In all of my existence I have only heard one person say they don’t like Swakopmund. I didn’t understand why, does he not experience the same Swakopmund that I do? And while contemplating all the reasons what could be wrong with this little town, I couldn’t think of one.
Swakopmund has no stress. Shops open at 9 am and take lunch for two hours. People sit on the beach every day from 11 am and just be. The moment one gets to this little gem, it’s like all your anxiety has been lifted up. Perhaps it’s the waves washing my feet and absorbing the toxins or it could be that there is just so much extra oxygen that my brain is incapable of over-thinking.
I can’t imagine myself actually living there, how would it be possible to live stress-free? Perhaps I just don’t want to see the reality of how life actually could be there, and thus it’ll stay my favourite destination to visit.
Of course, there are times that all of Namibia decides to go to Swakopmund, like Easter and December. I always wonder how the Swakopmunders feel when it is so overly crowded in their town. Probably how I feel driving to work every morning in the city. Impatient and emotional.
On the bright side, once Windhoek is empty since everyone has left for Swakopmund, you finally feel relaxed in the capitol.
My family and I have loads of traditions when going to the coast. From having to first stop at the ocean and feel the sand to walking the jetty right before we leave. Perhaps this keeps the magic when visiting, but I can guarantee you that I am not the only one at peace in Swakopmund.
Do you enjoy visiting Swakopmund? Do you feel relieved once there? Let us know in the comments.