Namibia, Cape Town and Dinner Companions

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

First, I would like to thank my (almost gone) dinner companions for this internet time. We have to buy time packages and as they are leaving tomorrow, they have graciously given me the rest of their time online. Thanks, E and G!

There are tours (usually a good choice of them) for every stop. Although I have been on this vessel since December 12th, I had never taken a tour before Namibia. But, I knew it would be hot, I don't like heat, I wanted to see Swakopmund, a German colonial city, so I booked a tour - very bad idea as it turned out.

This was the QM2's maiden visit to Namibia and the tours were booked out so an additional one (mine) was added.

Sailing into Walvis Bay

Hundreds of birds flowing just above the water

Because of the size of QM2, we often docked in container ports

German colonial buildings

A typical thatched-roof house, typical for Northern Germany

As close as we got to the flamingos/flamingoes

Dune 7

How you mark a road in the desert

Flowers blooming in the desert, next to the outdoor toilet

Lots and lots of nothing

An oasis with springbok

Private museum

The ONLY interesting exhibition in the museum

Beautiful yarn but only for show - only sold as finished products

I found mail boxes at every stop

Hibiscus blooming all around the town

Large grocery store with a horrible bakery - all chemicals

What we did not get to see!!!

One of the many wrecks along the coast, seen from the bus

Atlantic Ocean sunset leaving Namibia

We were taken to Dune 7, so called because it is 7 km from the harbour and it is enormous. Unfortunately, we did not have time to climb it (some people from another tour did and it looked like fun), only time to take a couple of photos and then, "back in the bus".

From there we were driven to a small, private museum which I dubbed the "Dead Animal and Tree Root Museum". It is old, small and dusty. When the most interesting exhibit is a 1,000-year-old tree root, we are in trouble.

I left quickly, went across the road and waded in the Atlantic Ocean - it was cold but fun.

From there, we were driven to a residential area where there were 2 small shops and a petrol station - huh? We could buy leather goods or woven goods or gasoline - all over-priced and none of which I needed.

What was most distressing - we left about 11 minutes before the agreed meeting time, stranding 2 passengers. When I, and others protested, we were ignored. We were then driven, again through the colonial town, at 60 mph (about 100 km), to a small, boutique-filled part of the town.

The most impressive building, the former railway station and now luxury hotel was unknown to the bus driver - he lives far away - so we never even had a drive-by.

I went to a large grocery store - it could have been in any city - and discovered that shampoo is much more expensive than cucumbers, they eat a lot of maize and it's apparently very difficult to make a decent doughnut.

Fortunately, the stranded brothers - one of whom lives in Hamburg - asked at the leather shop and were told that we were probably headed for the German brewery (close enough) and they found us. They were very gracious about it but I wrote a letter complaining about the entire trip, cancelling the trips I had booked in Australia (except for the opera in Sydney)and demanding my money back. Let's see what happens.

This morning I awoke to the sight of Table Mountain and much of Cape Town. Marvelous, both of them. On much of this trip, the cabins on the port side have had the better views in port, but today we lucked out.

Both Namibia and South Africa have unnecessary customs systems - this morning there were about 50 agents, greeting and stamping and stamping and stamping. Most of them had nothing to do but wait until we were all processed and then go and eat at the buffet. At least we did not have to get up at dawn this time.

QM2 runs shuttle busses from the ship to whatever downtown we are visiting and it's a big help for solo travelers like me. We were dropped off at the West Quay shopping center which has almost nothing but expensive boutiques: Louis Vuiton, Hermes, Gucci. My shopping list was quickly modified and I will go back into town tomorrow, with advice from 2 South Africans aboard, and find some sparkly tops for the formal nights, some running shoes for the gym - did I remember to tell you that there is a spa and world-class health club? - where I will start training when we leave CT.

Many of the balls have themes - Burns Night is coming up and I will look for something - a scarf, perhaps - with a Lewis tartan, some black leather-soled dancing shoes and a mask, as strange as possible, for the masked ball in February. For Burns Night, we have practiced some Scottish country dancing - Strip the Willow and Dashing Black Sergeant - which we will do in formal clothes - geez!

A final thought: it seems that most cities are beginning to look alike - same chain shops and fast-food restaurants. Too bad.