Namibia Impressions – II – Lüderitz – ǃNamiǂNûs*


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Crossing the Namib desert on the way to Lüderitz.
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The Diaz memorial cross overlooking the bay.

The town of Lüderitz, named after the German merchant Adolf Lüderitz (1834-1886) who bought stretches of desert along the Atlantic between Angola and South Africa from various Nama captains, is a unique town. It still bears some trademarks of Germany’s ill-fated colonial ambitions. Without any hinterland to support it, it would eventually have been covered by the shifting sands of the Namib desert and be forgotten. However, the town is coming to life again. The old railway line has been restored and a new motorway constructed. There is still no hinterland as yet, but a boom is in sight. The prospecting for oil has begun. And with it the desert will come alive with all the elements of trade and industry. Lüderitz is a unique and attractive town in the desert and on the ocean. The desert experience is what we will see as some of the major tourist attractions.

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The new railway line with new station buildings integrated into the new waterfront complex  – major developments are taking place and will turn this town around in astonishing ways. The signs are all there.
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A new road connecting the desert town to the interior.

We found the remnants of the town’s colonial past worth exploring and visited the beautifully restored Goerke house, commissioned in 1910 by Hans Goerke, then manager of the Emiliental Diamond Corporation, today used as guest house by the Namibia Diamond Corporation that also funded its restoration.

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Whoever enters well disposed, shall fondly here be well proposed.

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We are imaging the Goerkes in this room.
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Luise and Hans Goerke

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Such fabulous, lordly living lasted for two years only, when Luise urged her husband to go back to Berlin.
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A view from the winter garden.
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To keep body and mind in good shape.
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View of the town from the church hill.
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The waterfront with direct access to the railway station.
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Waterfront.

This is part 2 of our Namibia impressions.

Stellenbosch, 21st April 2015
With love from
Walter & Colleen

*ǃNamiǂNûs – the name of the Lüderitz constituency in Nama, the original inhabitants of the region. ǃ and ǂ are indicators of click sounds which make the Nama language so melodious.

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