Bridges in Paradise.

The Umbilo River runs through the Paradise Valley Nature Reserve. After a short walk along the Duiker trail, you reach the bridges of the N3, the national road between Durban and Johannesburg. Fortunately they are on stilts, so apart from the concrete pillars, one is totally unaware of the heavy traffic passing by overhead.

The footbridge however, is wooden, on stone pillars, which fits in very well with the rest of the surroundings.

This nature reserve is perfectly named - Paradise Valley - it feels like a little piece of heaven in the middle of the concrete jungle.

December's theme day is Bridges.

Others participating in December Theme day are:

Boston (MA), USA - San Diego (CA), USA - Stayton (OR), USA - New York City (NY), USA - Portland (OR), USA - Montego Bay, Jamaica - Inverness (IL), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Stockholm, Sweden - Setúbal, Portugal - Brussels, Belgium - Phoenix (AZ), USA - Seattle (WA), USA - Hyde, UK - Manila, Philippines - Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA - London, England - Austin (TX), USA - Toulouse, France - Weston (FL), USA - Sesimbra, Portugal - Selma (AL), USA - Silver Spring (MD), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Crystal Lake (IL), USA - American Fork (UT), USA - Seoul, South Korea - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Norwich (Norfolk), UK - North Bay (ON), Canada - Arradon, France - Paderborn, Germany - Durban, South Africa - Philadelphia (PA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Prague, Czech Republic - Portland (OR), USA - Greenville (SC), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Port Angeles (WA), USA - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Wichita (Ks), USA - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Petaling Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Grenoble, France - New York City (NY), USA - Nottingham, UK - Hobart (Tasmania), Australia - Arlington (VA), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Miami (FL), USA - Cheltenham, UK - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Saratoga Spgs. (NY), USA - Las Vegas (NV), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Nashville (TN), USA - Toruń, Poland - New Orleans (LA), USA - Port Elizabeth, South Africa - Melbourne, Australia - Moscow, Russia - Trujillo, Peru - Château-Gontier, France - Quincy (MA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Port Vila, Vanuatu - Joplin (MO), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Brookville (OH), USA - Chateaubriant, France - Chandler (AZ), USA - Stavanger, Norway - Baziège, France - Auckland, New Zealand - Wellington, New Zealand - Ocean Township (NJ), USA - Subang Jaya (Selangor), Malaysia - Detroit (MI), USA - Riga, Latvia - Nelson, New Zealand - Budapest, Hungary - Cape Town, South Africa - Sydney, Australia - Dunedin (FL), USA - Sofia, Bulgaria - Radonvilliers, France - Turin, Italy - Montpellier, France - Kansas City (MO), USA - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Haninge, Sweden - Wailea (HI), USA - Lubbock (TX), USA - Rabaul, Papua New Guinea - Terrell (TX), USA - Mexico City, Mexico - Saint-Petersburg, Russian Federation - Budapest, Hungary - Montréal (QC), Canada - Sharon (CT), USA - Le Guilvinec, France - Jefferson City (MO), USA - Saigon, Vietnam - London, UK - Crepy-en-Valois, France - Orlando (FL), USA - Maple Ridge (BC), Canada - Paris, France - Mainz, Germany - Newcastle (NSW), Australia - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Darmstadt, Germany - Naples (FL), USA - Torino, Italy - Saint Louis (MO), USA - Bogor, Indonesia - The Hague, Netherlands - Minneapolis (MN), USA - Anderson (SC), USA - Melbourne (VIC), Australia - West Sacramento (CA), USA - Christchurch, New Zealand

Durban City Hall

This is the City Hall, which was completed in 1910. It is a beautiful old building. The hall inside is huge, and has seen all manner of concerts, competitions, fetes and other functions.

These days, its not so easy to get inside. Much of the entrance has been boarded up and security personell man the only door.

Post Office

In West street in the center of the town, Queen Victoria looks over the road, at the main Post Office.

Perhaps you're surprised to hear this is a post office? because it looks so much like a Town Hall? Well then it shouldn't surprise you to know that it started life as the Town Hall.

In the early 1900's the town had out-grown this hall, so Stanley G. Hudson was commissioned to build a new one across the road. He copied the look of the City Hall of Belfast, Northern Ireland, because it had inspired him so much. This building was give the job of Post Office, which it does so well.

Dare to be different.

All the teachers at the school driver "normal" cars, which were parked along a wall close to this one. While the principal of the school has a reserved parking bay, he is quite happy driving around on this scooter.

Such a unique way of demonstrating to the children how important it is to be who you are, and not feel the need to follow the crowd. To show them it's not your possessions that make you deserving of respect, but rather who you are as a person. If this confidence and satisfaction rubs off on just one of the children in the school, the world will be a better place for it.

Well done, Mr Headmaster.

The Old Station

This beautiful old building was originally the entrance to the Durban Station. About 30 years ago, the station was moved to its current location in Umgeni Road.

Fortunately the government of the time had the good sense to retain the building for future generations to enjoy. It now houses the Tourist Junction and information center.

Queen Victoria is watching.

Victoria
Queen and Empress

This statue was erected
by the citizens of Durban
to commemorate
the sixtieth year
of the glorious reign
of their beloved sovereign
A.D. 1837 - A.D. 1897

Queen Victoria looks on as these men play board games at her feet in Francis Farewell gardens in central Durban.

Many things have changed in our country, since she was the beloverd sovereign. Things such as independance and then later democracy.

Some time ago there was talk about removing the old statues from Francis Farewell gardens to replace them with those from the struggle years. Either someone forgot to do this, or the powers that be have changed their minds. Either way, I hope these reminders of our history stay where they are. There are many other sites that could be used to record the more recent history.

Toy Mountain.

Today the bikers of South Africa had their Annual Toy Run. This is the day when those big burly, noisy, cool, biker dudes change the exterior to soft and mushy. At 9am thousands of people met at the Pavillion which was the start of the Durban run. At 9:30 the police closed the roads to all other traffic so the hundreds of bikers could start their journey to the Amanzimtoti drop off point.

It was absolutely awesome travelling down in a column of bikes miles long, knowing that the toys we carried, would bring joy to some child on Christmas day.

The Annual Toy Run claims to be the biggest motorcycle charity event in the world.

For more pics from the toy run go here.