We all have these photos … throwback photos!
It’s described as ‘nostalgia-inducing pictures … from a different era of your life”.
Every Thursday we will throw a few photos of ‘way back when’ on our blog. Why on a Thursday? Because it’s just a day away from the weekend … and we love weekends!
You are welcome to join in or just enjoy the photos (#TB Thursday).
July 2012 – Paternoster (West Coast, South Africa)
This throwback post deserves some background. In his mid-thirties, Berto decided to take up part-time study. While he was at school, playing rugby was much more important than schoolwork. So, I was quite surprised when he said he would like to get an LLB degree.
But a few years later he achieved that – through hard work and determination he obtained his degree in July 2012. To celebrate we took a week-long holiday, booked a house in the lovely town of Paternoster and just relaxed.
Paternoster:
Paternoster, meaning “Our Father” derives its name from the prayers of ship-wrecked Portuguese sailors.
It’s one of the oldest fishing villages on the West Coast of South Africa and located 145km north of Cape Town. This is a very popular holiday destination and can get crowded during holidays and weekends. But, since we were there during the middle of winter (and during the week) it was quiet – just the way we prefer our getaways.
The view from the porch of our holiday home
During our week-long stay in Paternoster, we hardly ever saw other people, except for a few locals. We did have a few visits from animals though. Every morning when we opened the front door, there was a cat sitting on the outside table. He seemed in good health so we assumed he was just wandering around. We gave him some treats and a few days later a little cocker spaniel joined him. He was dressed in a South African rugby jersey with a number 9 on his back (perhaps he was the reserve scrum-half of the Springboks).
Our very pleasant visitors
Our evenings were mostly spent indoors as it was raining (it was winter after all). We prepared dinner, played board games and had a few drinks … the perfect way to relax.
Rummikub (the recent graduate won by a few points)
During the day we enjoyed long walks on the endless pristine sandy white beaches of Paternoster. Among other things, there are a handful of small shops, art galleries, holiday homes, a few restaurants and a hotel. In other words, Paternoster is the place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city!
Finding our way down to the beach
The beach at Paternoster
Paternoster is famous for its abundance of crayfish (lobster) and every morning we saw small fishing boats going out to sea to collect the day’s catch.
Colourful fishing boats on the beach
Fishing boat
Tietiesbaai:
On our last day we took a 15-minute drive to Tietiesbaai, located in the pristine Cape Columbine Nature Reserve. We have camped quite a few times here and normally this campsite is packed with tents and caravans, but as it was the middle of the week we only spotted one camper. We walked up a dune to get a lovely view of Tietiesbaai.
View of Tietiesbaai
Although we have visited Paternoster many times since 2012, we have particularly fond memories of this week in Paternoster.
Wet and Dusty Roads 
Looks like the perfect location to celebrate Berto’s graduation! The beach is gorgeous and looks like it goes on forever. Your morning visitors look super sweet; love the jersey on the dog. Lovely post, Corna.
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Thanks Tricia, it’s a lovely village and definitely a perfect place for celebrations. That beach is one of the reasons why visitors flock to Paternoster! Yes, we loved our morning visitors – the doggy in the rugby jersey was so sweet!
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So beautiful and so relaxing. You ‘do’ beaches well in RSA too! Mel
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Oh, you know Mel … the beaches here are truly beautiful (especially on the West Coast where it’s still pristine).
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It sounds like a gem. An idyllic respite.
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Paternoster is definitely an idyllic village. I forgot to mention that a restaurant in Paternoster (Wolfgat), was named as Best Restaurant in the World for 2019 in the internationally-acclaimed World Restaurant Awards … now, that’s enough reason to visit Paternoster!
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Ons was die afgelope Desember vir die eerste keer op Paternoster en Tietiesbaai, en ons harte is behoorlik gesteel! Jou lekker herinneringe maak sommer myne ook wakker.
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O ja, ek onthou julle het ook daar ‘n draai gemaak. Ek dink dis die ongerepte strande wat elke keer my hart steel … ons het al van ons lekkerste kampe daar gehad. Gits, ek’t skoon heimwee vandag na die Weskus 😉.
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Ek kan jou nie kwalik neem nie!
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The beach looked lovely and I loved the fishing boats
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Oh yes, it’s an absolute pleasure to walk on Paternoster beach (and also to see the colourful fishing boats).
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There is something special about beaches in Winter and that one is particularly lovely. It’s great that Berto got his degree. It isn’t easy going back to studies when you’ve been away for a while, so I admire anyone who can stick to it. Very appropriate that you had a nice break to celebrate. That little dog must have know you were a cocker spaniel lady. He’s very sweet in his Springbok jumper! And of course I can’t not mention the handsome cat!!
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Oh yes, we like to walk on the beach in Winter (and it’s not that cold here anyway). I’m very proud of Berto for pushing through with his studies – there were times when it was really difficult, but today he is reaping the rewards of all his hard work. Animals usually see us from a mile away … they just know our hearts are soft when it comes to them – and we loved them both! PS: I knew you would like the cat 🙂.
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Paternoster looks blissful even in mid winter Corna and the sweeping Tietiesbaai bay gorgeous too. I love playing Rummikub and last night whilst we were eating supper in our local pub I noticed four people on an adjoining table pull their set out of a shopping bag and start a game after eating their fish and chips. A lovely post!
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Thanks Marion 🌸. Our beaches are truly a lovely place for walks in the winter (probably because it’s never that cold). And you’re right, the bay at Tietiesbaai is one of the most beautiful campsites along the West Coast. I’m surprised that people play Rummikub like that in a pub (I don’t think you’ll see that here in SA 🙂 … but maybe Berto and I can start such a “movement”)!
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Corna, was dit nie dat ek by Aletta gaan inloer het nie, het ek glad nie agter gekom ek volg jou nie meer nie!!!😱 Hoe op die aarde gebeur dit!
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Toemaar … al wat saak maak, is dat ons mekaar weer hier in blogland raakloop 💌.
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Paternoster bly darem net een van SA se juweeltjies, Corna
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Paternoster is een van daardie plekkies wat mens net in watte wil toedraai en hoop dit gaan nooit verander nie!
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Ek weet!🌺
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Ons het die week sover wonderlike weer gehad en stap elke oggend so om en by 5 km. So rustig en stil hier op die oomblik.
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Ag, ek’s bly julle het lekker weer en kan lang ente gaan stap. Dis heerlik om Paternoster te besoek wanneer dit so rustig is – geniet dit Aletta!
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Baie dankie Corna!
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One of the prettiest beaches I’ve seen! What a perfect place for a winter getaway. We also prefer quiet and fewer people when we travel. Unfortunately, that doesn’t happen very often.
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I have to admit, the beaches (especially on the West Coast) are beautiful. It’s pristine and never very crowded – not even in the summer. It’s probably due to the cold Atlantic Ocean, but it suits us!
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I think it’s the wilder side of the Atlantic that makes it so pretty to me. A rocky coastline and a beautiful beach are just heavenly!
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Great minds think alike!
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What a wonderful way to celebrate. I’m such a fan of travelling to places during the off-season too to get away from the crowds. Sounds like you had a peaceful, relaxing and scenic holiday.
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It’s not that we don’t like people … it’s just better not to be surrounded by a crowd 😉. And because it’s not terribly cold on the West Coast, winter is a good time to plan a getaway (maybe not in a tent, but that’s why there are houses). You are absolutely right Linda, it was everything we hoped for on our holiday!
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Paternoster sounds like a wonderful place to chill and relax. As I am always weary of crowds, like you, I think wintertime is the perfect occasion to visit. Congratulations to Berto on going back to school and obtaining a degree. A weeklong getaway is my kind of celebration. Love the last shot, the view of Tietiesbaai is delightful.
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Thanks Leighton, I’m very proud of Berto for persevering to get his degree. Working and studying at the same time is definitely not easy. And Paternoster is the place to visit in winter – maybe not to swim necessarily, but definitely to avoid big crowds! Oh yes … Tietiesbaai is a popular camping spot – and you can probably see why – that bay is lovely and unspoiled.
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It’s just beautiful, what a wonderful place to visit to relax and unwind. I love that last shot of the beach, and what a cute little dog 🙂
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We love Paternoster – we have been back many times after our week long holiday in 2012 … and we enjoy it every time. Oh, the doggy was too cute – his owners can count themselves lucky that we didn’t pick him up and take him home with us!
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This is my perfect vacation! What a beautiful view.
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Mine too Diane 🙂. The walks on the beautiful beach every morning were a highlight – and that even in winter!
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