Unveiling Paternoster: A Coastal Gem Ready for Discovery

Paternoster: A Coastal Treasure

After an intense six weeks filled with wine and adventure, we had initially planned to return home last Monday. As the deadline approached, we realized that we hadn’t taken a moment to unwind.

Thus, we packed our bags on Saturday for a short getaway to Paternoster on the West Coast.

We quickly realized how much we needed to escape when we got lost twice on a familiar route. In the end, we found we had booked our accommodation, “Musselcracker”, not in Paternoster, but in Shelly Point Estate, 25 km away. What a start!

However, our initial doubts faded into exuberance when we arrived. We discovered a beautiful house on a stunning beach, run by the welcoming Karen and her wonderful husband Rod. Accompanied by Schumba, their delightful Golden Retriever.

What awaited us? An endless view of the ocean, a covered terrace, a hot tub, long stretches of sandy beach, shells galore, and best of all: very few people. Over the weekend, there were six of us, just four on Monday, and by Tuesday, we were alone with Karen at breakfast – which would have justified the trip on its own!

Homemade jam, fresh sourdough, fruit salad, house-made muesli, cheeses and cold cuts, salmon, and more – all incredible, and prepared just for two guests. What more do you need to relax?

By Monday, no thoughts of heading home. Today is Tuesday; whether we’ll truly make it to the airport remains to be seen...

No matter what, we've discovered our new home away from home and believe we’ll often enjoy breakfasts with Karen and Rod in the future.

Dining in Paternoster

Culinary options aren't abundant, yet in just 15 minutes via the Dirt Road, you can reach Paternoster, now boasting a variety of fine restaurants. From the “Noisy Oyster”, “Gaaitjie” (our all-time favorite), "De See Kat", "Leeto", to the always booked “Wolfgat” for fine dining fans.

The new Waterfront has also seen much growth since our last visit. A small, intimate theater was of notable interest, showcasing a dynamic cultural program. Unfortunately, everything was fully booked during our visit; that won’t happen next time! Planning is indeed half the journey!

We hope you could take a little mental escape to the West Coast with us and look forward to sharing more discoveries soon.

P.S.: It’s Wednesday now, and we're still here… having read and learned quite a bit. Avoid eating West Coast Rock Lobster and Stumpnose fish as they are both endangered. Also, don’t buy lobster from street vendors, despite their persistence, as many locals warn against it due to poor storage methods. Street-sourced rock lobsters could quickly turn into a recipe for disaster...