hello from the seaside town of Luderitz!

So we are back on the coast after a bit of time in the sanddunes of the Namib desert. The highlight was hiking up dune 45, of course getting up at 4:30 wasn't the highlight but watching the sun rise over the dune was awesome. We trudged up the side of the massive orange dune passing defeated tourists along the way. We sat up on the top of the dune, taking pictures and taking in the wonderful sensation of sitting on top of a dune in the desert. After some awesome photos and some time to reflect we ran down the dune, red sand squishing beneath our toes. It has been surprisingly cold out here in the desert, and i've been able to see my breath in my tent some nights. We have been hiking around a lot, in some canyons and up trails. Yesterday we awoke to go on a hike up the "mountains" ( i refuse to hall them mountains. they.are.HILLS) and it was amazing standing on the pinnacle of rocks watching as the pink streaked sky gently kissed the surrounding "mountains" around us. Not a building in sight, or a road. Truely deolate. I love how Nambia is so wide and open, and you truely feel like your the only one here. yesterday we went to a small abandoned diamond mining town called Kolmanstoppe. it is slowly being taken over by the dunes as the desrt claims the town as it's own. Diamonds were so abundant in this small town, that you could walk home and pick up diamonds on the way. Life was sweet with ice, caviar, a train, bowling alley and a restaurant. Next week is midterms on the Orange river! today is a rare, but coveted day. teacher work day, and we have all day to work on the midterms that have already been assigned. i'll talk more about the girls later, but right now i have to go! a chocolate bar is calling my name :)

bye!
~allegra