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Published: December 27th 2009
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KFC Walvis Bay
No shortage of these around here. We are to visit Walvis Bay today, but I am not sure that will be ultimately achieved. I was just awakened by Jennifer with sad news that has got me a bit depressed. Matt will know right off what I'm talking about - Urban Meyer is leaving college football and the Gators. I completely understand why he is doing it but I think that he and the people we have on the team these last few years are a group of very special people and it is sad to see that the season should finish this way. I think our loss to Alabama was the first sign that things were not right as a whole for the team. I think that Tebow, like Meyer, realized after his laying unconscious on the field that victory was not a God-given right for the Gators and that pushing too far had consequences.
I am also very sad about the story we have been following on the Schiphol - Detroit NWA flight, this is the same flight we took on returning from Turkey earlier this year. I am sad because air travel we become even more miserable as bureaucracy sets in further and our freedom of travel is further inhibited by these terrorists. I knew this was coming though, reflected by my comment before departure to Jennifer that the way to bring her bottle of suntan lotion through security was to carry it on her body. But even though quite a small risk of being caught, it was not worth ruining the trip for suntan lotion. But explosives, well, for some people it will always be worth the risk. These poor Nigerians are becoming the scourge of Africa. I don't know enough about their country but there is very strong animosity against them by all here in Southern Africa. William showed this last night and we have heard others make comments. When I pressed William on the real issue, ultimately it is no different than people's complaints against Mexicans in our country - the residents are too lazy to do the work and want handouts and the Nigerians or Mexicans are willing to roll up their sleeves and do it. The difference between the two situations is the magnitude - people here resort to open hatred and violence, it is more tempered and veiled in the US.
I will be posting more information on yesterday's blog about our dinner with Thea, William and their daughter Claudia. Today we are off from Valfish-By (Walvis Bay pronunciation in Afrikaans) at 4PM and will likely go for a tour of that city beforehand but need to first stop by the art gallery for that painting. We will likely not have much to post for the rest of today except for any small excursion we do in Walvis Bay or Swakop because we arrive in Cape Town rather late to do anything there.
h2]Walvis Bay
We finally made it down here, but as the single photo indicates, there is not much going on in this town. It is a major port and that is very evident as the city is just engulfed by all things related. Would be a great movie set with deserted warehouse streets. To the south of town we did get a chance to peek at some flamingos, but we did not see the big flocks that they spoke of in the guide books, just a few measly guys here and there. We also saw the salt works, would have liked a little bit more time in the city, but we had to tank up the car and get to the airport (too early) of course. Our little VW Polo held up well after all.
WVB Airport
About the size of the Greenville, NC airport, only difference is you are in the desert. We flew SA Express which was very interesting as on the two hour flight we got TWO meals, both quite sizable and good. SA Express needs to expand to the US!
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