Trips to the Beach and V-Day

Luanda is on the coast of Angola and not too far south of the city are some amazing beaches.  One such beach, Cabo Ledo, is a popular spot for expats.  This month we decided to take a trip (or 2) down to check it out.  It did not disappoint.  And it's great because several families carpool down, hang out for a few hours on the beach, then head back home in time for dinner.  I almost forget we live in Angola when we are there because it is such a stark contrast compared to the part of the country where we live.  The trip down there the first time was a bit of an adventure as we were stopped three times by 'police'.  Jon had his surf board strapped to the top of the car so it was pretty obvious we were expats headed to the beach, and the cops will use any excuse to stop you and try to get a bribe.  Several members of our convoy were stopped that day, actually.  It was a holiday weekend which probably explains some of it.  So what is normally a two hour drive was more like three hours that time.  Distance wise it's only about 60 miles away, but our vehicles aren't allowed to go faster than 50 mph, and they can't even go that fast until we are half way there!  So add that to the inevitable traffic and it's a bit of a drive.  But once you leave the city it is beautiful.  And the road is along the coast so you see amazing views of the ocean all along the way.  It really isn't a bad drive at all. 

The first trip I only took pictures at the beach.  We got there at low tide, so the waves were gentle and there was a lot of shallow area for the kids to enjoy.  Apparently Angola has some of the best surfing in the world and Cabo Ledo is a popular spot for expat surfers. 

 Surfers in the distance.

 Colson and Owen, one of her buddies here.

 Surfer Dude.

Playing in the waves.

I love this picture - Colson is so excited about the waves.

The second trip we took was last weekend.  Jon drove this time (our driver drove us the first time), and we were only stopped once.  We had everything in order, so the stop was brief fortunately.  I took several pictures of the drive this time.

 'Ocean-front' property.

 A view of the Atlantic.

Excited about the beach!

 Cookies!

 

 A village along the way with the ocean in the background.

Houses scattered along the land.

 

 If you look closely, you can see little white dots.  Those are flamingos!  There is a flamingo reserve on the way to Cabo Ledo.

 I think they are waiting for a taxi/bus.  Notice the trash everywhere. 

Beautiful land/rock formation, then houses on the hill.  Again, notice the trash all along the hillside.  The trash here is unbelievable.  It is everywhere, and the Angolans don't seem to care, or notice.  If you look really close you can also see satellite dishes on the roofs.  Cinder block houses, metal roofs (if there is a roof), maybe a door, but you gotta have that satellite dish. 

 

Another group of houses, and trash.

 

 A tank on the side of the road, left over from the civil war that ended in 2002.  Yes, it's been sitting there for at least 12 years....

 A view of the Kwanza River.

In the trees near the Kwanza River you can sometimes see monkeys.  We were lucky to spot 2 snacking on the side of the road last time!! 

 

 A view of our destination from the road.  Amazing.

 Colson flying her first kite!  It was really windy.  If the kite would have been any bigger she probably would have been carried away!

 Lunch time!

 Ms. Chantal making Colson a 'mermaid'.  Colson was in heaven.

 

 

 

And then the other girls wanted to be mermaids too!  Thank you Ms. Chantal!

 A few photos while standing on the beach.

 

 

 A few more landscape pics from the drive home...

 We think this is a school.

 Not the best picture, but these goats were just walking along the side of the road.

 Pretty landscape.

 It was another great beach trip.  We are probably going back next weekend...

Valentine's Day snuck up on us (me) this year.  I honestly forgot it was the day until Jon texted me that morning from work to say Happy V-Day.  The kids still fit into the shirts they wore last year, so at least there was that.  Jon brought home chocolate for each of us that evening after work.  However, when we opened them up they were moldy.  Yep, moldy chocolate.  Bought at the new grocery store down the street.  And they weren't expired yet either.  Quite a disappointment.  The kids quickly forgot about it though when we gave them ice cream instead.  I made heart cookies that weekend and let the kids decorate them.  Connor thought he was being sneaky when he ripped off the top of a dough heart and crammed it into his mouth.  It was priceless. 

 Trying to be sneaky.  You can see the top of the cookie missing if you look close.

Other than that not much has been happening here.  Oh yeah, Colson started swim lessons a few weeks ago and has been doing great.  There is a local guy who used to teach at the school I guess who comes Saturday mornings and does the lessons.  It's nothing major but Colson loves it and gets to do it with her friends.  Connor joins initially but then just plays off to the side for the remainder of the time.

(First time trying to add a video....)

 

 

 

We are off to the beach again next weekend, and then a week of school before a much needed trip to Texas!!  Can't wait!! 

 

-A