The farewell was not easy; so long I was charmed by this dreamy city on the Namibian Atlantic coast. I didn’t know really what it was all about; it’s not the first on a roaring ocean, the buildings are not the most luxurious, and the cold ocean water hardly allows swimming.
I lived in a hotel looking at the ocean, the hotel's apartment is all in white, wide and simple with straight lines, but the attached room is fully equipped with the most modern in markets; electronic curtains, lights you can choose their colors and the music even in the bathroom, a wonderful mixture of confident simplicity and captivating luxury.
That night I went to dine in a sophisticated classic hotel where I used to live on and off for two years and joke with the employees. Purposefully I arrived early to see the restaurant empty, as if it was a testimony on a life that passed, so I sit behind the same table, remembering what happened every time. I noticed that my memory is more active than normal; so I woke up on a rhythm of piano playing that looked familiar.
Is it logical that the music pieces that never kept me enthusiastic were that beautiful? How could the performer improvise and innovate making the highly emotional music dreamy and calling for reflection?
How could the choice be that harmonies maintaining a serene and loving state of mind? And an experience of beautiful life that seemed as childhood memories to recall with serene smile? Going to salute him I found that he was the same piano player that I believed he immigrated without return.
I thanked him for four years of enjoyment of his artistic excellence that he maintained even in his eighties and I learned that he is an experienced world famous performer.
But the secret as I see lies behind a noble motivating feeling; be beautiful and the world will follow. You may be marveled by the distinguished and luxuriant old hotel, but what will stay in your memory is the emotion provoked by an experienced, educated and sensitive player.
While seeing off the German manager of the hotel, he told that he came as a tourist years ago, but the same magical attraction motivated him to settle and to work in the city that quickly made him feel that it is his ideal choice. An orange sky at sunset, and waves that became calm, as if it has just finished its job.
A nice farewell similar that the piano player, as if farewell is like death, acceptance, and surrender, and gratitude for a gift of a small life or a phase of life granted by a wise ambiguous destiny smiling patiently if you believed it was just an incident.
After a tour in the city’s pedestrian streets, cafes and shops, the farewell extended to be seeing off everything even sea, animals and birds. In a maritime cruise in the nearby port, the fast boat was reducing time, followed by birds; a fleet of seagulls and a caravan of pelicans. I take photos to revive memories.
The seal “spotty” comes up sliding on board of the boat to settle on my lap seeing me off on behalf of the sea creatures, cuddling in a loving and friendly way.
Swakopmund is not an incident, rather an expected result, it is not a dream but a reality, where opportunities are available for all; the outcome of tourism and commerce for its white population, and comfortable salaries for the dark technicians and workers in mines, port, and industries around.
There is a reason for everyone to maintain an easy, peaceful and calm even more a safe life, to the extent that neighbours are helping the effective police combating crimes by solidarity among them, solidarity that pre disposes friendship, openness, and abundant sympathy.
No wonder then that the visitor is possessed by a feeling of comfort and peace. The ocean washes sadness, the people filling the psyche of hope, relaxation, and freedom, and the city dwells in the heart making memories eternal.
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