Weekend away in Paternoster

Two weekends ago we celebrated Jul's 30th plus Jim Finished Thesis plus Please Let's Go Away For the Weekend Just Us Two. We were able to get a pretty good deal on renting a cottage in Paternoster, a tiny fishing town two hours up the West Coast (Atlantic side).

Paternoster means "Our Father" which is what the Portuguese sailors en route to the West Indies were praying when they fortunately made it to this stretch of coastline in southern Africa; they planted a white stone cross - or "padrao" - to honor God (and themselves as explorers!) as they came ashore for provisions. Or something like that... not sure about the history of it all.

Anyway Paternoster later became a tiny but bustling fishing village (for fish and for lobster). Unfortunately in the last 15 years the waters of the Atlantic have gotten warmer and the industry has died out. Now only a few families remain for subsistence fishing. Meanwhile tourism has grown and this little village is now a weekend hot-spot for urban Capetonians. A bit of a strange juxtaposition...but it IS indeed a beautiful bay and town. The cottages are mainly white stone with painted shutters and of course make for great photos.


Here's Jul in front of the "first" cottage we stayed in - an original fisherman's cottage that has been somewhat restored for tourist rentals. I say "somewhat" because the first night there our toilet overflowed and the following morning the electricity went out (and didn't come back on), so despite it's cuteness we were moved to a "second" cottage, which we were very grateful for!




A Saturday lunch spot - how's that for a restaurant on the beach!