Mark returns to Durban

Guesthouse co-owner Dave's son Mark arrives back in Durban after completing his schooling and a holiday adventure to Thailand. Welcoming him in the photo is daughter Kate-Lynn.

As he arrived back today the newspaper was out with this Matric exam results giving Mark 4 As - for Mathematics, Life Orientation, Geography and Accounting. Well done son!!

Durban's new 2010 World Cup Stadium

Enjoying the view from the top of Durban's new Moses Mabhida 2010 World Cup football Stadium are (from left to right) Guesthouse co-owner Dave, with guests Wally (from Bloemfontein), Michel (Amsterdam), Rienie (Amsterdam) and Wim (Bloemfontein).

Llewellyn and Dave of Durban View Guesthouse with the city of Durban in the background as seen from the top of the new Durban Stadium.

Durban's new Moses Mabhida Stadium opened a few weeks ago and the funicular cable car now takes 24 visitors up the northern arch to the top of the 25 -story high stadium with spectacular views over the Indian Ocean and the City. Rides are R50 per person or R75 for international guests and in addition you can book a VIP tour of the Stadium or to see the pitch from R20 to R75 for the full tour.




As the arch changes pitch going up, the funicular car is on a hydraulic system to keep the car level.

Dave says howzit, with guest Wim n the foreground left at the funicular cable car goes up to the top of Durban's new 2010 World Cup football Stadium.

Christmas Lunch

We normally have the kids all around on Christmas Day but this year they were away so we were able to welcome guests from around the world into our home for a casual but awesome Christmas weekend and lunch around the pool on the day.

In the top photo are myself and Llewellyn (right) with the dinner we all pitched in to provide, and in the photos that follow guests from Amsterdam now living in Botswana and the girls from Manchester.

Here friend Ian carves the gammon.


The Christmas spirit...

Emma and Johanna (below) from Manchester joined us in Durban for Christmas.

Michel and Rienie (below) from Amsterdam have made Southern Africa their home and paid their first visit to Durban for Christmas, staying with us in the Guesthouse. They are re-locating to set up a farm camp in Maun, Botswana.

Belgian returns

It's always great to welcome back past guests and Patrick (right) from Belgium returns to enjoy our Durban hospitality. With him is Momoh (left) who spent most of his life in Congo Brazzaville before moving to Cape Town and who was born in Leningrad, Russia. Congo Brazzaville is divided from the DemocraticRepublic of Congo (DRC) by the Congo River and was formerly a French colony whilst the DRC was a Belgian colony.

Llewellyn (guesthouse co-owner) is in the centre having a drink with the guests in our Guesthouse Pub.

A bit of Italy in Durban

Meet Emmanuel, an engineer from Milan on contract with an Italian company working on projects in South Africa and around the world.

Emmanuel is presently staying in Johannesburg but came to visit the Guesthouse this weekend and here he takes some time out to relax in the lounge with us.

Festive Season is here

In the run-up to Christmas Llewellyn tried his hand at a lamb-on-the-spit for his staff end-of-year function.

Here he is carving up the lamb which turned out tender and tasty after 3 hours on the rotating spit-braai.

FIFA World Cup semi-final for Durban

Durban was abuzz this morning after last night's Final draw for the 2010 Fifa World Cup Football games and venues. We got a star-studded draw hosting 5 of the world's top 6 football teams, including Spain (ranked 1st), Brazil (2nd), Netherlands (3rd), Portugal (5th) and Germany (6th). Our Guesthouse is situated within view of the Stadium and we are excited to be able to host visitors and fans from these top teams.

In addition, we will have teams from almost every continent with Switzerland, Nigeria, Japan, Australia, and Korea adding to the star-studded line-up.

Portugal, Nigeria and Netherlands are in the line-up of teams coming to Durban for crucial World Cup football matches.

The Korean Republic, Japan and Brazil will wow fans in Durban and bring a huge fan base of their own to Durban, South Africa's warmest city for the June/July football extravaganza.

Durban * has long been a favourite of Germans for our warm climate and hospitable locals and we will be able to reciprocate in 2010 with fans from ustralia, Switzerland and Germany coming to watch their favourite tems in action at our new Moses Mabhida Football Stadium.

* Copyright of logos to eThekwini Municipality - Durban host City 2010 FFA World Cup

This is how the Sunday Tribune broke the news this morning of "Durban's dream draw" as we got 5 of the world's top 6 football teams in play-offs at our new Durban Stadium for the 2010 World Cup Football in June/July next year.

We will host a semi-final on the 7th July and the other matches in June and July include:

Sun 13 June - Germany v Australia
Wed 16 June - Spain vs Switzerland
Sat 19 June - Netherlands vs Japan
Tues 22 Jun - Nigeria vs Korea
Fri 25 June - Portugal vs Brazil
Mon 28 Jun - Round 16 winners of group 1E and 2F
Wed 7 July - Semi-Final Group B vs Group D

There is still limited accommodation at Durban Stadium View Guesthouse for the World Cup - book here - and we can also offer executive accommodation at a luxury 3-bedroom garden Apartment overlooking the Moses Mabhida World Cup Stadium with sweeping views of the city and Indian Ocean.

Executive Apartment for World Cup

A stunning 3 bedroomed Apartment in Durban's Berea suburb with awesome views of the new Moses Mabhida Football Stadium, the City centre and Indian Ocean, has now become available for the World Cup period.

This executive Apartment sleeps 7 with a master double bedroom with dressing room and en suite superbly appointed bathroom, a double bedroom, both with sliding door access to the view garden and a third bedroom which sleeps 3 - ducted airconditioning throughout, living/dining area, kitchen, beautiful beechwood bar/pub also with Stadium views, double garage and a stone's throw from Durban's finest restaurants and pubs.

Enquiries can be emailed to durbanstadiumview for bookings.

Fireman Marc

Hey it's our fireman friend and guest Marc (right) from Johannesburg who is now working as the Medic on board an oil and gas research ship.

The ship is presently prospecting for oil and gas for a client off the coast of India and was recently off Thailand. Great to have you come stay at the Guesthouse again Marc.. hope you enjoyed your few days in Durban on your shore leave.