After four days in Mozambique, most of it recovering from some gastrointestinal consternation, we gave up on going to an island to off the coast and flew to Durban, where our next tour is to start.

We also abandoned thoughts of driving (or being driven) there or otherwise experiencing the joys of surface transportation. Why? After the many hours on the road (and many on the next tour), the thought of more, and the responsibilities of a car rental (not just left side driving, but harrowing Uber/Bolt experiences), and the difficulties of international border crossings (mordida/bribery/etc.), and the potential for falling victim to brigands and banditos, compelled us to take the easier option.

Our tour will start in a the tony neighborhood of uMhlanga, so we went old school and picked a spot downtown, right across the street from Durban City Hall and within walking distance of several historical sites. The first batch shows our flight :(long layover in Joburg): and an initial walk across the street…

Then, on our urban Durban walkabout, we went by the Durban Manor Hotel, a stately old building from a bygone era, still clinging to relevance. I believe that we weren’t able to book a room because they just can’t handle more than a couple of guests. Nonetheless, they let us go in and walk around to check out the architecture and the cool old furniture. This batch ends with a shot about education (near the Dept. of…), and the statue of Dick King (not to be confused with King Dick)…!

Nearby is the Port Natal Maritime Museum, so we had to check it out…

Adjacent to the Maritime Museum is The BAT Centre, an Arts studio, gallery, and performance space that promotes and trains youth interested in visual & performing arts. It’s been around for a while and has produced several now prominent artists, musicians, dancers, and thespians. We met one artist, Everaldo, who told us the back story and showed us around. Check out the videos in an upcoming post of the dancers who let us record their practice session. And check out their website gallery for more…

After that, we took the long walk to an area called the Golden Mile, a stretch of beach fun along the shore line (reminded me of Venice & Santa Monica, or maybe parts of Miami?). Lots of kids having fun, a long row of vendors, and the whole seaside hotel scene.

After a rest etc. at one of those hotels, we walked back (again through a dodgy section of urban Durban) to the city hall building and Natural Science Museum. This batch emphasizes the mammals…

This next batch emphasizes the birds & the bees, rather all our feathered friends and big bugs, or insects in general. However, it includes one dinosaur, one mummy, and more than a couple of dodos…

The evening we went to Florida Road for dinner. After walking the length ot the restaurant row section, we chose one. Even tho’ it was a Saturday night, it wasn’t as busy as one would expect.

The last row of pix in this batch show two things: a surprising shot in a Florida Road dispensary, and breakfast at the Royal Hotel. – a buffet collection, the room, and perhaps Liz & Phil were here…?

In the morning, after that great breakfast and before going to our next hotel (the first for our Intrepid tour), we took a walk to The Old Fort, a mid-19th-century British outpost built to combat the Boers. It was an overgrown relic featuring big trees and scattered memorials to more than a few English soldiers…

This batch includes random shots from the rest of that walk. The Kwa Muhle Museum (which was closed, but we walked in and saw a bit anyway), an old cemetery, some Sunday morning vendors, and a few more statues in the Farewell Square adjacent to the City Hall across the street from the Royal Hotel…

Then, we ubered to uMhlanga Rocks, a more tony neighborhood up the coast from downtown Durban, and checked into our hotel. Then, we ubered down to uMhlanga beach, checked it out and had some lunch. Most of these pix are taken in or near the whalebone pier (note the lighthouse!)…

Ubering back, we met our new tour group then went out to dinner with them at the nearby mall. We’re off this morning in a very similar configuration to our last tour with a leader or guide, a driver (of another big truck/bus), and a cook (yum). Cheers…!