Fun in Durbs ...

After a thoroughly enjoyable and relaxing weekend, it was back to business on Monday and spent the day preparing for my scheduled sales trip the following day to Durban. I was only going for two nights and three days, but as with any trip, lots to organise. My flight left at 06.30am which meant a 4am wake up call ... I can honestly say that one of the things that made me get out of bed, was that I was excited to see the new departures Terminal at Cape Town Airport! I was not disappointed ... although I did not have time to experience any of the lovely new restaurants and shops, it was very impressive and my check in went 100% smoothly.

Almost two hours later and I had arrived in Durban making my way to a recently discovered guest house, situated just off Durban's vibey Florida Road, called The Montpelier . It was on my way here that I was met with a site for sore eyes .... The newly finished Durban Stadium. As much as I hate to admit this, my first impressions were that it puts Cape Town's in the shade. "wow" is the best word I can think of to describe it.

I have since read that as well as being able to seat 70,000 people, there will also be a cable car taking people up to the top of the arch, where there will be a viewing platform for them to enjoy dramatic views of the city! That is definitely something on my list for my next visit! I eventually pulled myself away from the stadium and started about my sales calls promisng myself that before I left, I would take a photo. Sadly this was not to happen as about an hour later the weather began to seriously change ... there were rumours of a cyclone, which were quite believable as from nowhere came the strongest wind and fierce black clouds covered the city ... the type that when they break ... you just know that an umbrella won't help! Sure enough, within minutes,it was as if I had suddenly landed in another city, Edinburgh comes to mind!! Needless to say my calls took a turn for the worse and at each appointment I was looking more and more, like someone who had accidentally fallen in the river!
And so it carried on for my whole time in Durban ... meanwhile, when checking in with Cape Town every so often, I got rather sick of hearing how they were suffering in the heat of 35 degrees plus!

During my visit, many people had told me about the newly refurbished Oyster box hotel in umhlanga rocks (pronounced umschlanga for the pommies)and how I must not leave without a look!. Overlooking the Indian ocean and lighthouse, The Oyster box had long been a legend since 1947, although more recently was in good need of a refurb having been somewhat overshadowed by the more upmarket Beverley Hills hotel next door ... Move over BH,no longer! The owners (Red Carnation Hotels) have just spent a mere R500 million on updating this famous landmark on the Kwa zulu natal's coastline and felt I could not miss the opportunity to combine a lunchtime bite, and an email catch up, whilst taking a wee peak at the new talk of the town.
I soon realised when entering that there are two kinds of people that walk through the doors of a hotel like this ... either those that are very very rich or those that simply have to have a look! I of course fell into the latter category. Everything was sparkling new, but at the same time blending in so beautifully with the architecture of the original building,there were staff in abundance of course as in any new hotel, and could not help wondering which ones would still be there in 6 months time! Though feeling dreadfully out of place, I decided to stay long enough to enjoy a chicken and Mayonnaise sandwich and cup of coffee, which came to R82, When you think that the Presidential Suite is R50,000 a night... I think I got off rather lightly!

It was soon time to return back to Cape Town and for once it appeared that luck was on my side... Having heard on the radio that most planes were either cancelled or delayed due to the bad weather, I headed for the airport, preparing for the worst. However, having pushed my way through the airport that was looking not unlike a refugee camp,I was finally given the news that my flight was the only one,that was actually still scheduled to leave on time!!

As I flew into Cape Town over the helderberg mountains that appeared to be glazed in a light pink colour from the descending sun ...with the hundreds of small dams and waterfalls glistening back at me...
Not only was I so glad to be 'home' again, but when I saw the outline of Cape Town Stadium in the distance, I realised that it was indeed just as impressive as Durban's ... if not more, I had just been driving past it almost every day for the last year and I had allowed the novelty wear off. It is true what they say though ... Absence really does make the heart grow fonder!