THE BIG 50

There was a time when I was dreading this birthday.....cuz after all 50 is old .......or so I thought when I was much younger!!  Once we started planning this trip my concerns about turning 50 started to fade. Our idea was that if 50 had to happen, then let's make it as much fun as we can. Here is how the fun played out on my birthday..

I celebrated the end of my 40's watching the sunset over the Namibian desert, dining on Oryx tenderloin with a lovely glass of red wine.

The place we stayed, The Agama River Lodge offered to make a bed on the upper deck/roof of the adobe house we were staying in.

I fell asleep gazing at a million bright stars in the black sky. It was a perfect night to do it as there were no clouds to obstruct the star gazing, no bugs and a nice cool temperature that required only a light sleeping bag for warmth. 

We woke the next morning to the stars slowly fading and the sun rising over the mountains.

Steve sang happy birthday and offered a piece of delicious chocolate coconut brownie complete with a burning candle. 

We drove the hour to the park gates of the National Park for the Namibian Desert and spent the day exploring the red sand dunes. 

One of the highlights was climbing up to the top and beyond of one of the dunes. 

It was really a good choice as a place to spend a 50th birthday. Not only was it a beautiful and very different place then we usually visit, at one point I was in a stand of 500- 600 year old petrified trees next to sand dunes that were 2000-3000 years old and part of the oldest desert in the world. I felt like a kid in comparison!!!!

Once the day became too hot to be out in the desert we checked into our room at the amazing 5 star lodge, the  Hoodia Desert Lodge, that Steve had booked for us. 

We lounged by the pool enjoying the pristine desert landscape that surrounded us. 

Next on the agenda was  a perfectly chilled bottle of South African champagne on the front deck of our desert villa. 

 

As if being on a round the world trip, staying at this awesome place drinking champagne wasn't gift enough, Steve gave me a necklace with a lapice endless knot pendant that he bought in Bhutan. 

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We both got new clothes for the occasion. Check out my $15 outfit complete with matching shoes!!  

Dinner was as amazing as the rest of the day. We had Oryx as the main, this  time done as kebabs and a divine chocolate dessert.

When our waitress found out it was my birthday she immediately returned with a chilled bottle of champagne. The only thing better than one bottle of champagne is....

All in all my birthday was fun (sleeping under the stars), fiery (hiking through the red sand dunes), fancy (the super luxurious lodge), fantastic (the champagne)  and just fabulous (celebrating with the love of my life). Thanks Steve!!