Opening Doors at Dawn, at UP

Opening doors at dawn at the University of Pretoria as there’s nothing like the cool morning summer breeze when the sun smiles on a leaf and on a fragrant Jacaranda bloom.

The access on the UP campus is restricted to university staff and students, but we can all take a virtual tour through the courtesy of my daughter ๐Ÿ™‚

Early, on a spring morning, at the University of Pretoria, you will have to step on a carpet of flowers to get to class:

opening doors at dawn at UP, Jacaranda blooms

They say that when Jacarandas are in bloom, it’s time to start preparing for the finals…

Looking up at Jacaranda flowers, photo by LysandraFurstenberg
Looking up at a sky filled with Jacaranda flowers

The Old College of the University of Pretoria, completed in 1914, has a summery looking door with an above-door window (transom window) and a Juliette’s balcony:

doors at dawn, UP, the Old College

Building the Old College was a celebration in itself due to the severe financial restraints felt by the onset of the First World War.

And lastly:

I like the openness of the Theology building’s front gate:

UP, the Theology building

For Dan Antion’s Thursday Doors weekly feature where door loves from around the world meet.

More UP doors next week! ๐Ÿ˜‰

For books about far away places see this page on my blog or my Amazon author page.

18 Replies to “Opening Doors at Dawn, at UP”

  1. lovely mini tour!

    โ–ชโ—พโ—ผโ—พโ–ชโ–ซโ—ฝโ—ปโ—ฝโ–ซโ–ชโ—พโ—ผโ—พโ–ชโ–ซโ—ฝโ—ปโ—ฝโ–ซโ–ชโ—พโ—ผโ—พโ–ช
    โ–ซโ—ฝโ—ปโ—ฝโ–ซโ–ชโ—พโ—ผโ—พโ–ชโ–ซโ—ฝโ—ปโ—ฝโ–ซโ–ชโ—พโ—ผโ—พโ–ชโ–ซโ—ฝโ—ปโ—ฝโ–ซ

  2. Those Jacaranda trees smell more like holiday than like finals. ๐Ÿ™‚ Anyway, my fave picture is the one with the jacaranda-door to the skies. Breathtaking!

  3. I like that one too, Sweetie ๐Ÿ™‚
    Strolling underneath Jacarandas in bloom and then looking up, at their pretty low branches, feels like walking on air.

  4. Your daughter has a very good eye. I love that eclectic stone entrance in the lead photo. Especially with the splash of color from the Jacarandas. Looking up at the blooming trees, I feel like I can almost smell the blossoms. Thanks for this little tour!

    1. Thank you, Dam. I’ll tell her. She is amazing at spotting details that are right under your nose ๐Ÿ˜‰
      The Jacarandas have a sweet, discreet scent and I think that it adds to their charm.
      Glad you came along and had a good time! Thank you for Thursday Doors.

  5. Your daughter has a good eye. I love that eclectic stone entrance in the lead photo. Especially with the splash of color from the Jacarandas. Looking up through the trees, I can almost smell the blossoms. Thanks for the little tour, the campus is beautiful.

    1. The UP campus is huge. The students are very luck to have such a beautiful space to themselves – and safe.There’s a music hall too, and food vendors, a book shop, of course. Student parking as well. A village on its own. Safety is paramount here in SA.

  6. Wow Pat.. this is one reason to go to school.
    These Jacaranda flowers are stunning. i can smell them from here. beautiful my friend

    1. Something to sweeten the stress of end year exams.
      They do have a faint, sweet scent, but apparently the strongest odor comes from the dry leaves that fall from the tree.
      Glad for your visit, Cindy.

    1. I am glad you did, Roberta. Yes, Jacarandas can be seen everywhere, I think that it was in the ’80s when they just sprouted freely. They do like the South African climate.

  7. Thank you so much for this tour of Pretoria Uneversity campus, Patricia. The Jacaranda trees in full bloom are stunning, your daughter is really fortunate to study in such a beautiful university!

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