Taking on Namibia part 1: Jamie, Jenn and Rachel in a car around Namibia

Day 1-2:
This holiday was amazing.  Two other volunteers and I rented a car out of Tsumeb (pronounced Chumeb), and took Namibia by storm! We drove up to Jenn's in Erango Region, and spent on night at her place.  She's got a nice flat, but no running water inside.  Made me feel lucky once again for the modern amenities at my school.  Way to go Jenn! We drove to Brandberg, the highest mountain in Namibia, on day one of the holiday.  Unfortunately, we did not hike the whole thing, due to my current lack of functional pack, but we did hike up to the White Lady cave paintings.  They were super well maintained.

After the short hike up to the cave paintings, we had a lunch of delectables (copyright pending Jenna Weintraub)--apples, cheese and crackers at the base of the mountain.  Then we drove on to Spitzkope, another rocky-mountain area with more cave paintings.  We camped there for the night, and enjoyed more delectables and red wine as we watched the sunset.  In the morning, we had some trouble with wind, as it almost blew our tent away as soon as we got out of it.  The wind was crazy! Before we headed out, we climbed up some of the rock formations, and took in some marvellous views! Vastness and rocks. Reminds me of what I think Arizona or Nevada looks like.

Day 3: Bright and early, we headed over to Swakopmund.  That was some crazy context right there.  Driving through the mid-west, and then into beautiful sand dunes, and then suddenly, rocky, misty, cold coast.  We walked along the coast to find lunch at the Garden Café--unbelievable savory pancakes with chicken and mushroom for me. Veggie stir fry savory pancake for Jenn, and mince meat savory pancake for Jamie.  Paired with milkshakes and lots of coffee, and followed by a trifecta of creamy cheesecakes and meringues. Then we walked around town a bit more, and got more coffee at Slotown Coffee. Yum. Everything about everything this holiday was about food! That night, we cooked pasta salad and couscous for food in Sossusvlei.  Thanks Jamie's mom for the great pasta salad with feta, Greek dressing, veggies and our own addition of tuna. We also bought these unbelievable honey-explosion pastries.  We went out for Mexican and margaritas for dinner, followed by DARK BEER at the Brauhaus.

Day 4: The next morning, we drove down a really long (300km+), really bumpy (washboarding everywhere!) dirt road to the lodge on the road to Sossusvlei, Camp Agama. This place was BEAUTIFUL! They had a rooftop look-out, where you can look out over the plains, and the campsites had privacy wind-screens, and hot water in the showers in the evenings.  All-in-all, a beautiful place! We enjoyed our pasta salad and honey explosions and wine as we watched a simultaneous sunset and moon rise exactly opposite each other. Spectacular. I took that moment to just sit and take it all in. No camera, just my eyes to try and comprehend the vastness and beauty. 

Day 5: The next morning, it was off to the dunes and vleis (dried up lake beds).  We climbed sand dunes and ran down the sides, made friends with a bird, and caught more amazing views.  Once again, this place was a completely different scene--like walking on Mars, almost.

Obviously, after a hot day in the sun, we were seeing mirages of frozen treats, so it was ice cream for all, and then back to the camp site for couscous (saving some for stuffing peppers that we accidentally left at the hostel in Swakopmund--thank goodness we were going back!).  
Day 6: The next morning was Jamie's birthday, which obviously we turned into "Let's eat dessert all day" day.  Breakfast was at an adorable moose-themed bakery at the turn of the road toward Sossusvlei. Apple pie, chocolate muffins, cinnamon rolls and coconut dreams.  Wonderful! Then it was hit the road back to Swakopmund. 

On that road, I think it was the C-14, is a pull off with a toilet. Awesome. Only the toilet is a HIKE away from the actual pull of with a sign. Also, the flies at the pull off (no where near the toilet, mind you) are absolutely dreadful.  Just use a bush, loves. Seriously. Not. Worth. It.

Before Swakopmund, we stopped in Walvis Baii for lunch and flamingos.  Lunch was perfect. I got a seafood bruschetta with mussels, clams, prawns and cappers, and a seafood soup.  We then walked around and shopped a bit, then found coffee and carrot cake (note that this is a continuation of desserts all day day).  Jamie and I went to get the car, and Jenn went to the bank. Poor Jenn. Turns out roads in Walvis Baii don't really go straight (think Boston roads).  So Jamie and I got a bit lost finding the car. When we finally got there, I pushed the unlock button on the keys. Nothin'.  Manual unlock works. Phew. But the battery was dead in the car.  Thank goodness there was a cricket tournament in Walvis Baii that weekend! Come here middle school cricket team! Let's have some team bonding and push start our car! Much thanks to the coaches and team who got us going again!! I'll always remember to turn the headlights off.

Back on the road to Swakopmund, we actually saw a sunset, which is rare there, because it's so hazy/misty/cloudy by the coast all the time.  Arriving back at the backpacker, due to a change in plans, the three of us shared a double room (HUGE BED, and they gave us towels!) instead of camping or having two double rooms.  After so much go-go-go, we watched a movie and ate ice cream and Amarulla (think Baileys) milkshakes. And thus ended "Let's eat dessert all day" day. Happy birthday Jamie!

Day 7: We had sort of a slow morning, then we headed up to the first day of the Henties Bay fish festival, which had far more meat than fish.  I got new sandals, because I was sick of wearing out the cheaper ones from Jet/Mr. Price etc.  When I got back to school, all the kids were like, "Cool Jesus sandals!" I'm hoping they'll last! We also ate super fresh calamari, fries with so many different dipping sauces, and iced coffee. Now here's the thing about iced coffee here. It is coffee, with a huge scoop of ice cream in it.  Delightful! We also found hummus, pesto and stuffed olives.  I like the first day of a festival, before it's really really started. People are still excited about things, so they'll let you try EVERYTHING! Sure! Try one of each olive, and sample each hummus and dip and sauce.  Thanks!  Back in Swakopmund, we had pizza for dinner (after accidentally going to a non-pizza restaurant that was attached to the pizza place and being judged by a bunch of Germans).  One more Brau at the Brauhaus, and then it was bed time--lots of driving the next day!

Day 8: We woke up at 4 am to drive to Luderitz.  Dad, I felt like you driving to Wisconsin since we were driving well before sunrise.  It made me feel really cool and responsible and important.  We stopped for breakfast in Okahandja, and again, I felt like you, dad, because I made us take our time and sit down to breakfast instead of eating in the car. I would like to say, I get it now.  The driving continued past Windhoek almost all the way to Keetmanskoop, when we stopped and ate our couscous stuffed peppers.  We made it to Luderitz at almost exactly the same time as Mariella, Kristin, Emily and Taylor! Oh haaaaiiii ladies! Unfortunately, they all caught something so trips to various clinics and pharmacies were in order for that group.  Jamie, Jenn and I celebrated the end of a long car trip with more seafood at a visit to the Yacht Club, where we made friends with some lovely people from Luderitz.  They invited us to a braii for the next night.  Cool!!

Day 9: Jenn and I let Jamie sleep in (because we FORCED her to go out and dance with us the night before), got our tickets for the Kolmanskoppe Diamond Boom Ghost Town and then we hit the road out.  Breathtaking.

After a day of picture taking, we met up with our new Luderitz friends, and braiied and danced until the wee hours. 

Day 10: We slept til 1.  Awesome. So. Awesome.  Then we got iced coffee (remember--ice cream + coffee) and "breakfast" by the bay.  The we met up with our Luderitz friends at Diaz Point.  Here it where I will explain to you a recurrent theme from this trip: Lonely Planet guide to Namibia sucks.  Diaz Point is a conquistador point where the Portuguese explorer erected a cross to stake claim.  Also at this point are sea lions, penguins and a SERIOUSLY WAY COOL CAMP SITE.  You can camp inside of old boats.  And there's a café with great coffee, red velvet cake and mussels directly out of the ocean.  Seriously, Lonely Planet, nothing on this??? Worst.

Day 11: Heading back up to Windhoek, because Hannah comes tomorrow!!!!! !! !!!! !!!!!!! Met up with Bret, who GRACIOUSLY and WONDERFULLY let us crash at his place.  Indian food for dinner, and Dab at a hipster theatre bar.  Can't stay up too late though, cause Hannah's flight gets in early!!