2 18 FINALLY WALVIS BAY, NAMBIA

THE END OF SEA DAYS

Didn’t think I would say that, but 8 days at sea is a bit much of the same thing, even if the same thing is fun.

This looks like hard work, doesn’t it.

And, boy, were we lucky with weather.  Our entire crossing, I can now say since it is over, looked much like this next picture.  Our captain did a great job avoiding bad weather.  Thanks, Captain.

Now, on to Namibia.  Our first landing is today in Walvis Bay.  It is primarily a port city.

Namibia is a real country that has most of it’s wealth from diamonds.  We tried to get a tour of a diamond mine, you know with a couple of free samples thrown in.  But, no go.  Namibia used to be part of South Africa.  It got its independence, I think, in 1990.  It was not until 1994 that Walvis Bay (Whale Bay, tho we have seen no whales here) got its independence from South Africa.

We decided to see a huge sand dune, called Dune 7.  No, I have no idea why it is called that.  We also went and saw some flamingos, both pink and black trimmed. 

So, on with the pictures.  We met a lady from our ship, Ginny, who was looking  for someone to travel the day with.  So, the 3 of us rented a taxi with Lucas. 

First he drove us to Dune 7, supposedly the tallest dune in the world.  Well, that is what they said.

 Duane decided to climb it.  Lucas, our driver, decided to join him.

Duane set off.

 Here they are on their way.

Lucas made it to the top, and Duane made it nearly to the top.

Now, to come down.

    

On the way back from the dunes, we saw these huge blocks of rock laying in an area on the side of the road.  On closer inspection we found them to be, what looked like, sandstone or granite blocks.  We later saw lots of them, along with beautiful white marble, at the dock area.  Another export of Namibia.

  

We then went to see the flamingos. 

        

 Walvis Bay also exports salt.  It is not for eating but for use in pool filters.  That is why it is OK for the salt to be out in the open, uncovered.  They make the salt by evaporating sea water.  We saw the shipping area of the salt processing operation after we saw the flamingos

In the afternoon, we made sure we returned to the ship to hear the kids from the Bernhard Nordkamp Center in Katuture.  Many of these kids are AIDES orphans or come from abusive homes.  The program started out as an after school program.  It has developed into afterschool activities and an educational facility for these kids.  In order to get into the equivalent of high school, children must pass a test.  Most of the kids who came to the after school program where unable to pass this test.  Now, most of them continue on in their schooling.

 

When they left the ship, after having eaten in the buffet and had more chicken nuggets and ice cream than they had ever imagined, and after the ship passengers and crew and Holland America Corp, gave them $10,000 US Dollars,they were given lots of stuff by the passengers.  Then the ship added some boxes of goodies.  It looked like blankets and coats and who knows what.  It was fun watching them trying to load all of this into the 2 small vans they came in.  The kids sang again on the dock.  They did this on their own.  No adult leadership, just thank you’s.  They even sang This Land is Your Land.  That was very moving.  One of their songs really got us.  “No matter where you go, we will never forget you.”  Well, we will not forget them either.

That was quite a big day.