The other side of the desert

 We took time to be tourists this weekend.  After church on Sunday, we (Bryan, Dana, family friend Sybille, and the four of us) departed for the coastal town of Walvis Bay.  A little bit of history, Walvis Bay is one of the few deep ports on this side of the horn of Africa.  It's such a crucial port that when Namibia became an independent country in 1990, South Africa refused to release Walvis Bay.  However, in 1994 South Africa finally gave Namibia their prized port.  To your left, you'll see the sunset at the lagoon in Walvis.

After breakfast on Monday, we loaded up in the car and drove outside of Walvis Bay by about 15 km and came to Dune 7.  Namibia is home to the largest sand dunes in the world, which are even more amazing because they are right next to the coast.  It's a pretty impressive sight as there is absolutely no transition from ocean to desert.  Since we were at the dune, we had to climb the dune.

Topher climbed the dune 2.5 times.  We were incredibly impressed as he trekked up there twice and seemed like he would've gone more if we weren't exhausted.  He went with Kaci and Bryan for the second trip and they came across a Namibian at the top.  When he came down he said to me "I'm very impressed with your son.  I can't believe he has climbed it twice and it keeps pushing them to go on. He won't stop and they're at their max."  I think this phenomenon can be explained that Topher has a shirt back home that says "Sand Lover".  It's obviously true.

We then drove down the coast to some of the nicer beaches.  The water travels from the south from Antarctica.  Furthermore, it's winter.  So, the water was quite frigid.  When we arrived the high tide was coming in so Topher and I played chicken.  The game was going well till the tide knocked him off balance and he fell in.  He embraced the moment and the fact that he was wet to go ahead and play in the water a bit more bravely.  I'm not sure how, but he did.  In the picture to the right you can see another dune in the background.  It shows how the desert butts right up to the ocean.  The thing about Namibia is that you never run out of beach.

We travelled another 20-30 km down the coast to the tourist haven of Swakopmund.  We went there solely for coffee and sunset.  We were able to walk out to a jetty and watch the water crash into the rocks.  Because of the mist around Swakop, the sunset delivers some pretty amazing colors and really lights up the splashing water.  You can also see below the misty haze it casts on the city.  It's an impressive spot.

We only stayed through Monday and had to return Tuesday (today).  We drove to and fro through the Namib desert, which was also spectacular.  But, more on that tomorrow.