Friday, October 28, 2011
Boarding “The Jewel of the Desert”
Our dawn with the giraffes and wildebeest is brief; we have
a train to catch in Downtown Windhoek. The capital city is small but urban, and
we stroll Robert Mugabe Avenue with workers, high school students, and shop
owners starting their day. It will be our last urban experience for several
days.
At lunchtime, we arrive at the railway station, where our train is
waiting for us to explore. It’s a wonderful social space, and we Road Scholars
are sharing it with a group of Germans on a similar journey. Many of them speak
English, and those of us who speak German share ambassadorial duties. In a few
days, we’ll be good friends.
Today we’re heading south toward the Fish River Canyon, the
world’s second largest, after the Grand. It’s a long ride, and we make the most
of it, testing the fold-away beds in our compartments, sharing a beer in the
lounge car, and watching the scenery go by. The Namibian spring sunset comes
surprisingly early, and its light is fantastic. Engineer Benson is at the
throttle, as he has been for one train or another since 1983. He is a man who
loves his job. After only a few hours, we all know why.
A spectacular sunset ends our first day’s safari by train,
and, for a time, everyone's eyes are glued to the westward windows. As it turns out, other rewards await
– a fantastic grilled oryx steak dinner is soon served in the dining car,
followed by conversation in the lounge, and then a gently rocking night’s sleep
as we roll south.
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