Swakopmund

18 MAY 2023

The Cape Cross Camping site occupied a strange place at the rear of a lodge. We were boxed in by high walls to protect us from the winds and the cold damp air coming off the sea.

The lodge is designed as a cross between Cape Dutch and fishing village style and seems to attract fishing folks from South Africa. The bar had an attractive view out to sea.

We stopped on route down the coast to see this ship wreck. This time, an Indian attempt to tow a fishing trawler to Indian waters. The chains broke at this point and the company decided to abandon the ship and the idea. The wreck is now home to numerous birds.

We stopped at Swakopmund and checked into rooms at Hotel A La Mer. This seemed like luxury after nights under canvas. The hotel was close to the beach and the pier. Here there were attempts to build a new and extended harbour, another project started and stalled.

Swakopmund has a sleepy seaside atmosphere that grew on me during the day. The town is a grid arrangement of shops and offices, many with German names and architecture. There is a gruesome monument commemorating the German locals who fought and died in the WW1 and a very informative, extensive museum.

We had a fabulous evening here celebrating the birthdays of Greg and Pete at the Tug - a restaurant shaped like a tug boat which over looks the sea. We'd bought presents; a pair of animal socks for Greg's eclectic selection and a chameleon for Pete. Andrew had drawn a special card for Greg. We bought an apple pie which was presented at the end of the dinner with candles and a Namibian style sparkler. This led to the apple pie eating contest which Greg won, of course. We rounded off the evening singing Bob Marley songs with a Rasta by the pier.