Whale rib pier

We went for a walk on the beach promenade before breakfast, and by 8am it was already hot and humid. It was busy with walkers, runners, dog walkers and people just out and about enjoying the good weather. We watched a fishing boat being launched into the sea, it was pushed in the water by a tractor! This photo is of the whale bone pier, an award winning pier that has become a feature of this beach.(The pink is a temporary covering for this month being Breast Cancer month) The first extra is of the Umhlanga lighthouse, something that is also an iconic feature of this area and I have many childhood memories of swimming in the sea near this lighthouse, and playing in the rock pools here.

After breakfast we fetched my sister and then went for a drive into Durban as I wanted to see the beach front area. When I grew up this beachfront road was lined with swanky hotels and it was a popular area to swim, with many restaurants, cafes, a public swimming pool and a good place to visit as a tourist as it was so vibrant and lively. Today we were shocked at how run down and derelict it has become, it was so depressing to see. Many of the hotels were so neglected I cannot imagine staying in any of them. There was litter everywhere, the pavements were dug up and left, grassy areas were patchy and bald, it was looking awful. When we last drove along this marine drive it was still looking lovely but sadly not anymore. Many people were just loitering about trying to make  living selling things, there were homeless people begging at the traffic lights. Durban was badly affected by the riots in July '21 (the Zuma riots) and then they had two separate incidences of serious flooding where homes were washed away - some evidence of that can still be seen today as they are trying to rebuild roads damaged in those floods.

We went on to my niece where we spent the rest of the day. We had a delicious BBQ (braaivleis) for lunch with excellent salads, and a gluten free 'melktert' (like a custard tart) for pudding. Later that afternoon we had a video call with Luke and Adam (Tommy was in a meeting with his supervisor so could not join us). It was good for them to catch up with their cousin and see the babies on video. 

Tomorrow after breakfast Gavin and I leave to drive north to Phinda, the game reserve we are staying at for a few nights.