This morning began as a dismal day outside and remained that way all day long. We barely saw the sun which was covered with a low-lying overcast and high clouds. So it was a good day to work on photos and reports. Also a good time to pay a visit to the Luggage Forward rep who joined the ship on the 18th. Her times were from 9 to 12pm and again in the afternoon for two hours. What we failed to notice was that there was a sign-up sheet for appointments. Anyway, one of us went down to deck one and inquired about seeing the rep, who had already begun her work with assigned guests. A fellow at guest relations suggested to wait and see if the next appointment guest showed up. If they were running late, I could slip in and see her. And it worked. The man who was next only had questions, so I was given the thumbs up to go ahead and see her.
Before we left home, we had already paid for 4 pieces of luggage and received 4 pieces complimentary. We just needed to add one more bag, the one we had brought to Ft. Lauderdale for our three- night stay. All we want to bring home are hand carrys on the airplane. The delivery back to our home is about a week. By the way, the extra regular duffel bag that will weigh 50 pounds cost $159. In the "old" days, the charge would have gone directly to our onboard account, using some of the non-cashable credit. Not anymore. Now the charge goes directly to the credit card we have on file. Anyway, that job was done.
The other job we had was filling out the arrival and departure forms for Namibia where we will have two stops. It is one African country that we will not need visas. We will need to bring the arrival forms with us to the inspection tomorrow morning. Another job done.
Here's a bit of info on the country of Namibia. The population is 2.4 million people that speak 30 different languages, although English is the official language. The capital is Windhoek, which is also the name of the local beer. The names like the Skeleton Coast, Sossusvlei, and Sandwich Harbor and a never-ending deset pf the Kalahari sand dunes are all part of Namibia. The towns of Luderitz and Swakopmund are settlements created from colonial times when Europeans were on the move from oppression in their homelands. The majority of settlers came from Germany.
The part of Namibia we will not see are Etosha National Park where lions, rhinos, and zebras can be seen at a single waterhole. It is considered one of the best places on the planet for watching wildlife. Sossusvlei is an area that has been included in an overland adventure on the regular African itinerary. With this visit being last minute, we assume arrangements did not work out with the HAL folks. It is an astounding place of towering sand dunes that originated in the Kalahari Desert millions of years ago.
The Skeleton Coast is a treacherous stretch of shoreline that has claimed many ships from the distant past . A ghostly graveyard of shipwrecks have remained here for decades if not centuries. One thing for sure, this country is far different from where we just came from in South Africa. We doubt there is another city that can compare to Cape Town.
What kind of food is the favorite of the Namib people? There are a few staples such as oshifima, a dough-like paste made from millet. It is served with a stew of meat or vegetables. Another dish is called oshiwambo, a tasty combo of spinach and beef. Sounds a lot like New Joe's Special, a San Francisco treat. Mealie pap is a basic porridge. In typical restaurants, you may not find these favorites on a menu, but you will see a more European type cuisine. There is an abundance of fish items and fried food joints. In the German settlements, you can expect sausages and sauerkraut. Locally brewed beers are most popular with Windhoek Lager being number one.
Kimberly gave her lecture on both Luderitz and Walvis Bay to prepare us for the next two days. Then at 1 to 3pm, there was a silent auction for the Bernhard Nordkamp Centre in Namibia. People were invited to bid on works of art from fellow guests, specialty dinners, navigation maps, and much more. This children's center offers kids safety, food, education, and sports activities. 100% of all proceeds will go to this foundation and will be presented to their director on April 22nd before leaving Walvis Bay. A matinee performance by the kids will happen in the World Stage that afternoon. When the world cruise comes this way, this same activity happens and has been a huge success.
We took a few walks on the promenade deck…almost alone except for our buddy Martha. She is among the few that is not afraid of cold weather, and like us, takes frequent walks. Even the Seaview Pool had few guests. It was not that bad outside, so we filled up two cups of hot chocolate, and sat back there until noon time. Lunch was Dive-In, followed by dinner with tasty spring rolls, Caesar salads, and one main of crispy Panko-fried shrimp and one entrée of prime rib, which really looked more like roast beef. No desserts for either of us. With about 20 days left of this trip, we need to begin cutting back on the size of our meals to get back to normal when we get home. Not going to be easy.
A concert pianist was or entertainer this evening. His name is Elio Rojas and promised to take folks on a musical journey of great composers , songs, and pianists that influenced him.
Looking forward to another country in Africa tomorrow.
Bill & Mary Ann
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