The upcoming Christmas season throws its light ahead here as well. However, there is no Christmas spirit – at least not with us! When the sky is blue, the sun is shining and the thermometer shows temperatures around 30°C, you don’t think of «Santa Claus» and Christmas; even if the street lamps in Swakopmund are decorated with garlands of lights and the shops offer Christmas delicacies such as gingerbread, marzipan and Christmas biscuits. (What a treat to savor marzipan or gingerbread! And if I’m lucky, Brigitta will also bake her delicious Christmas cookies – the best I’ve ever tasted!)

Silver and red firs, which we use as Christmas trees in Switzerland, are not to be found here. And a plastic Christmas tree – most likely from China (!) – won’t come into our house anyway! So how do you conjure up the Advent mood in your home? Very simple – at least for Brigitta: She bought African handicrafts in Swakopmund, decorated them on a plate and placed four candles next to them. We’ll light the first one tonight; it’s the first advent!

PS. At these temperatures we don’t feel like mulled wine! Instead, tonight we will uncork a good bottle from the winery Rust an Vrede to accompany the grilled oryx fillet…