Our guide announced that before actually heading to our hotel in Swakopmund, we were going to have a “sundowner” and that this was the third surprise he mentioned to us earlier when we left Solitaire.
None of us knew what a “sundowner” actually was, even though we had heard of the term a few times during the trip. So, he explained that this is a Namibian tradition…and a lifestyle…and for some, an art.
In Namibia, after a long, hot day in the sun, looking at wildlife of all kinds and swallowing dust and sand in an open safari vehicle, everybody needs to wind down. And what better way to do it than to have a cocktail-hour-in-the-bush, usually in an elevated location, where your party can enjoy drinks while watching the sun go down. Sunsets in Namibia are always so beautiful, that it is regarded as the highlight of the celebration.
Our guide said that he had picked a perfect place – a mountaintop overlooking the valley. The best part is – it is tucked away in a non-touristy area and there would be no one else there but us, that’s for sure. It’s his “super secret” sundowner spot, reserved for his clients. This was where we were going to enjoy our apple pies, beer, and already-cold-coffee (not exactly very “cocktailish,” but I was planning to have a sip of my hubby's beer, albeit an already-warm one).
It didn’t take long for us to reach the "super secret" view point. It was indeed secluded. We found some boulders with flat tops and set-up our picnic food there. True to our guide’s promise, the apple pie was indeed very delicious, with generous chunks of juicy apples baked just right and a crumbly topping liberally sprinkled with brown sugar and cinnamon. I wished I had ordered a larger slice. The delicious treat and the spectacular view more than made up for our drinks that had gone the opposite direction - room-temperature-instead-of-piping-hot-coffee, and lukewarm-instead-of-ice-cold beer. It was not a big deal and we could live with those!
Over apple pie, coffee, and beer, we discussed the tourism industry in Namibia and our favourite parts of the tour as we approached its last leg. I learned that Namibia is a popular summer destination for a lot of Germans (like our German tour mates) because it was a former German colony. In fact, traces of German culture are still much ingrained in the people’s lifestyle. Namibia, for them, is pretty much like the equivalent of Florida or the Caribbean islands for summer-vacationing North Americans. Our guide added that we will see how very German Namibia still is when we reach Swakopmund.
As we finished our drinks and concluded our conversation, the setting sun beckoned us to watch the spectacular show it was earmarking for us. And it didn’t disappoint. From our privileged vantage point, we saw the sky transform into a vast, natural canvass, and watched as Mother Nature painted and blended its sunset shades. We were in awe of the beauty of it all.
As semi-darkness gradually enveloped us, I told our guide that the Namibians had the best idea ever! Sundowners should be practiced everywhere, even when the sunset is not this glorious (i.e, in smog-filled cities and high-rise jungles). One can always imagine and pretend.
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