There are walks that have it all, or at least everything I like, such as the beach, the sea, the beautiful palm trees and an added bonus: the cats.
When a walk like this happens quite by chance, the sunset becomes perfect and you feel you couldn’t ask for more.
The original plan was simply to stroll along the seafront promenade, wait for the sun to set and admire the scenery, starting at the easternmost end of La Malagueta beach and finishing where the Paseo de Levante begins, which juts out into the sea to make way for the yacht club.
Sometimes you plan a walk, but along the way you might come across something even more interesting, and this sunset certainly was. As the sun sinks and hides, as if afraid of the night and the moon, it leaves the palm trees in half light; yet, in contrast, the sky takes on such beautiful colours that you realise there is nothing more beautiful than nature and the small yet significant things in life, such as the sun setting and giving way to dusk.
The landscape changes completely; the beach grows a little darker whilst people continue to enjoy the sea along the shore, because, as I’ve told you, despite it being autumn, summer hasn’t gone away and people are still there, as if holding on to that warmth, that summer, so it won’t leave, whilst some of them play beach games like volleyball, the children play in the parks and on the sand, and friends stroll along or sit on the rocks chatting. So much happens when you know how to look out for it whilst out for a walk.
The buildings facing the sea gaze out at it every day and bear witness to all the life that unfolds on the beaches day after day. My walk continued along the seafront promenade, but without losing sight of details such as a sculpture, something eye-catching, a building or anything that changes the view, though the sea and the palm trees always remained the main protagonists.
The colours in the sky, or rather, in the heavens, looked like stripes painted in oils by some famous artist; I feel this is a city of art. Yet when I looked up, the tops of the palm trees continued to contrast with the intense blue that always accompanies the sea, its sound and its beautiful foam. The sea is always an inspiration to me. Breathing in that scent is like cleansing the soul and renewing one’s energy.
As I neared what I’d planned as the final destination of my walk, instead of heading towards the other path that leads out into the sea, I decided to go down to the sand, where that path can be seen from below; and upon arriving, I was glad I’d made that decision, which was more like a hunch. The avenue of palm trees up there looked lovely; the colours of the sky were clearer and more beautiful as the sun continued to set, and another surprise awaited me.
Among the rocks I came across several cats; some were hiding, but several of them came out to meet me. I think they knew I was carrying something to eat, or perhaps they simply saw me as one of their own.
I sat on the rocks for a while, admiring the scenery and spending time with the kittens, two of which looked just like real black panthers.
The palm trees were still the main attraction, but they took a back seat to the cats and the city; the eastern neighbourhoods, in the distance, nestled against the mountains, looked beautiful. I like to pause on my walk, take some time to look, gaze, observe and appreciate the beauty that meets my eyes. A moment to rest.
After this brief break, I headed towards the beach, closer to the water, to do one of the things I enjoy most these days: taking photos, searching for the best angle, or what I think is the best, and enjoying that too.
A moment of silence; I moved as far away from the crowds as possible, to be close to the water, so that it was just the sea and me, like a companion in emotions, showing me the wonders it sees from the shore as it comes in to lay down that beautiful white blanket, and to gaze at those palm trees, the city, the lighthouse, to run my fingers through the sand and enjoy the summer weather.
It shared all that with me whilst I was by its side, and I’m reminded once again that nature is always marvellous; it gives me so much, and that moves me deeply.
Thank you very much for joining me on this Wednesday walk; warm regards to you all, see you soon. Amonet.
All photographs are my own.
