Experiences of a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia (2016-19) and further adventures…
Day of sightseeing in Windhoek
We spent last Saturday exploring various sites in and around the nation’s capitol, Windhoek:
Heroes Acre national cemetery.
The Grove shopping mall.
Old Location Cemetery at site where signs of South Africa’s apartheid regime are still evident.
Katatura (meaning “the place where we don’t want to go”) – the district where Windhoek’s blacks were relocated during apartheid.
Single Quarters open-air market where traditional food and drink are prepared and sold.
Independence Memorial Museum with impressive galleries commemorating the country’s struggle for freedom from German, British and South African rule.
Here are some images from our tour…
Namibia’s Heroes Acre, analogous to America’s Arlington National Cemetery, with their Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, eternal flame and final resting place for the men & women who helped to create this new nation.Memorial at the national park honoring the fallen freedom fighters of Namibia’s struggle for independence.“Symbolic” grave sites for those heroes & heroines whose bodies have not been recovered from mass graves and battle fields.The Grove Mall, a modern, multi-story mall. “Just like home,” but not very affordable on our PC budgets.Most of the merchandise is recognizable from home, though the shop names aren’t.Justin & Andrew try local fare: “chip burgers.” Hollowed-out, half loaves of bread filled with french fries, ketchup & a slice of balogna sausage.Windhoek’s “Old Location Cemetery,” where blacks were buried when forced to live during South Africa’s administration of the country.Namibia’s Independence Memorial Museum, WindhoekLarge portrayal of Namibia’s fight for independenceAn even larger display in Windhoek’s Independence Memorial Museum. Interesting to learn that North Korea dominates the market for oversized memorials in new or emerging nations.
Until 2019, I served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Namibia focused on Community Economic Development. Before that, I was a high-tech executive, small business owner, consultant and business broker.
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2 thoughts on “Day of sightseeing in Windhoek”
Hey, Eric! Thank you! I love and miss all of you, too! Yes, I _have_ been able to find some veggie options but Namibia is definitely a meat-eating country. My 23-year run of eating no meat was broken last week when my host family mom prepared spaghetti and meatballs. I committed to adapting as best I could while living here… and enjoyed the meal. That being said, in my attempt to cook a Mexican meal for 10 people last night, I found a very tasty soy-based “chili & beef” meat alternative in a local market. The “spoon tacos” were completely meatless – and a big hit! It was a night of firsts for everyone: the first time the locals had eaten raw mushrooms! And the first time I’d prepared a meal with no running water (due to the daily, drought-induced cut-off from 7AM to 7PM). Using the local ingredients I could find, I decided to call it “Namexican” food!
Great pictures Chris! We love getting these updates. How have you been faring food-wise? Are you able to find some good vegetarian options? We miss you and love you very much!
Hey, Eric! Thank you! I love and miss all of you, too! Yes, I _have_ been able to find some veggie options but Namibia is definitely a meat-eating country. My 23-year run of eating no meat was broken last week when my host family mom prepared spaghetti and meatballs. I committed to adapting as best I could while living here… and enjoyed the meal. That being said, in my attempt to cook a Mexican meal for 10 people last night, I found a very tasty soy-based “chili & beef” meat alternative in a local market. The “spoon tacos” were completely meatless – and a big hit! It was a night of firsts for everyone: the first time the locals had eaten raw mushrooms! And the first time I’d prepared a meal with no running water (due to the daily, drought-induced cut-off from 7AM to 7PM). Using the local ingredients I could find, I decided to call it “Namexican” food!
Great pictures Chris! We love getting these updates. How have you been faring food-wise? Are you able to find some good vegetarian options? We miss you and love you very much!