the airport. This is obviously great because it means less time sitting in traffic, but I think that the real win is that it’s easy to pop in and visit our friends. It doesn’t require huge planning and logistics and so we take advantage of this as well as popping down to the beach for a run or walk after work.
4. we all know one another
I get that for some anonymity is the goal, but in PE we can get kind of local. Also, we all have some kind of connection with one another, whether it’s the school we went to or a shared acquaintance. It’s nice. I did live in London in my early twenties and I missed it, I missed that sense that I am more likely to bump into someone I know while running into the grocery store for milk than not. We are interested (if not a little nosey) in one another’s business. School drop offs take half an hour because we stay and chat (and we only need 15 minutes to get to the next point of call so why not). We can easily find points of connection when meeting new friends at a braai or party. New friends, what’s that? We all know one another already. And so new friends are generally out of towners who we take great interest in because it’s nice to make a new chommie and find out what brings them to our neck of the wood.
5. we are sporty
We are a sporty nation I think, so this is not particularly unique to only our city, but we do love to get outdoors and get active down here in PE. I think what we do have in our favour when it comes to outdoor activity is accessibility. This prompts more of us to get involved in sports because we see everybody running all over the neighbourhoods and beaches and we think we better join in, seems like the in thing.
6. it’s a great place to launch
We are not the most progressive city in the world, which is great for the progressive inhabitants of PE. It means that we have the scope to be the forerunners, flex our creativity and inspire others to do the same. It’s not impossible to introduce something new here whether it be a new service, product or concept. I love it when our people travel the world and then return home and initiate an idea inspired by something they ate at a beach cafe in Bali. You will be surprised at how edgy we can be and how many genuine cool people live in PE, like the unassuming cool types. Although, for some reason whenever any of our cool people do something cool, everybody comes and has a look and then says, “This feels just like Cape Town.”
7. we have a decent foodie culture
It does seem like a new restaurant or coffee shop opens every few weeks in PE. Most of them stay open and develop a loyal customer base. It’s quite weird in such a small city, but eating out and sitting around in coffee shops all day seems to be our thing. There are some really great options too. We have also developed a bit of a food market and food truck scene over the past few years (which of course feel just like Cape Town).
8. raising kids here is the best
We love raising children here. We really are proud of our great choice of city when it comes to bringing up our offspring. I have already touched on many of the reasons for this in my previous points. It’s the beaches, the barefoot outdoorsy lifestyle, the sense of community and the accessibility.
9. best beachfront ever
I have traveled to a fair amount of coastal cities and have yet to visit one that has a beachfront to compare to ours. We have the sandy beaches and the warm waters and the extensive beachfront track for the runners, walkers, cyclists, skateboards, children and dogs. There’s just enough development that we have access to quality amenities and entertainment, but not too much development that it would take away from the natural beauty. And guess what else our beachfront is? Yep, it’s accessible, as I already mentioned, even if we live in the suburbs it’s quite reasonable to pop down to the beachfront after work for a sunset stroll.
10. nobody is here for the money
Those of us that have chosen to live in PE claim that we are living here for the lifestyle. We could all be chasing the big bucks in one of the bigger city but we are all totally down to earth down here in PE. Okay, I am making very generalised claims here. I know people who have left PE to bigger cities for reasons other than high flying careers and I know people that live in PE and have high flying careers. But, for the most part, those of us that are blessed enough to have CHOSEN this as our home have weighed up various options and decided that nothing beats the lifestyle in PE. We opt out of the fast pace and choose to live in the armpit because at the end of the day we do love this armpit.
Are you a local, what do you think of my top 10 reasons to live in PE? If you are not from PE and took the time to read this, let me know your thoughts and impressions on our unassuming city.
We want to live a slow life. A life of connection and simplicity. A life that allows us the space to assess what we really want to be spending our time and resources on. And so here we are, the Slow Down Family, working on slowing down more. We are figuring out how to apply this to all areas of our life, and how to do it while raising small children and pursing our dreams.
Follow our journey here as we share our experiences and tips on how to minimise and create space in our lives for the things that we really want to keep.
You’ve just made me homesick. Maybe a new slogan for PE “the armpit is very close to the heart” hehe! I miss and tell people about the barefoot part everywhere I go!
Haha that’s my goal, make all our PE folk around the world homesick 😉 I love the slogan! Thanks for reading 🙂
He-he, that armpit label made me smile. Our just turned 3 year old grandson loves to stick his hand into his moms armpit when drinking his bottle. For him it’s a place of comfort and security.
We are moving to PE in a month or two,,, us there a group that I can join that enlightens us more about PE ,, best places to buy,,, or rent,,, where do you live to see the see,,, AND is THAT afordable? We are a two-oart family My partner and myself,, 65 & 67,, but we are hip,, and then my daughter, her husband and kids,,,, 4&5 Elize 0827788100
Brilliant Anna! We sometimes take these points raised for granted. Thanks for this.
Thanks for reading Eugene!
Love this & always love our city, for all of the mentioned reasons! From a born & bred citizen of the Armpit!
Thanks for reading Shona!
Joan Burnell. I hail from the City of Roses necame a wife there a mom a first time home owner and almost lost it when we were transferred here. This is my style PE is… love love love this place. I can go barefoot and do or just ponytail my hair and hide behind my sunglasses❤️❤️❤️ I also have a carpet cleaning business (18) years and have the mist amazing clients who became friends
Hey Anna
Lovely read!
I would add that we have so many lovely things at our door step to
*Addo Elephant park (my personal happy place)
*Baaviaans ?
*Schoenies beach?
Yes, that’s true! Schoenies is one of our favourite places to visit as a family!
You right.few years ago I visited my daughter In PE.i feel inlove .friendly people.great place.very relaxed.can’t wait to move to PE
Hi Nanette, thanks for reading, hope you get to make that move 🙂
Great Blog
Thanks Dave!
Anna you make us pe folks GLOAT with pride… loved this !!!
Thanks Nelia
Great read 🙂 love this city
Thanks for Roche
Absolutely!! Lovely piece about our home.
Thanks Shaun!
Ah yes Anna. You nailed it.
Thanks for reading!
I have just moved to PE, to the best little neighborhood in Richmond Hill, and have never been happier! What an amazing place PE is!! Love love love it….
Thanks for reading and welcome to PE! We lived in Richmond Hill when we were first married and we loved it there.
Hello Anna, what a beautiful article and so many truths about our beautiful city and very special peeps. We moved back 6 years ago, after living in Jhb for 21 years and people asked ‘What’s it like to move back to PE?’, my response was “We didn’t move back, we came home”.
That’s so cool, I love that. It’s great to get perspective on what we have to value here in our city.
Lovely article Anna and so totally true! We were in Joburg for 9 years and have just moved back. I missed PE every single year that I was gone and now that I’m back I catch myself smiling at the simplest little things that I get to see and take in now being back in PE. Great place to raise a family, great people and great spots to enjoy a day out.
Welcome back! So awesome when old PE locals return. It is the best for family life.
Just a shame one can’t walk on the beautiful beaches alone for fear of being mugged or walk to the shop without the same happening! My brother has been attacked 5 times doing this so it happens! Having to live behind barred windows, be afraid to drive at night etc ! Doesn’t sound too enticing coming back home to visit my family!!
We still loving it here, it’s not perfect but it’s home so we celebrate the good.
I’m afraid to say that that’s what 67% youth unemployment has done to
SA’s best kept secret of a city, and it’s going to get worse and worse.
Miss PE .,the lovely beaches, sunshine and friends.
Get homesick for South Africa from time to time. Thanks for the blog.
Thanks for reading, hope you get to visit 🙂
I moved from PE to CT in 1980, but have been back more frequently over the last few years and am being seduced by my old home town. PE now is like CT used to be in the 80’s. I’m planning my move back and have recently bought a cottage in Richmond Hill, which I just love!
Reading your blog reaffirmed the charm I found there.
Richmond Hill is so lovely, we lived there when we were first married. Love it when folks move back!
You’re spot on, I grew up in PE until I married in 1959. Still enjoy going back.
Glad that you still return after so long! It’s a lovely place for a visit.
If you have had to leave PE, you so often come across people that have a PE connection and happy memories.
So awesome, thanks for reading!
As an Ex PE been away too many years, I still forever and miss it, my heart beats a double just reading through this post, love PE and miss it❤
Ah that’s so cool, thanks for reading!
Love my city! always have always will
Yay for PE getting all the love it deserves
I ♥ the blog Anna, and think you nailed it! I can practically tick every one of those blocks. Well done!
Thanks Patrick, I appreciate your feedback on all the love PE is getting on here!
I want to come home you nailed it.
Yay!
May I please share it to our Harcourts page. I love what you say. It’s callec Harcourts Sharon and Heidi Mandela bay It’s a Facebook page. Thx
Yes for sure! thank you!
Thanks Anna for making me miss PE more than I already do. We only lived there for 7 and a half years but it is home to us and I will give anything to go back. We are now in Cape Town and I don’t think it will ever feel like home. Hope to return to PE one day.
Hope you get the chance to do that, thanks for reading!
Yea PE is great
Sun sand sea wind
Love it all, miss it like crazy
See you in Sep, PE
Davina
Come home. We waiting
The best!
We moved to PE in 2014 from Gauteng. My children still had the opportunity to be children playing around on the beach and surf. We just love PE especially our neighbourhood which have become our family too. Have no desire to ever leave this place.
That’s awesome, we make a lot of use of our lovely beaches with our children. And are still friends with neighbours even after moving.
Beautiful Anna! We could identify with every point (and could add a few more too). Showing our PEness.
Thanks for reading Bev, we have so much to be grateful for here in PE
You nailed it Anna, and even so made me proud of the choice to stay here and have a career too ❤ yes the travelling is a pain in the ass…but hell… coming home is absolutely worth ever minute ❤
Plus… have you met us kiff PE folk, we are special ?
Totally, we are the best. Thanks for reading!
Miss my home town??Thanks for the read Anna love it.
Thanks for reading!
We have 3 gaming and book shops in the metro.
Have had so many regular visitors from all over the country ask us why dont we open up in jhb or cape town, our business will make so much money there…
but like your article sais, when PE is in your veins… it aint about the money. I have worked in the Cape, jhb, George, EL… but always found my way home.
That’s awesome, thanks for sharing. When you have it good, not need to chase something else.
Armpit, shmarpit……still quote that when feeling especially aggrieved by this pretentious, uneducated viewpoint of our HOME. And that’s exactly whet it is for all the reasons listed in your most excellent blog. If you truly open your eyes and experience our awesome city you can’t defend the indefensible, it’s truly a gem! Privileged to be here. ❤️
Absolutely!
What a awesome read .My hometown, My beloved PE.You just made me homesick.
Thanks for reading, I am loving all the love PE is getting on there!
I love Cape Town (2nd home town), but PE will always be home for me.
Proudly PE. Awesome blog
In PE for a few days with 2 kids and really enjoying it. Any recommendations for good kid friendly places for coffee?