July Races in Durban

It's the fabulous July Handicap horseracing in Durban on Saturday and here Llewellyn puts the finishing touches to his and my matching waistcoasts - in the theme "A Right Royal Affair" - Kings, Queens, Knaves and Knights... should be a load of fun and a Guesthouse full of guests who are able to stroll down to the racecourse just below the house.

Go Comrades Go!

 The 4am alarm got us up in time to get our Comrades runner guests down to the Start of this years 89km Durban to Pietermaritzburg run. In the top photo Zander and Richard from New York leave the Guesthouse on a crisp, clear and slightly chilly dark morning raring to go.

At right, cousins Matt and Gary also got off to the start and were ceded right up there with the top groups.

In the bottom photo, guesthouse co-owner Llwellyn was thankful he was not running to Pmb and surveys the debris after the thick column of runners had crossed the Start. Good luck guys - Durban gave you an awesome sendoff!

It's Comrades in Durban

 It's the 89km Comrades Marathon tomorrow and we have runners in the house from  New York and Johannesburg. Getting together with family and friends last night for drinks in the Guesthouse and carbo-loading out are Johannesburg runners Gary and Matt with Guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn (top photo) and they are joined in the second photo by Richard and Zander from New York who have an impressive 80 marathons under their belt (or shoes..ha ha) including the Antartica Marathon and the Boston Marathon.

Eating out they are joined by Jaco, Kate and Debbie and my hand is in the last photo (left) as we chug down a shooter to wish the runners well. The Comrades Marathon is an uprun this year from Durban to Pietermaritzburg and is one of the world's few ultra-ultra marathons with an impressive field of some 20000 runners.

Calling All Queens...

"A Right Royal Affair" is the theme of this year's Durban July Horseracing and Fashion event just down the road from the Guesthouse on Sat 2 July 2011.

This means all you Queens, Kings, Court Jesters and Royalty can converge in Durban and make this an exciting weekend of racing, fashion and fashion-less 13th Race.. the naked guys' race after the last horses have thundered down the track. Check out my YouTube video clip of the hot guys making a dash down the main straight... a much-waited afair by the crowd of over 50 000. Llewellyn promised he would do it if one of our guests joined him... but they are chickened out. Anyone up for it?

Join us at the Guesthouse on Friday, meet up with our other guests, walk down to the track on Saturday... win some money, hot boys and enjoy the after-parties. It's gonna be fun!

Guesthouse bookings now open or email Llewellyn on durbanview@gmail.com

Before the July, don't forget our Comrades Weekend, this weekend 27th/28th May, and our Singles Weekend 17th/18th June - Durban is where the action is.!!

Comrades in Durban 29 May

The annual Comrades Marathon from Durban to Pietermaritzburg is an uprun this year and we will be going down at the crack of dawn to watch the start. So if you're running, come stay with us and the other runners at the Guesthouse and we will get you to the start, or come see you off.

We also have an accommodation special "running" for entrants, so if you'd like to come stay and pay for 2 nights, we will give you a third night free. This will give you a chance to acclimatise in Durban and also wind down and relax after the big event. We can even arrange a massage for those weary muscles.

Bookings are now open for the weekend Fri 27 to Sun 29 May by email on durbanview@gmail.com   

Weekend in Durban

It's a big weekend in Durban with the AmaShovaShova Cycle Race in Durban on Sunday. And guests Henk and Riaan (centre) who competed recently at the Gay Games in Cologne are here in Durban for the big race from Pietermaritzburg to Durban.

Joining them for a drink in the guesthouse pub are Adrian (left), Dave (Guesthouse co-owner - back), and guests from London Greg and Will (right).

Also in Durban for a regular visit from Johannesburg is Italian Engineer Emmanuel (above). Enjoy the sunny day in Durban guys... the rain has cleared and Sunday's cycle race should be in perfect conditions.  

Hot Germans back to Durban

Not the hottest bod in the world, but Germany's footballer Podolski has everything to be proud of with Germany's (4) win tonight over Argentina (0) in the World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa.

This brings Germany to Durban, for the semi-final next week. We had a house-load of proud German fans at our Guesthouse here in Durban for the opening game against Australia and they will be back for some more fun in the sun hopeful of making it to the finals.

Durban Orange again

Durban is awash with colour again today as the OranjeFans return to give Netherlands their support in the round 16 clash with Slovakia. It also looks like Durban locals are supporting Netherlands and orange is the popular colour of the day. In the photos are (3rd from top) our Guests Darren, Janelle, Gareth, and Jenny, and Ishmar, whilst in the other photos I managed to catch some of the fans on their way to the Stadium. You can spot me in the top and 2nd photo with the Netherlands flag I painted on my cheek.

Football feast in Durban Brasil (0) Portugal (0)

It's a feast of football, incredible fans and outfits, vibrant colours and fun in the streets of Durban. In the photos Llewellyn (Portugal) and I (Brasil) pose with fans in the street and at the Stadium Nelson (left, from Perth but Portuguese) joined us with his partner Les and stayed for a few nights at the Gueshtouse.

Llewellyn poses outside Durban's new Moses Mabhida Stadium just down the road from our Guesthouse after the Brasil/Portugal game last night on  Friday.See more pics on our World Cup Blog.

Durban turns Orange

One might almost have been mistaken that there was a huge drag show taking place, but Durban turned orange with fans from the Netherlands with bright, fabulous, and original outfits ahead of the Netherlands vs Japan game which Netherlands won 1-0 today.

The Durban beachfront was abuzz with activity as the well organised OranjeFans sang and danced "Durban is vir ons 'Ole!'". The Guesthouse has been busy and we have been hosting fans from opposing teams each game.

From Germany to Durban by Jeep to the Guesthouse

We are privileged to meet at the Guesthouse trans-Africa traveller Armin Hollensteiner who made the journey from his hometown, Bielefeld in Germany, by jeep to Durban for the World Cup opening game Germany vs Australia today.

Travelling 21 000 kms through Europe, the middle east and Africa, Armin was joined in Dar-es-Salaam by Marcus and the travellers arrived in Durban yesterday making it a 3-month 13th Mar - 13th June journey. Armin has created a blog to document the journey and you can view it here.

In the top photo are Armin and myself (Dave) outside the Guesthouse with the reliable jeep that averaged 11 ls per 100kms. In the 2nd photo Marcus and Armin pose with their mascot Lohmann, the 3rd photo shows Armin's personalised numberplate with BI for his home town Bielefeld, ZA for South Africa (Zuid Afrika) and 2010 for the FIFA 2010 World Cup Football event. The 4th photo shows the route Armin travelled across Africa to get to Durban.

Wow, congratulations guys, what a journey and accomplishment!

Opening World Cup game today

One would be mistaken in thinking our SA National Football team, Bafana Bafana, were not the world favourites to win today as they take on Mexico in the opening game of the World Cup.

I have never seen so many yellow shirts in South Africa on one day... everyone - uniting the nation - are showing their colours for Bafana Bafana and South African flags are everywhere.

Fridays have been the days South Africans and schoolchildren have been allowed to show their support by wearing a Bafana shirt to school or work. In the photos from top to bottom are images painted on a garden wall just up the road from the Guesthouse showing Bafana Bafana in action, a handwritten message  in wet concrete, my office staff gearing up for the opening game today, and a self-pic of myself in my car on the way to work - full time lawyer, inbetween running the Guesthouse with my partner Llewellyn, who also has his own SpecSavers Optometry practices by day.

World Cup Welcome

Welcoming the world to Durban are Guesthouse co-owners Dave and Llewellyn on the rooftop of the house with views of the new FIFA World Cup Football Stadium in the background.

The past few weeks have been busy ones at the Guesthouse recovering furniture, painting, choosing new furniture and curtains for some of the rooms, putting desks and safes in every room and pimping up the Pub for the visitors from around the world due for the World Cup Football event.

We will be welcoming guests from Australia, Germany, Portugal, Brazil, Japan, New Zealand, United States, England, Netherlands, South Africa, and Switzerland.  

We hope you have a really awesome time in Durban guys. And don't forget to visit Durban's one and only Gay Club, The Lounge at 226 Mathews Meyiwa (previously named Stamford Hill) Road, or give us a shout on +27-837033329 if you want to pop in at the Guesthouse to say hi.

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.