Niall's Travel Blog

First Impressions of Windhoek

I guessed that meetings with Government top brass was not exactly par for the course in Windhoek and I've been exploring the city for the last few days to find out exactly what goes on in Windhoek. The city centre is about a 30 minute walk or a 80c taxi after a few walks in I've reverted to the lazier method! The first thing you notice going around Windhoek is it's place names. For example, I don't think you would find an intersection of Independence Avenue and Fidel Castro Street in many international capitals. The British High Commission is on Robert Mugabe Avenue and they obviously weren't too happy when this became their new address!

On the way into town I stop outside the house of parliament called the tintenpalast, literally the ink palace - a dedication to the pen ink sacrificed for bureaucracy! It's a beautiful building with lovely gardens and statues outside. Outside there is a momument remembering the German soldiers who died in Namibia. I can't really believe it's still standing (it's probably the equivalent of Nelson's column in Dublin or the Saddam Hussein statue in Baghdad!) but I'm told the Germans (of which there is still a sizable population) wouldn't be too happy to put it mildly.

The city itself is really relaxed and it's been a great choice to start the trip here because there just doesn't seem to be any stress here. Everyone is friendly and willing to chat. The closest I come to being hassled is a teenager asking me to bring him back to Ireland but he gives up when I tell him it's like the raining season all year round!

posted by Niall at 12:38 p.m.