Page 9 - JCCI Business Focus 2.3

“the warmest plaCe to be”

urban, ‘the warmest coffee spots, our choice for the with their brand endorsements,
place’ is a popular tourist morning was Surf Riders Café. happy birthday messages and
Ddestination. However, The relaxed eatery offers great even marry me proposals!
when visitors arrive for a holiday, poached eggs or granola and We cycled passed the
a question that is often asked is yogurt amongst its breakfast amphitheatre and stopped
“What should we do today?” selection – which lived up to next to the beautiful Sunken
expectation.
Recent family visitors, on a Gardens, which invite a stroll
ten-day visit, to our beautiful After watching the endless through.
city discovered that there stream of cyclists (walkers and Another stop was alongside
are plenty of attractions: joggers, of all ages, including dogs
golden beaches, Zulu culture, on leads) passing by, our guests the skate park, in front of
the Bay of Plenty, where
the Victoria Spice Market, were happily up to the challenge
heritage trails and sporting of hiring a tandem bicycle. skateboarders, roller-skaters
and BMX riders test their
activities. An overnight stay With a few false starts, much skills. Alongside, the popular
in a game reserve offered laughter and some nervous restaurant Circus Circus was
memorable animal encounters. peddling, we were off to explore being well patronised.
We travelled a little further the promenade further.
to spend a few days in the We cycled passed Minitown,
uKhahlamba Drakensberg which provides an interesting
Mountains. perspective on Durban’s
Day one The 20th landmarks at 1:25 scale.
For a start, we A slight incline took
a bit more leg power,
decided our guests Mercer’s Quality of Living but the flat was again
needed to be report released on the soon reached. The
Durbanites and promenade has
join us for an early 20 March 2018 has once a total ascent of
morning visit to the 9.78 m and has a
beachfront to cycle again voted Durban the maximum elevation
along its world of 19.42 m.
class promenade, most liveable City in
followed by a swim Cycling passed
in the ocean. South Africa. the Suncoast Casino
revealed much
After parking at the construction activity as
carpark at Addington renovations and massive
Beach (next to uShaka expansions are underway – to
Marine World), we took a provide more entertainment
walk along the uShaka Pier to The brick-paved promenade options for Durban’s visitors!
enjoy the sunrise. Watching the stretches 5.6 km north from
swimmers, surfers and stand uShaka Marine World, past the We admired the iconic
up paddlers relishing the warm Suncoast Casino to Blue Lagoon Moses Mabhida Stadium as
Indian ocean waters meant that at the Umgeni River mouth, a we continued cycling past
our guests were soon longing to total distance of 11.2 km which Country Club Beach and glided
be able to catch the waves. makes a great opportunity for effortlessly down to the Blue

Nearby, Ocean Ventures offers a leisurely and safe cycle while Lagoon pier, which is a popular
fishing spot.
surf boards and kayaks for hire enjoying the “Golden Mile”.
and lessons if required. They offer The promenade is currently A quick turn around and we
dolphin and whale viewing on a being extended further south all were on our return journey.
rigid inflatable boat as well. the way to the harbour entrance After a slight hill to climb, we are
Xpression on the Beach, at North Pier. beginner cyclists, the Bike and
Bean (also a bike hire outlet) was
situated above Surf Riders Cycling north, we stopped a good place for a pit stop for a
Café, also offers paddleboards, to watch several families with refreshing cooldrink.
surfboards and bodyboards to small children enjoying a splash
hire and lessons. in the paddling pools. Above A bit more peddling and too
But today, a bicycle ride had us, the cable car located at the soon, we were back at Ocean
Ventures to return our bikes well
been proposed. However, coffee amusement park provided satisfied with our ‘exercise’.
and breakfast were first needed to tourists a scenic view of the
fuel the ride. Durban beach-front. A refreshing swim in the sea
While the promenade offers a The various sandcastles dotted was now in order! 
wide range of restaurants and along the beaches entertained us
(Read Day Two in What Works edition 2)

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