I’ve written this after a conversation with a friend, and after experiencing the most divine day in my home town with another friend. I love these people like they live in my house every day. I just wanted to say that out loud. Or, at least, write it.
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I have tough feet. By tough, I mean, I am not a soft-heeled, immaculately pedicured footsies type of gal. I have rough, strong and tough feet that don’t like wearing shoes. In fact, I think the first time my folks were able to get me to wear a pair of shoes as a kid for longer than an hour, was the day I started school. I love my feet though, because they’re mine, and all the stories of adventures I’ve taken are wrapped up in those toes.
Growing up, I played under a sky of sunshine and rested in the shade of trees. I lived outdoors, and had a propensity towards – almost always – ending up in my undies as I frolicked in the garden.
An Afrikaans teacher I once had told us that the closer a child is allowed to get to the earth when they’re growing up, the happier an adult they will be. That’s why, even though we live a very “modern suburbia” type of lifestyle, my kid still gets out there and dirty, sweaty and rolling in the grass. That sweet aroma of playing around with friends outside, is – for me – the meaning of childhood.
But, I will admit…I have sucked at making this happen a lot recently. We’ve become a little secluded and I found that we were missing a little sunshine. Yes, sunshine in Winter.
You see, my hometown, good old Durban, has the BEST sunshine in Winter. This is when it’s not so humid you can’t see in front of you, and it’s not so hot that the only thing you can do is chew ice and moan about it. Winter in Durban is the very best time to be here. May, specifically. I mean, right now.
Our weekends together as a family always seem too short, and are often set upon by other life demands, be they work, events or otherwise. But, as we head into a very busy part of our family calendar, we decided to take one day, just for us, and devote it to the sunshine.
We headed down to the beachfront. People who haven’t visited Durban’s beachfront in a long time, will raise their eyebrow at that. The promenade used to be a little worse for wear, and the area grew a little reputation for being a bit on the kak side. But, it’s undergone an incredible revamp over the past few years and, now, I truly believe our Golden Mile is back.
We enjoyed a gigantic breakfast at Circus Circus Beach Cafe, before heading into Mini Town. The last time I visited Mini Town, I was six. I worried, as I paid for our tickets and entered, that it’d be a little rough around the edges. It wasn’t. Mini Town is gorgeous, and a magnificent outing for kids. Most of all, I never realised this before, Mini Town exists as a fundraising initiative for the Quadriplegic Association of KwaZulu-Natal. We loved meandering through along and giggling at the little buildings, watching the model boats and marvelling at the minute detail paid to the models.
After that, we headed down to the skate park and rented pedal cars (also known as gokarts). Now, I’m no cyclist (I have no idea how to ride a bicycle…I have never learnt), nor am I much of an athlete (but I do like my morning run and walk!). But there is something to be said about pedalling your way along the promenade and enjoying the ocean view, under a sky of sunshine. As I was pedalling along with my kid in the cart next to me, I felt free. I felt light, safe and happy.
And as I looked around at all the families, walking along the promenade, soaking up the sun, I remembered that I’m not just a visitor here. I don’t have to pack my bags and head back somewhere when my day in the sun is over. This is my home.
Durban, as a city, has its problems. What city does not? But if anyone can hop into a pedal car, zoot along the promenade and afterwards NOT have a grin on their face, then I don’t think they’re human.
I love you, funny city. You’re full of quirks. People who don’t live here sometimes think you’re backwards or slow.
I laugh in their faces. If anything, sweet home town, you’re soaking up the sunshine.
(Disclaimer – not a sponsored post)