Enchanted Breakfast

Today was a public holiday in South Africa (Freedom Day), so Sean and I met my folks at the Cafe du Cirque for breakfast... it was fabulous, as always!! This place is truly magical:)

{Below is a short summary of the history of the circus coffee shop:

1954 - Mr WH Wilkie landed on the shores of Durban, complete with his circus from New Brighton, England. Mr Wilkie's Great Continental Circus took South Africa by storm, featuring top class international artists.
(Mr Wilkie was offered a farm in Daleside, outside Alberton, which became the circus homestead)

1972 - Mr Wilkie bought shares in the Boswell Circus and the Boswell Wilkie Combined Circus was formed.

1981 - A new circus was formed under the wing of Mr Wilkie, named Robero's, after his son Robert, who took over the reigns of the circus.

1991 - Boswell Wilkie Circus brought the highly acclaimed Moscow Circus from Russia to South Africa.

1998 - Mr Wilkie passed away at the great age of 91 and South Africa lost a truly magnificent man. Robert, who had been in control of the circus since the age of 21, had a major decision to make re the viability of the circus. People had now started spending their money on gambling, lotto, etc and the circus was no longer part of family tradition.

2001 - Boswell Wilkie Circus performed their final show in Alberton to a packed house.

2002 and beyond - The Big Top is now a permanent fixture on the Wilkie farm and is now used for children's birthday parties and corporate functions. The old farmhouse has been transformed into Cafe du Cirque, a lovely coffee shop serving fantastic food, coffee and much more. The farm is home to horses, ponies, dogs, a zebra and the extended Wilkie family. Public shows are still presented every now and again, when the Wilkies get a chance to put on stunning extravaganzas, showing the public that the sawdust is still in their blood:)}