Feb 7  Luderitz

Our noon arrival into Luderitz bay was graceful and elegant.  Instead of anchoring and forcing passengers to ride a tender across the bay in very high winds, the captain docked the ship with great panache.  Arriving in the mouth of the bay he piroutted the ship within its length, and then slowly and carefully backed into position alongside the quay.  The port is small and shallow -- based on all the muddy water churned up during our approach.  A masterful job, and I appreciated avoiding the tender today and just walking down the gangway.

We opted for the Kolmanskop Ghost town tour, and after an early lunch joined our group for the 15 minute drive 6 miles inland to the town of Kolmanskop.  Or rather, the abandoned buildings that had been the thriving mining town.  After the discovery of diamonds in the dry river bed a town of German mining executives sprang into existence.  During its lifetime it was the peak of society for its inhabitants.  It wasn't a gold mining camp like the California '49ers of the US, but rather a German company town where everything was formal, disciplined and controlled.

The trick to life in southern Namibia was being able to put up with the howling winds and lack of rain that meant horizontal sand was part of everything you did, and in everything you owned.  The collapse of the diamond market after WW I emptied the town quickly since the local climate discouraged any longtime dweller.  It's now a ghost town, with many buildings still standing but slowly filling with and returning to the sand.  Somewhat eerie, and definitely photogenic.  And we're still trying the get the sand out of our ears -- and other places.

Needed a little help to get into position

Felsenkirche on Diamond Hill

Driving to Kolmanskop, wind and sand

Kolmanskop

Avoiding the blowing sand, or robbing the diamond mine?

Every house got 5 kilos of ice daily, made here

Felsenkirche 

Sunday afternoon, the streets were empty.  Must have been watching the Super Bowl