Africa – 23rd Sept 2008 – Day 22

We had a lay in today, 7.30am. After our breakfast, we paid the bill, dais our goodbye’s and hit the road. On our way out of camp, we stopped to take a wee boy to the local hospital. He was at the camp gate and worked at the lodge. He had problems with his eyes. We took him right to the front gates of the hospital. Our good deed for the day!!

Our drive to Swakopmund took us though rapid changes in both scenery and weather. After only one and a half hours on the road, the landscape began to flatten out and we could make out a cloud bank on the horizon. Later we took the C1991 dirt track which took us through an amazing moonscape. As we drove further, the land flattened and quickly turned to sand. We had hit the desert. Suddenly we came across the sand dunes. As we drove on they became larger and larger. As we came closer they looked more and more unreal. The look as smooth as plastic sheeting with many colours. As we drive down the road we saw cars coming directly at us on the wrong side of the road. We had to get off the road and let an enormous convoy pass by, carrying the largest dumper truck you can imagine. They mine a lot of minerals here, no doubt these mega trucks are used at the mine. Just as well we have a 4x4.

As we arrived in Swakopmund, Africa turned into a cross between a small German and American town. It is a strange place, with many German speaking chops and bars but with the locals still doing the poorly paying jobs. If feels like stepping back in time, like an aging seaside town with modern estates. It just doesn’t feel like Africa at all.

We found our next lodge, The Stilts, checked in and then went into town to check out restaurants for tonight. We had a tea and coffee, visited the local supermarket for toothpaste and then browsed some shops. Fiona eventually bought a couple of T-shirts.

We chilled out in our beach front villa (standing on high stilts – hence the name). Being on the coast has it’s draw backs. IT is too chilly and windy to sit on the balcony, Luckily our villa has big picture windows from which to look a the Atlantic waves crashing on the beach.

John has now managed to burn his nipples (can’t work out when) so is in some discomfort. His back is also still playing up but it is not as bad as it was. Namibia is a great place, but it can bite back!

In the evening we went to the sea food restaurant Der Kinder in town. Here you have to be back before 10pm and pay men to look after your car while it is parked up in town. It seems like standard behavior to the locals.

We arrived bang on 7pm for our meal at Der Kinder. We were only the second clients in the place. John had only paid the car minder 2 dollars on the way in and he did not look impressed. The lady serving us said we should pay 5, so John popped out and gave him another 3. He looked happy!

The wine in Namibian restaurants is very good value. About £1 for a large glass. We had a glass each and ordered our grub. John had baby octopus in a peri peri sauce followed by a delicious fish stew with rice. Fiona had deep fried camembert followed by he catch of the day. Also vey nice indeed.

Once back at the lodge, John managed to get a good phone signal, so phoned home to see how his Dad was doing. They had flushed both his arm and his hand out during some key hole surgery, but had not found anything conclusive which can explain the terrible pain he has now been in for five weeks. John’s Mum said that he was feeling more comfortable now. Rhidian (Johns second cousin who is also a surgeon) had spoken to Johns Fathers surgeon who had admitted that diagnosing the problem is proving problematic.

We hit the sack nice and early ready for an early morning alarm call.