Namibia

In November I spent two weeks in Namibia for work. While I won't show any photos or talk about the actual work, I will say that the people we were privileged to spend our time with were so great - welcoming, resilient in spite of many challenges, fun, talented and inspiring  in so many ways. 

Namibia has been on Andrea's list of countries to visit for a long time. When Andrea and I were in South African in 2008 we strongly considered going to Namibia also but we didn't have enough time - so you know she was quite envious of my going on this trip. Which just means we'll have to go together some time in the future! So a few highlights and observations from this trip...

Highlight #1 before even arriving in Namibia was experiencing Delta's direct flight from Atlanta to Johannesburg, which is currently the worlds second longest direct flight - 14 1/2 hours going, 15 1/2 coming back! After a night in Joburg our entire team met up for our short flight to Windhoek.  And as we came in to land, this is what we saw...nothing - just stark beautiful landscape! As we came into land at the airport (which you can see in the photo below) we couldn't see anything - buildings, roads, people. It was amazing.

Namibia is a large country by size but small in population (only 2 million). Below the view from my room at our hotel with the hills that surround Windhoek.

Another view from the hotel with the Supreme Court buildings in the front and the famous Christ Church behind. 

Above - the team (Dawn, Walter and Molly) from the US in planning mode on the roof of the hotel prior to our work. We spent a lot of time together and worked really well as a team. Each brought different strengths that made it a joy to work together. And we had some good meals...(see below)

On the weekend Molly and I hit the road with Chameleon Backbackers to see the desert and especially the dunes...

Oryx

Above - our campsite, and the small wall surrounding it below - on which the cutest jackal jumped up and looked at us that evening while we were eating!

Getting up at 4:30 in the morning allowed us to experience sunrise at Dune 45 - which was spectacular

More Oryx...and dust and sand...

On our way to the dunes, we stopped in at the tiny 'town' (encampment?) of Solitaire - one of my new favorite places in the world...

After our work days were over on the second week, the rest of the team returned to the US. I stayed a few days longer to go to the beach - specifically, Swakopmund.  The landscape became more and more arid and stark until it looked like nothing would survive...and then wedged in between this desert terrain and the ocean is the holiday town of Swakop.

Huge wide roads

Surprised by flamingos on the beach

Breakfast to send me on my way...

Beautiful, stark and striking - so much to love and more stories to tell, but I know some have been asking when I would post on the blog - so this is a start and I'll circle back around and add some more.

Duncan