Durban shaping up - QM2 arrives

Durban is shaping up in time for the World Cup in June. The Queen Mary 2 arrived in the harbour this morning for a quick visit and I shot around taking some photos.

The grass around the World Cup Stadium - the Moses Mabhida Stadium - is growing nicely as the surrounding landscaping is greening Durban, one of South Africa's greenest cities.

The posters on the street lamp-poles proclaim Durban as South Africa's warmest city for the World Cup, and that is true. Being a coastal city with the warm Indian Ocean, Durban's winter temperature is in the 15c - 22c range whilst football fans in Johannesburg and Cape Town arelikely to be in cold 10c weather during the World Cup.

We still have some Guesthouse space, particularly around the Brazil vs Portugal game, so bookings can still be made online or by email to durbanstadiumview@gmail.com.

Environmental initiative for 2010 World Cup

A number of initiatives have been launched to address 2010-related environmental concerns.

Many of the world’s top players, including Portugal’s Christiano Ronaldo will be wearing shirts made of plastic bottles at the World Cup. Nike has confirmed that shirts for the nine national teams it sponsors would be made from polyester recycled from used bottles retrieved from Japanese and Taiwanese landfill sites. The sports gear giant says they will keep players cooler and drier while reducing energy consumption in manufacture by 30%, compared with normal polyester.

Meanwhile, more than 1200 rubbish bins with a soccer theme are being placed around SA’s main airports as part of a recycling project to promote the World Cup’s Green Goal campaign. The bins, in the colours of the national flag (with lids resembling soccer balls), will help people separate their waste and facilitate recycling. The aim is to eventually have 100 000 of these bins throughout the country the next two years.

Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban have also planted thousands of trees to capture the carbon dioxide blamed for global warming. And FIFA will soon be able to buy green electricity, produced by the Darling Wind Farm in the Western Cape for the World Cup.

In other developments, SA’s electric car, the Joule, is in production in Port Elizabeth for use during the World Cup.

100 day Countdown

It's less than 100 days to the FIFA World Cup Football in South Africa and the countdown has begun.

Here's guesthouse co-owner Dave in the Guesthouse Pub with a replica of the official World Cup Match ball named "Jabulani". This means "Celebration" in Zulu. Following a technologically advancing path over the years, "Jabulani" is the greatest of all World Cup match balls and is set to cut a striking appearance at South Africa 2010.

When the ball was introduced on the day of the 2010 World Cup draw in Cape Town, some of the World's best players gave "Jabulani" the stamp of approval. Germany captain Michael Ballack said, "Fantastic, the ball does exactly what I want it to."

The construction of the ball includes eight thermally bonded 3-D panels, which are spherically moulded. Tests have shown that the ball provides exceptional accuracy and very stable flight. It will, however, be fractionally faster at altitude than here at sea level in Durban.

Brazil vs Portugal 25 June

We've got tickets to the Brazil vs Portugal game in Durban.

This means I need to brush up a little on my history, not that I don't know the Portuguese origins in Southern Africa.

The early Portuguese explorers, Bartholomew Diaz, followed by Vasco da Gama were looking for an alternative route to bypass the Turkish blockade of the Silk route that linked Europe and China and passage by sea around Southern Africa was the key.

It was Vasco da Gama who succeeded in going all the way around the South African coastline making Portugal the first European nation to reach the Far East by sea in the late 15th Century.

With this illustrious background, we will be proud to host the Portugal Football team in Durban for their epic clash with Brazil and we are delighted that we managed to get these tickets.

Brazil vs Portugal Fri 25 June

The Brazil vs Portugal game in Durban on Fri 25th June should be an exciting on with these two great rivals.

Excitement for the FIFA 2010 World Cup Football event is growing and on the 1st February the next load of tickets that were offered for sale will be released, so we are hoping to be able to attend this game.

Here is a link to quite a good blogging site that features information on all of the competing teams.

There is still limited accommodation at the Guesthouse for this game, so hurry to book online here or email us at DurbanStadiumView@gmail.com

It's a 21st Party at the Guesthouse

Guesthouse co-owner Dave gets ready for daughter Kate-Lynn's 21st Birthday with a Rubic's Cube theme... everyone needs to dress in the 6 colours of the cube then swop clothing with other guests to end up all one colour. Should be loads of fun.

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!!

The view from the top of the Stadium

Enjoying the view from the top of Durban's new Moses Mabhida 2010 World Cup football Stadium are (from left to right) Guesthouse owner Llewellyn and Dave with the beachfront and city centre in the background.

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 in the foreground left at the funicular cable car goes up to the top of Durban's new 2010 World Cup football Stadium.

Moses Mabhida 2010 Durban Stadium

We're going to take the tour up the funicular cable car to the top of the Stadium this morning. It has only been open a couple of weeks and it's going to be great to see Durban "from the air".

The arch of the Stadium features a funicular cable car up the one side. Optionally one can walk up the stairs on the other side. Each tour is relatively inexpensive at R75 per person and R75 respectively.

One can also do a general tour which includes the pitch for R20 or a full stadium tour which includes the Presidential Suite and the luxury team change-rooms for R75.

Click on the link here for the full information.

Mark finishes Matric and to Thailand

I found a few pics of Mark's trip to Thailand - seems this is all he has - so I'm loading them here before they get lost. I had been to Koh PaNgang for my 50th birthday, so when Mark finished Matric the plan was for he and a mate to do a similar trip, landing in Puket, then  making his way across to the east over the mainland peninsular and to the islands on the east where the full moon party takes place. Afer the party he would return on the 26th Dec I think retracing his steps to Puket for his flight home.

A meal at the Airport before Mark's departure

Goodbye from sister Kate

I recognise KohNangYung Island in the background

KohNangYung island is a smaller island off Koh Tao island

Beach designs that glow under UV lights during the party

Netherlands vs Japan Sat 19 Jun 2010

Durban's third football match of the FIFA 2010 World Cup will be an interesting one with top-rated Netherlands playing Japan on Sat 19th June 2010.

Fans should be delighted with the match date which falls on a Saturday so the party in Durban on Friday with the build-up to the game, and after the game on Saturday with celebrations for some, will be huge.

There is limited accommodation available for the days around this game at our Stadium View Guesthouse as well as our luxury Apartment overlooking the Stadium, so please book early as enquiries for all of the match dates have been steadily coming in and rooms taken.

In the photo is Japan's Shunsuke Nakamura in the World Cup qualifier game against Bahrain earlier this year.

Japan Football Association Royal Netherlands Football Association

Opening Game features Germany vs Australia

The opening game of the FIFA 2010 World Cup football in Durban will feature Germany vs Australia Sun 13 June 2010.

Click here to connect to the German Football team's Facebook group and keep up to speed on the latest news on the team and the challenge of the World Cup. And here is a link to their website.

And here's a link to the official Australian Football Federation website... are the Ozzies up to it?.. and here's their Facebook group. Both teams have been drawn group D with Serbia and Ghana.

Accommodation for the game in Durban is limited but may be booked online here or send us an email to mailto:durbanstadiumview@gmail.com and we will check availability for you.

Top Teams for Durban in 2010 World Cup Draw

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 available

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.

Landscaping under way

Now that Durban's Moses Mabhida World Cup Football Stadium is complete and has been officially handed over to FIFA , the landscaping around the Stadium is under way.

In the photos are guests Owen and Karen (right) from Los Angeles who met up with Llewellyn and his kids for a walk around the linking pedestrian route to the beach. The Stadium has spectacular views over Durban's coastline and direct access to the suncoast beaches.