One of the best ways to get me going in the morning is to get me running. Add a sunrise, an ocean breeze, a foreign country, new friends, and then the excitement of an Ironman race and it is not just getting me going, but has me on a new plane! Our first day in Durban was just what I needed. I ran with three other teachers at 5:30am on the beach. We had so much fun stopping to take photos and checking out the sand sculptures. If the artist was with the sculpture you were supposed to pay them to take the photo, but since we were out early we got free reign. I also got to check out the Durban Half Ironman. It is a triathlon with a 1.2 mile swim, a 56 mile bike ride, and a 13.1 mile run. The swim portion was in the Indian Ocean and was cancelled for the non-pro athletes due to rough water. I stood at the transition zone and sat be the pros transition from swimming to running. I talked to various people and enjoyed being in the midst of adrenaline rushes. Check out the gallery full of sunrises and the event:
Dining With Sharks and the Durban Botanical Gardens
We ate lunch at the Cargo Hold and dined by a large aquarium and celebrated our dads with lunch. I had the prawns and they had their little heads and tails and were oh so good! Then we hopped on our bus and had a city tour that included the Durban Botanical Gardens. Vasco Da Gama's Port Natal was renamed Durban in Honor of Cape Governor Benjamin D'Urban after Zulu chief Shaka gave the land to the British in 1824. I wonder if Chief Shaka gave it willingly, but that is the story of how Durban got it's name. We stayed on the Golden Mile, but took a bus tour and got to see a bit more. I was surprised how much I enjoyed the Botanical Garden. It is near the racecourse and was established as an experimental station for tropical crops with a beautiful cycad and palm collection.
Durban has 5 million people in it with a sub-tropical climate. It is actually warm here in Durban even though it is winter. It also has the largest Hindu population outside of India because of the sugar cane help in the 1850's. The Zulu refused to work in the fields so the indentured servants from India decided to stay.
South Africa is a larger than one might think. We found out today that to drive to Johannesburg would take 5-6 hours and to Cape Town would take 24 hours!
Durban has 5 million people in it with a sub-tropical climate. It is actually warm here in Durban even though it is winter. It also has the largest Hindu population outside of India because of the sugar cane help in the 1850's. The Zulu refused to work in the fields so the indentured servants from India decided to stay.
South Africa is a larger than one might think. We found out today that to drive to Johannesburg would take 5-6 hours and to Cape Town would take 24 hours!