Landing/Aterrizando/Ankunft: Swakopmund, the German Beach that appears Out of Nowhere

From Sossusvlei to Swakopmund

Hello, back to continue with the story of Namibia. The trip that we started through this country in the month of September 2021.

A little bit of scenery. But most of the time
the way was dunes!

We leave the Sossusvlei region to continue the journey to the city of Swakopmund, which is on the sea. It is a city with German heritage. Let us remember that Namibia was a colony of this country.

Solitaire Gas Station!

Time to eat a German pie just below the Tropic of Capricorn

Time stops here!

The first stop was at Solitaire, a gas station in the middle of the desert. In this place the clock stopped as in the 60's. The gas station works with all possible modernity, but they have left the dispensing tanks of yesteryear. You can also see the remains of vehicles on the desert, which gives it a touch of abandoned place.

The most famous German Apple Cake

But it is not so abandoned, because the visitor has the option of sleeping in two hotels. It is a mandatory stop for tourists, considering that Solitaire is just below the Tropic of Capricorn.

Looking like an abandoned place, but with 2 hotels!

We did not fill gas but we arrived at this station to try the famous German cake of Mc Gregor's Bakery.

From the desert to the beach

From the dessert to the beach!

The journey to Swakopmund continued along a deserted road, in the dunes. If you have ever wondered what our civilization might look like in ruins, then this road will give you an idea. That was what happened to me. I felt lost, far from everything. As if Planet Earth were in extinction.

Promenade

This feeling was deepened by the installation of a pipeline across the road. At some points it was under construction, and at others it was already installed.

But the smell of the sea reached our car, we were approaching the coastal city of Swakopmund, founded by German settlers in 1892.

Someone was very happy at the Strand Hotel

Suddenly, the desert weather changed and we started to get cold. The sea breeze greeted us as we stepped out of our vehicle to check into the Strand Hotel Swakomund.

We leave the shorts to dress with pants and jackets. That night we dined at the hotel's German restaurant, Brewer and Butcher. Obviously my husband couldn't resist looking at the menu and ordered the famous Eisbein German-style beef.

South African tourists, Germans, a convention plus the locals having breakfast

The next morning, patience would be the first thing we would have to practice. The hotel restaurant was packed. We were very lucky the night before at the German brewery. It was also packed with hotel guests.

A typical German Market

Apparently the South Africans had visited the Namibian beach during the holiday, Heritage Day. We also noticed that German tourists had returned to this country. In addition, in the hotel there was a group of guests from a company in a meeting. After waiting a long time, we got our table.

More German Architecture

We finally walked through a city again

The morning was to finally be able to walk at our leisure. Along the boardwalk where we saw a dolphin, and of course, through the city, with a very German architecture. We also got into a courtyard where a famous flea market had been set up.

Anker Platz

We arrived at the Ice and Spice restaurant to savour delicious ice cream sundaes. We also visited in this square, Anker Platz, souvenir shops and a local Earthnique jewelry store. We walked even further through the city until we reached the Kristall Gallery, but it was closed. Afterwards we walked back to the hotel. It was a pleasure!

The night would continue with more walking this time from the hotel to the authentic Fish and Seafood restaurant The Tug. Not with tourists, but with many locals.