New Year’s Eve in Durban

We spent New Year’s Eve in Durban with the Beeler family and went to the Umdloti Beach in north Durban in the morning which was busy with everyone on holiday. The waves were fairly intense and the sand is coarser here and a little rougher on the feet, but we had a good time in the sun playing in the crashing surf.

Immediately afterward, we went to tour the brand-new 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium that was just completed in downtown Durban. This state-of-the-art facility is a marvel to behold. While not a big deal in the U.S., all the rest of the world’s eyes will be on the soccer games (or football, as they call it) played here in July when teams from around the world converge in South Africa for the World Cup. The stadium holds 70,000 people and features a built-in lift that takes visitors up the side and to a 13-story-high platform at the very peak where you can get out and take a 360-degree aerial view of Durban and the “Golden Mile” of Indian Ocean beachfront.

We went to a braai (barbecue) at the Westville Christadelphian Ecclesial Hall last night and had a nice time with the brothers and sisters there chatting, playing board games, eating good food, and counting down until midnight.

Umdloti Beach in north Durban.

The Beeler’s five-year-old son Wyatt told me that I “must go catch fish” with his little net in the crashing surf. He seemed disappointed when I came back after a few “attempts” without landing a big fish inside his net.

The 2010 World Cup Soccer Stadium in downtown Durban just completed a few months ago in time for this July’s games.

The stadium holds 70,000 people for the World Cup soccer games in July 2010.

The architecture is interesting and allows everyone in the stands to sit in the shade during games.

The lift on the right side is visible in this photo that is built into the overhead arch and carries visitors to the peak of the stadium where there is a 13-story-high viewing platform.

A view of downtown Durban and the “Golden Mile” of scenic beachfront from the top of the World Cup Soccer Stadium.