Swakopmund. Namibia. Journey to Africa 2018
Something bothered me with the shroud of South Africa, and pulled me to the Atlantic coast of Namibia. I chose the city of Swakopmund, which is located on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. This area of Namibia is like Sochi for Russia. The capital of Namibia, Windhoek, is very small, but clean, without any special attractions. True, there is one interesting place, this is the Windhoek Zoo. I was going to look at this zoo, but there is no zoo. It's just a small park where you can sit in the shade of the trees during the heat.
The director of the hotel, who failed my vacation in the capital, ordered a mini bus for me to travel to the Atlantic coast to the city of Swakopmund. True, he promised at six in the morning, and the bus picked me up at the hotel at seven in the morning. As I understand it, eggplants cannot be trusted in terms of time accuracy. A trolley for passengers' belongings is attached to the mini bus. Very comfortably. He threw his things into the cart, and he himself into the bus, where the civilian population of local aborigines was already sitting, whom the driver collected throughout the capital. Tight, but tolerable. I really liked this moment. We had to drive across Namibia, the shroud and the Kalahari desert. Near the capital the road was very good, further to the coast it was just good. The speed of the driver kept about 120 km per hour. It was interesting to watch the scenery outside the car window. The road was often crossed by flocks of monkeys, solitary antelope and warthogs. In the beginning there was a savanna with low-growing trees. From them it was possible to understand that there are no giraffes in these parts. Of course nature is not as bright as in South Africa. There were almost no settlements on the coast along my route. Yes, and how to live in such conditions, although in the shade of the trees one could see many sheds made of pieces of iron, where, apparently, the homeless huddled. Their conditions are terrible, and there are heaps of human waste and garbage around. One could see the construction of a new highway, which has been under construction for ten years, but the work is almost not moving, apparently, the heat is in the way. I don't see how it's possible to work in such conditions. It seems to me that the money for the road is stolen even before it arrives. Everything is like in Russia. There is money, there is work, there is no money, there is work. Three hours later there was a stop for lunch and a toilet. WC turned out to be paid. At the exit, a girl stopped me with the words one dollar. I was the only white person on the entire bus. Gave a dollar.
At 12:07 we arrived at the coast of the Atlantic Ocean, the city of Swakopmund. There were ten of us, and the driver took everyone to their addresses of residence. Here is the service. We have to the bus station, and then pay the taxi drivers at the cost, both from the city and to the city. At the hotel I was quickly received and placed with a smile. The room is very good. Ocean view. After a shower, I slept a little, and then went for a walk around the resort town of Namibia. He dressed in summer clothes, and when he went outside, he blew such cool air, as if air conditioners were installed in the city. There is no air conditioning in the room and it is very cold. Apparently, the waters of the Atlantic bring coolness. The locals swim, but I have not yet decided, although there are a lot of dark-skinned dove-colored people on the beach. Where else can they sunbathe? A beautiful city, but everything is covered in dust from the sands that surround the city. There are few flowers. The flowerbeds are trampled down by the inhabitants and raked by Guinea fowls. By habits they are a copy of our chickens. They are not afraid of a person, but they do not let them close to themselves. In one of the alleys of the city I saw women with children of an incomprehensible kind with a naked torso to the waist, and a bright fiery skin color. They sold handmade souvenirs. I wanted to take a picture, so they raised such a cry, they say, only for money. At first I thought that they offered sex for money. I understand when sex is for money, but for a photo that other tourists will see and come to them for souvenirs? I'll try tomorrow to find out the price, very interesting women. I walked around the city for five hours. Breakfast in the morning is very decent, but the scrambled eggs clouded my stomach. I hate anything made with eggs. I will never forget scrambled eggs in the Maldives and Bali. At eight in the morning I left for the first sea excursion.
