Heading to Lubango

There was a bit of confusion a few days before leaving about the logistics of getting me down to Lubango from Luanda. The English Language Coordinator was definitely coming, as well as the Regional Security Officer for the US Embassy. There has never been anyone from the Embassy placed in Lubango before so I will be essential in teaching the Embassy how to support someone who is so far away and keeping them aware of the activities that happen there. At first we were taking two cars, then it changed to one, then back to two. We were leaving on Monday, then Tuesday. And we were going to do the 12 hour trip in one shot, then it changed to stopping overnight in Benguela. In the end we took (my "entourage") two Landcruisers and spent the night in Lobito.

The road was really good the 99% of the way. It would put the EN1 from Maputo to Maxixe to shame. The Brazilians as well as the Chinese have been busy. Good roads, however, don't make good videos so here are 2 videos on the strip of about 40 km that was not such a good road.

Mariah Carey came along for the ride. I was having a great time but the song might have been a theme song for some in the car.

Very, very bumpy

I was really amazed at the diversity of landscapes I was able to see while driving down. From green hills full of lush plants, to dry flat dessert looking plateaus, to sweet little seaside villages. It was also telling to see the remnants of the civil war that only ended in 2002: empty bombed out houses, bridges that were destroyed, rusty tanks on the side of the road. But despite these artifacts from the recent past, close by were indications of the future and present: new modern bridges, Hummers with phat rims, all kinds of factories and construction sites, and lots of oil companies from different countries.

The Embassy is not allowed to fly any airline in country so they have to drive everywhere. What a blessing to be able to see the country by land!