Luanda is the capital of Angola and is also the working port where we docked. We received a warm welcome from a group of local dancers and Ruthie was soon amongst them shaking her booty.

A shuttle bus took us from the ship and dropped us at the front entrance to the port beside a market. We were hoping that we could buy a half day city highlights tour but strangely there were no touts about. The ship had told us not to take valuables ashore and be wary of which areas we went.

The market had a negotiator whom spoke English. So if you wanted to purchase an item, the negotiator came into play to make a deal. It was kind of intimidating being in a tourist market with security with guns flanking all sides keeping the locals out, even children. I had read the city had an old 16th century fortress and a promenade walk (The Marginal) along the waterfront. When I asked the negotiator which way it was, he pointed but said don’t walk too far! First impressions was to keep my hand on my wallet.

So, 8 kilometres later…… we had walked the promenade, walked to the fort but…..couldn’t find the entrance to the fort. The fort had done its job! Kept us out! We ventured into some areas that we weren’t sure we should have been and saw many groups of local men waving cars down to direct them into bays for car washing. Also, the shuttle bus supervisor offered us coins as a souvenir to remember our visit to Angola. Then came the hit. Keep it for $1. Given there are 860 kwanza to $1 he was making quite a bit on his 1c equivalent. Two examples of enterprising Angolan’s.

Along the promenade we saw locals fishing, jogging, half court basketball games and women carrying produce in baskets on their head. They must have very strong neck muscles and excellent balance and deportment. Many of the baskets included eggs. No one smiled or made eye contact.

We learnt that Angola is the country of land mines left over from a 27 year civil war. It is estimated that up to 88000 people have died from these land mines. The famous photo of Princess Diana wearing a face shield and flak jacket in the land mines area was taken here. It has a history of slavery and civil unrest. Life expectancy is one of the lowest in the world.

It was interesting to learn that it is very expensive for Expats to live here. The reason being, most work on the gas and oil fields and earn good money. So rent is high but they also have high security costs due to being a kidnap target. The ships shore excursions even had a police escort and kept the bus doors firmly locked!

Maybe not being able to get out of the city gave us an underwhelming first impression as I believe the country has beautiful beaches along its coastline as well as spectacular waterfalls inland.

Just the same, when all cruisers were aboard, as we watched what seemed like a house on shore going up in flames, the ship made a hasty exit into the sunset.