2010 - a great year for Durban

This is the end of a great year and we're finishing on a hot note. This is the year South Africa hosted the FIFA World Cup Football event and our Guesthouse was spinning with hot fans from all over the world.

We travelled the world as well with a trip to Dublin, skiing in Bulgaria, and Amsterdam in February, as well as a road trip to Cape Town after the World Cup in July. August saw us on a gay-only Baltic Cruise from Copenhagen to Estonia, St Petersberg, Helsinki, Stockholm and Amsterdam gay Pride. And in October we did a short work-related trip and conference on a cruise from Hong Kong to China and Vietnam. We also visited Cape Town again - one of our favourite world cities.

After the rescession of 2009, business confidence in South Africa improved, particularly with the World Cup taking place and my office business grew once again. In March this year I took on a partner and we go into 2011 with renewed vigor and confidence for an even better year.

2010 was the year our hot Charl van den Berg, Mr Gay South Africa, also lifted the Mr Gay World title - well done Charl, we are so proud of you. My Gay Cape Town, Gay Johannesburg and Gay South Africa blogs also took off and I introduced a Google Map of each city linked on these blogs.

So here's to all of you on this last day of 2010. We in  South Africa, with a time zone difference of between 6 and 9 hours compared to New York and San Francisco, will get to 2011 first- around midday in the States.. so party hard and will chat to you again next year. Thanks for following - reaching our all-time record readership of our Hotbodz blog this month - will bring you more of the hottest bodz next year.  Dave



Last days of 2010

As 2010 comes to an end we celebrate with Cape Town guests Garth and David in the photo with guesthouse co-owner Llewellyn (right).

Back in Durban after Amsterdam Pride

We sailed into Amsterdam on Saturday in time for the 2010 Gay Pride Canal Parade which attracted 400 000 spectators despite the slight rain. It started with a warm welcome at the dockside and ocean terminal as we stepped off the "Eurodam" after a whirlwind cruise of the Baltic with 1500 gay guys, then an interview screened on Dutch TV that night, the spectacular canal parage through the main canals of Amsterdam and awesome parties in the streets of the city.

Even the street barmen were hot and willing to wave the flag for us.

The rights of gay Africa were represented for the first time in the canal parade.

More than 40 floats took part in the parade in intermittant rain.

Street artists claimed their share of the action too.

The hot "kissing boys" did not need to decorate their float too much - just add skin!

Even the Police were represented at Gay Pride... with a helmet..

And Dave admires the boobs... lol

Dave and Llewellyn take every opportunity to show the South Africans were there.

Flags and balloons greeted the "Eurodam" at the dockside in Amsterdam on the morning of arrival for Gay Pride 2010 and we showed them our Pride.

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.

World Cup Fun

Having fun during the World Cup in Durban, Dave was hopeful of a Bafana Bafana win, but the 0 - Uruguay 3 was a disappointment. The pictures of the Stadium were taken by our Swiss Guest Chris from Berne. And Llewellyn enjoys a Strawberry Daquiri on the Pier at Moyo restaurant, uShaka.

Durban World Cup fun

Meet Noble, from Vancouver,  (left) who joined us for a few days at the Guesthouse and has seen the various nationalities coming for the World Cup Football passing through the Guesthouse. We have been documenting the World Cup news and created a special blog for the World Cup and our international visitors ... check out the amazing pics and stories here.

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!

Durban abuzz for Germany vs Australia tonight

The Durban beachfront outside the World Cup Stadium is alive with Ozzie Socceroos and Germans eager to watch their team beat the other tonight. It was a glorious sunny day and the surfers were out as well as the fans.

In the photos guest Rudi shows which team he is supporting whilst my family and friends also took a stroll down the beach promenade to get a feel of the action.

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.