Last night all of our group of six finally arrived at the Boutique Hotel Vertigo. It is a modern design on the crest of a hill overlooking Windhoek and has 8 guest rooms with a patio around a pool. It has spacious balcony out from that gives a magnificent view of the city below and the sun set in the evening.  There is a fountain flowing into a pool filled with large gold fish. Our host is an Italian second generation Namibian called Mary Ann Calabrese Di Savino. The cast of characters includes myself, Elizabeth, Bev, Don and his wife Pammy and tour leader Colleen. We decided to eat in and I had my first taste of African meat an antelope called and Oryx. It tasted like a pork  tenderloin and was delicious. Add to that a salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar a glass of wine and I went to bed happy. The temperature as we went to our rooms was chilly. I am finding the weather is like you would experience in Arizona with hot days and cool nights.

This morning we had planned to go into Windhoek's city centre and do some shopping and see the sights. It is 10 minutes away. I planned to get an early start and visit a farmers market held on the last Saturday of the month and return and join the rest of the gang and then go into town. As it turned out I never made it and went with everyone else. Our hotel host Mary was kind enough to drive us around and show us the sights. We visited a high point and saw a panorama of downtown Windhoek. After that the gang was dropped off at a Craft Fair and Mary and I visited the farmers market which is called Boeremark and I bought some Oryx Jerky called Biltone to chew on during our trip. (As I type this in the late night I realize if I carry this food with me animals will come looking for it in my accomadation so I best leave it as part of the tip for the hotel staff). The Farmers market had no farmers and what it reminded me of, forgive me, the "trailor trash" crowd selling used clothing or odds and ends to make a little money. It was a disappointment. Mary returned me to the group and we had lunch at the Craft Cafe.

We had planned to go shopping on Windhoek's main avenue but Colleen had forgotten that it was Saturday and all the shops closed at noon. Elizabeth and I decided to wander down the main street anyway and get a feel of the place. It would much like wandering down a street on early morning Sunday in Canada with nothing open. One upsetting experience was when  a young woman approached us begging within a half arms length and demanded money. I told her to back off and she became more aggressive and started touching my back pack and me. I told her again to back off or I would call the police. She was persistent and I had to push her away. She again yell for money I raised my voice so those around could hear me and said she was trying to rob me. This drama was played out as she followed us for a half a block. Finally she gave up. I was upset I had to be rude but she in a word she was a bitch from hell.

We continued along the street and I went into several phone stores to find a belt holder for my phone which I had broken but could find none. We then went into what I would call the local version of Walmart with the name of Shoprite. All the shoppers were black. They had a electrical, food, clothing and many other sections. I looked for a wall plug converter in their hardware section but none fitted my purpose. We continued along the street and finally decided to head for home. It took us 30 minutes to find a cab to take us there.

That evening our gang went out to a local restaurant called the Stellenbosch. The locals frequent this location and not a tourist is to be seen. I might add all the paying guest were white and the wait staff and kitchen black. It would fit right in with the Florida upscale restaurant decor. The meal turn out to be so so and cold. However for 6 people in came in around $100 including drinks.     

The next morning before we took off our host Mary was kind enough to take us shopping and we ended up at a small plaza with a supermarket that would rival Pusateri's. It had an excellent selection of upscale items and the better quality basics. Even here they are into organic food and healthy drinks and the like.