First, I had the title: «Christmas is very much in the Air!» When I then realized that it was green outside and the temperature was 28 °C, I gave up the «very». Well, at home in Zurich there is also a green Christmas, as friends told us. But the temperature is only 9 °C and at 4.30 pm the sun sets! (Here she sinks at 7.30 pm. in the Atlantic!)

What would Christmas be without Christmas cookies! I still remember how we helped our mother when she baked them. The four of us – back then you had more children than today – we sat at the kitchen table and enjoyed it. And if mother wasn’t careful, a piece of dough would disappear into our mouths. I loved helping out with cutting out the dough; also, because I could snack on it. Mother – kind as she was – mostly generously overlooked that…

Even if there is no Christmas spirit in Swakopmund, baking Christmas cookies is also a tradition here. (Namibia was a German colony from 1884 – 1915, you can still feel that today!) Instead of my mother, I now help Brigitta make cookies. However, she is not as generous as my mother and slaps me on the finger if I try too much dough…

PS. In Café Anton, an institution in Swakopmund, there is a large gingerbread house. The last time we were there I wanted to snack on it; but Brigitta prevented me from doing so. Unfortunately!