Days 25 and 26

(Dan’s comments are italicized)

Leaving the game parks behind for a while, we feel like we’re moving away from a protected cocoon and going back into a bit of a wilderness. I know this sounds backward, but you don’t see poverty and homelessness in the game parks; the Africans there either have jobs (ie work there) or are rich (ie are touring there).

As soon as we were back on the road, we saw people living in huts, children driving cattle, and beggars.

The scenery driving from Etosha to Outjo (for the night) and Windhoek was beautiful. I appreciate the beauty of termite mounds and the number of them is astonishing. Dan informed me that the combined weight of all the insects in the world is 70 times the combined weight of all the world’s people!! I actually could not remember at the time the actual weight so made up the absurd number of 50 times greater, only to be shocked when I found out I was far short. I’m not sure how that research was conducted…but think that termites account for a lot of that weight!!!

We stayed a night at our favorite room in Outjo and I noticed something I’d missed the last time; the room has high windows in the bedroom area, the kitchen area, and bathroom….

…so, to make sure we’re not confused in case of an emergency, the path out of the room is clearly marked…

We had the opportunity this time to walk around the town…and the poverty was clear. I don’t like photographing people’s misfortunes but wanted to give an idea of some of the reality of the place:

I find different cultures fascinating, and especially what is considered ‘beauty’ in this culture, encasing the hair in clay is considered the epitome of beauty. Being overweight is also considered beautiful (as it displays wealth)…so I have that going for me 😂

It was then on to Namibia’s capital, Windhoek. We found ourselves seeing more hills as we climbed to Windhoek (which is 5428 ft above sea level). We noticed, once again, how similar the topography and plants of Namibia are to those of Arizona.

Windhoek itself is a real city! But it brings with it city problems; poverty and homelessness! And a large government infrastructure that closes on the weekend. We had to cross over a bridge when walking to the city and the urine smell that wafted up from the homeless camp beneath the bridge was overwhelming! You couldn’t turn, or even stop walking, without a beggar appearing to ask for money.

But, like all cities, there is beauty here too.

Another benefit to coming back into the city is the comforts of urban life, like tool shops! I walked into a market that was selling power tools, and the aroma of motors and metal had me memorized! Rhia had to shake me out of my reverie and lead me out. I know I had a dopey grin on my face and I was probably scaring the staff. But I was so happy!

Our intent was to visit the National Museums today (Saturday) but, much to our chagrin, they were all closed! We found a pretty tower (a relic from German influence) and some meteorites though!

Because everything was closed, we walked around the local mall. Just as in Grootfontein, we found a mismatch between the beautiful, expensive items in the mall and the reality of what we walked through to get there! It’s a bit difficult to understand. I must say, however, that the supermarkets in Windhoek are very well-stocked!

Not wanting to waste a day waiting for the museums to open, which will be in two days, we’ve decided to move to the West Coast of Namibia tomorrow and we’ll stop in Windhoek again on our drive back to Botswana in ten days or so. There is a lot more to experience here in the capital of Namibia, it’s just that a lot of it is closed today.

I wonder what tomorrow will bring…