To tell you all the stories from holiday in one post would be utterly overwhelming. So, here's the short list. More to come...what a crazy, Namtastic holiday it was!
April 22: arrive in Ondangwa to ride to Windhoek with other volunteers; initially shocked to see so many white people gathered on one street corner; travel to Windhoek for WT mid-service conference; ate PIZZA for dinner
April 23: WT sessions all day, catching up with friends, big braai...mmm
April 24: Easter in Windhoek with a do-it-yourself Easter service at the hostel that consisted of listening to Michael W. Smith and reading the Easter story together; personal Easter omelets by Camble; wrapping up sessions; dinner at Joe’s Beerhouse (first zebra fillet!)
April 25: gallivanting around Windhoek with friends; hot chocolate, ice cream, and relaxation
April 26: microbrewery tour & tasting at Camelthorn Breweries; departed on the train to the south at 8pm
April 27: a 10-hour train ride nearly doubled to an 18-hour train ride, ending one stop early in Keetmanshoop; impromptu bus ride to Grunau; hitchhiking to Gondwana Canyon; getting settled at the Route 66-inspired Roadhouse and eating a delicious dinner with the most phenomenal garlic butter rolls
April 28-30: hiking and relaxing at Gondwana Canyon
May 1: hitchhiked to Hobas, 10k from the start of Fish River Canyon
May 2: planned on beginning the trail today but woke up to heavy rains and “freezing” temperatures (ie...65 degrees); spent the entire day sitting under the awning by the tuck shop, drinking tea, eating cookies, playing Uno, and reading; met an 11-person group of South Africans hiking the trail the same days as us
May 3: hitchhiked to Fish River Canyon, the second largest canyon in the world; I decided not to hike it because of a bad leg; said farewell to Hannah and Bret as they began the treacherous descent into the canyon; began my solo trek around southern Namibia by finding a hike to Ai-Ais Hot Springs (at the other end of the canyon)
May 4: stuck in Ai-Ais for a second day as I realize it’s nearly impossible to hitchhike away from a tourist resort in the middle of nowhere; spent the day reading and relaxing at the hot springs
May 5: 11-hour hitchhiking adventure to Luderitz with my two new Belgian friends
May 6-8: stayed alone at a backpackers hostel in Luderitz; spent my days eating, trying all the hot chocolates in town, exploring the winding roads, and meeting new people everyday at the hostel
May 9: fellow WT teachers Mary and Brett unexpectedly arrive at the hostel!; I finally have friends to explore the city with!
May 10: Hannah and Bret finally arrive in Luderitz after getting trapped in Fish River Canyon, being rescued, and finally finding a ride out of Ai-Ais
May 11: pick up our rental car (what a treat!); visit the desert ghost town of Kolmanskop; explore Luderitz peninsula; enjoy a last delicious dinner out
May 12: Namibian roadtrip!; drive to Sossusvlei on backroads with no music or radio stations; see the sunset from the top of the dunes
May 13: wake up at 4:30am to go climb Dune 45 and watch the sunrise; explore Sossusvlei and Dead Vlei; unexpectedly see Amy and her family at the dunes; drive back to Windhoek
May 14: all-day combi adventure from Windhoek to the north...combis are always too much of a crazy adventure
May 15: watch an entire season of “How I Met Your Mother” before my first and last day of term 2
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