It took a day and a half but I’m safely in Namibia – specifically at the Gobabeb Research and Training Centre, in the Namib Desert, about two hours drive inland from Walvis Bay.   I’m kind of Jet-lagged.  If past experience in any guide I will fall asleep at a normal time but then be wide awake at 3 AM.  Still, it’s great to be back.  I visited this place last in 2012, and before that in 2010.

 

 

 

 

 

 

With me are about fifty scientists from lots of countries – South Africa, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Italy, Denmark, the United States and Israel to name a few – who are all experts on microbes that live in extreme environments.

Tomorrow is a conference.  I will give a talk on my artificial hypoliths project.  Later, fieldwork.  Pretty soon, bed time.  I saw an ostrich today on the way here.