The small farming town of Alexandria is about 100 kilometres from Port Elizabeth. The town was extablished around 1840 and named after Reverend Alexander Smith in 1856.
 Alexandria is one of the most important chicory producing areas in South Africa, and is often referred to as Chicory Country.
You can read more about the chicory farms on their website.
Apart from chicory the area is also known for it's dairy farming and pineapple production.
 The natural beauty of this area makes for a refreshing change from the sometimes overworked tourist areas.
The Alexandria State Forest, now known as Woody Cape Nature Reserve is incorporated into the Addo Elephant National Park.
The Alexandria dune field is one of the largest active dune fields in the world. Taking one of the walks along the dunes can be quite tiring.
 Alexandria is one of those towns where they tell you that if you blink you'll miss it. And that is what adds to it's charm.
People will welcome you with a warm smile and are happy to share their memories of the town.
 The beautiful Dutch Reformed Church in the main street has stood there for years and many can tell you of their childhood and the time spent at the school across the road from the church. A classroom filled with children of different ages and grades. Older children often having to help the younger ones.
In a farming community the churches were always the gathering point where people got to see each other on a Sunday. Traveling into town from their farms to worship and then maybe even staying in town for lunch with friends.
People can remember that when one church in town held a bazaar people from the other churches joined in and helped.
 Towns like this remind us to take a step back and slow down a bit. We are rushing around too much and forgetting the important things in life.
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