Swakopmund, Sandwich Bay & Souvenir Scams

We went from sun, wind, sand, camping, and shopping in one horse-towns, to the ‘big smoke’ of Swakopmund. 

Our shorts and t-shirts were swapped for jeans and jackets. (I had been looking at my jacket for the last month, thinking what in the hell have I brought this for, and was somewhat relieved that I needed it!).  Scenes of desert, were replaced by views across the Atlantic Ocean.  Our groceries went from ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ to having all the choice in the world.  We opted to have three nights in an Airbnb, rather than camp, to avoid the foggy days, and the cold damp nights. An Airbnb also offers the chance to get re-organized.  Give Andromeda a good tidy up, use the washing machine to get sheets and towels clean, throw away what you no longer need, and replenish what you have finished.

 

We spent our days in Swakopmund wandering around the town, enjoying sundowners, having lunch at the ‘fork n nice’ food truck, treated ourselves to a meal at the well known ‘Tug’ restaurant, and got conned into buying the most expensive keychain on the planet.  Let me explain. It’s been a long day, we are walking along the beach front, appreciating the sun setting over the Ocean, feeling like two lucky humans.  Then from across the street, Col clocks this chap who is making a bee-line for us, and we feel this would be a good time to go find a bar for sundowners, and hopefully avoid dodgy Charlie.  No Luck. He’s too fast – in more ways than one.

 

‘Hi! What’s your name? Where are you from?’

 

We have manners – so we reply.  Before we know it, he pulls out these wee doum palmnut key rings, that already have animals engraved on them.  Then he pulls out a little knife, and before you know it:  tik tik tik tik – Col has his name engraved in dodgy Charlies key chain…. Then he starts on a second one, and I’m thinking NOOOO please stop – but tik tik tik tik tik – now I too have my name stamped all over his damn key chain. 

 

‘That will be $400 – Namibian’  

 

I can’t help but think ‘YOU WANT HOW MUCH???’ – that’s $20 smackers in normal money. 

We get the whole chat about how we need to support local – I ask him if he takes card – he doesn’t – so I lie and say I don’t have that much on me and  give him the change in my pocket, he’s not chuffed, but he has his eye on two other suckers and quickly leaves us, to try his luck with them. 

 

The next day we come across the same Cheeky Charlie and he asks us again: ‘What’s your name?’ – my jaw drops – are you kidding me? Col tells him his name is Bartholomew – knowing damn well he can’t spell that.  I become very Dutch, and tell him we saw him yesterday! We already own two of the most expensive key rings in the world!!!  They now have a special place in the car – next to our overpriced Zambian Flag 😊

 

From Swakopmund we did a tour to Sandwich Harbour, where the wild Atlantic Ocean, meets some of the biggest sand dunes.  It was incredibly dramatic scenery – very picturesque.  

 

After three days of indulgence, we ended our trip by doing a monster shop, and were more than ready to be back on the road, back to the desert, and back in the roof tent. We crossed the Tropic of Capricorn, and spent the next two nights in Solitaire, a random town that consists of a fuel station, a bakery famous for its German apple pie (set up by a Scotsman), and a supermarket.  We had two nights here, not because this was such a special place, but because they were showing the Rugby Final.  Unplanned and unexpected – our two French cycling buddies whom we had first met in Zambia, were also passing through.  Over apple pie, they asked us why we were staying here of all places, we mentioned the Rugby, their eyes lit up, and that was the start of a very fun evening.  We cooked up a curry, and joined everyone else in Solitaire to see South Africa win the Rugby world cub final. 

 

Up Next: Sossusvlei (sausage fly) the crème de la crème of sand dunes.