Falling in love

LOVE IS a funny thing and often takes its victims by surprise – something Argentine film producer Jorges Piwowarski quickly discovered after he literally fell in love with Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa and then, on his most recent trip to the city, was swept off his feet by one of Port Elizabeth’s finest catches.

Piwowarski was only supposed to be in Port Elizabeth for only three days, a visit that has subsequently turned into three weeks after unexpectedly “falling in love”. “I just can’t seem to leave,” he said. “I’m in love with Nelson Mandela Bay, its people and one special person.”

Piwowarski first visited South Africa to produce a pre-World Cup documentary for the Argentinean market in November 2009 – since then he has returned four times to South Africa.

 “The first time I arrived here I was shocked, in a good way, about what South Africa was really like.

“You know, you can read about a country, the good and the bad, but it’s when you experience the true reality of a place that you really get to understand it. At the sight of South Africa I was shocked by its beauty and incredible infrastructure, I never expected what South Africa had to offer.”

The 34-year-old returned to plan for the World Cup shoot and then again for actual sporting spectacular where he spent time in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. After Argentina exited the World Cup on July 3, 2010 in Cape Town he paired up with the huge community of Argentinean football fans that had two weeks before the end of the tournament to explore South Africa.

This journey led him to the Eastern Cape, on an adventure to Jeffrey’s Bay, Nelson Mandela Bay, Coffee Bay and Hole in the Wall. “How could I not want to come back here,” said the rugby-loving Argentine. “Nothing you can read in books compares to the reality.”

A deep love of South Africa, by now, was burgeoning. His most recent journey to South Africa comes ahead of a soon-to-be signed film production partnership agreement between Argentina and South Africa. “After finishing a film production in Argentina, I came here to have a holiday and to have meetings on the agreement.

“I was driving up to Nelson Mandela Bay and took a back route around Jeffrey’s Bay when I drove past the most intriguing place, Wacky Woods – something about it was so beautiful,” said Piwowarski, who lives in Buenos Aires. “But I made my way to Port Elizabeth and told Nelson Mandela Bay Tourism I would be in the city for a couple of days. I was welcomed with open arms – and I fell in love with this city and its incredible people – so I haven’t left.”

Not long after his arrival he met the woman he has since fallen in love with. Asked who the lucky lady was, he said it was still early days and he would prefer to keep his love to himself for now. “It was just an instant spark between us. I think it has to do with this city that has warmth. It’s friendly, it’s got different cultures and whether you are in the townships or in the city, the people make it a great place to feel at home in,” he said. All this is why he is likely to bring an Argentinean film crew back in December – to film the IRB Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens South Africa – and to lap up the “lekker” love of the city.