Paternoster – 12 August 2021

Today is our second full day in Paternoster. Yesterday we did not do much other than, separate, take a walk on the beach to the village and back again. Paternoster is a beautiful village with white houses located at the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. It has a long history, at least what we know about. The name comes from, according to legend, a Catholic priest, aboard a slave ship, who said a prayer of thanks (Pater Noster) for the fresh vegetables and water that the ship found on this coast. I think it’s a bit cynical.

There are a lot of mussels on the beach but I haven’t seen a port with fishing boats.

The surroundings here are beautiful with a wild coast reminiscent of northern Spain with immense green meadows behind it where many cows graze. The villages are incredibly neat and tidy and equipped with all conveniences. What strikes us most is that everyone goes to great lengths to keep it so beautiful and that there is a clear pride among all residents what their town looks like.

Yesterday we even watched TV but that was boring.

Today we went around towards Saldanha, where my father worked almost 50 years ago. We could see the breakwater just like the ore port but both were inaccessible to us.  Saladanha  bay is a huge natural harbour but, it looks like, is only used for ore exports and water sports. Of course, the exit is not very favorable because of the prevailing wave direction, but there is a lot more possible here.

St Helena Bay, on the north side of the peninsula, is just a beautiful place overlooking the island of St Helena. Well, that’s thousands of miles away but still….

We’re getting out of here tomorrow. I have no idea where I’m going, although I do have my suspicions about where Lisa wants to go. It’s not that far to Cape Town (150 km) so I think I have to…..!