taxis

tax-i [noun]
a car, usually with a taximeter, whose driver is paid to transport passengers, typically for short distances.
Also called taxicab
Also called cab

Unfortunately definitions don’t specify when you want to leave and how fast they should travel. In Africa the taxis are an experience all on their own.

Marcelino has been accompanying me to Walvis Bay for the practices that we’re holding there this week. Mrs.Venter drops us off at the taxi rink in Mondesa and from there we’re on our own. As soon as you walk up someone quickly ushers you into a car as they try to fill them completely and as fast as they can so you can take off for your destination.
On Monday we lucked out. We got in a car that was already half full so we just went on our merry way.
Yesterday was another story as we circled the taxi rink for a good 20 minutes waiting for one last person to make our car full.

Walvis Bay is about 40 km from Swakopmund so it should take about a half hour to get there or so. It’s a beautiful road to take because it goes right along the coast with the sun setting on the ocean on one side and dunes on the other. Unfortunately that’s not something you can enjoy as the car is vibrating around you from going so incredibly fast.
The car on Monday didn’t have a working speedometer but the RMP gage was working. I’ve been in other taxis on that road that so anywhere from 120 – 140km/h and the RPM gage reads between 3 ½ and 4. The car on Monday without the speedometer had his RPM gage at 5 and he was in 5th gear. I don’t even want to know how fast that is because I was just thinking the entire time that I was going to die on that road that day anyways!

Only 2 more practices out there this week!

In other news, we had a Potjiekos at Pam’s house after our rehearsal last night. Basically it’s like a stew but it’s prepared in a very special way. First you need to get a nice little fire going with nice hot coals. Then you have a big black cast iron pot that you sit over the fire. Then you just start adding things meat and veggies! Mervyn was our wonderful chef last night and prepared the potjiekos for us. Marcelino made the maize meal to go with it.
It was REALLY good! Mervyn said he’d like to make one for Kokopelli but I think he’d need a much bigger pot! Maybe he could during our desert adventure day!

Well...I think I’m going to go head over to the Lighthouse restaurant now and confirm our reservation for next week. ONLY A WEEK!!! CRAZY!!!

Here's some random photos for you to enjoy!