Durban city

First thing in Durban the entire ship’s population had to disembark for a face to face immigration inspection. Picture it — about 1400 people meeting individually with customs inspectors. We dutifully stood in line and were pleasantly surprised at how quickly it went. But when we saw the entire culinary staff out there waiting some joked that there might be no dinner tonight.

Dinner happened after all. Later we walked on the deck and admired the city lights and were even able, despite the lights, to see the Southern Cross in the sky. In the morning as we set out for Lesotho we got a glimpse of one of the large markets which seem to be everywhere.

On Sunday, too, we toured the city but the streets and the markets weren’t as busy but they were certainly still there and selling anything one could possible want. Durban is a very modern city but like all cities it has its newer parts and its older parts, its fancy areas and its not so desirable areas.

Our main stop on the tour was the botanical garden where once again we saw things both delightful and unfamiliar to us. And some that were just plain pretty.

The very popular beach was not far from the port area. Of course we had to put our feet in. And I got more than I bargained for when that bigger than usual wave soaked me but good. I was very glad that was our last stop!

This evening’s dinner was an African buffet. The chefs make dishes and bring on board produce from every area that we visit and that gives us an opportunity to sample many things we might never have otherwise. Springbock was the most unusual dish tonight and we all liked it. Dale liked the African mussel dish, too. We sailed away from Durban tonight right into rough seas which will initiate the “newbies” very quickly. I’ll go backwards a bit and give you my take on Lesotho tomorrow when I’m not so tired.