A Thousand Sunsets, Yet Each One More Beautiful than the Last.

Earlier this week sitting in grid-locked traffic on my way home, I knew the last thing I wanted to do was to go home. The day had been good but long and it didn’t help that once again I was jumping ahead thinking it was Wednesday when it fact it was only Tuesday. Yes, it had been one of *those* days.

The sun was still relatively high in the sky, the sea in the distance glistened under the sun’s beams as Table Mountain looked out over it all.

Yes, I sat there in a long queue of cars, on top of a hill looking down over the peaceful scene below me, beyond the frantic impatience of everyone wanting to get home. As if on auto pilot as the traffic sneaked slowly towards my home, I eventually turned left and pulled up at the beach.

I took off my sandals and without wasting a moment I headed to the soft sand and icy cold water beckoning me from beyond the sand dunes.  There was a cool breeze blowing off the ocean and as I walked I took a deep breath in and felt all my senses come alive.

Yes, this was exactly what my soul needed.

A view that just never gets boring ~ Table Mountain across the bay.

A view that just never gets boring ~ Table Mountain across the bay.

A lone kite-surfer in his playground of the waves.

A lone kite-surfer in his playground of the waves.

With views like this on my doorstep, I undoubtedly live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

With views like this on my doorstep, I undoubtedly live in one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

A relatively empty beach with a lone kite-surfer in his playground of the waves, darting back and forth with a few ships lining the horizon, I found a nice spot on the soft sand and settled down. I sat there for almost three hours, watching a small handful of people walk their dogs, a team of young boys doing some training on the sand, a lone figure walking aimlessly along the sand, feeding their soul like I was.

The waves rolled in, crashing to the shore, a rhythmic melody of tranquility, soothing my soul with each crash.

A cyclist silhouetted by the sun's rays.

A cyclist silhouetted by the sun’s rays.

As the sun sinks lower, the sky begins to paint a picture.

As the sun sinks lower, the sky begins to paint a picture.

The sun setting the sky on fire as it sinks towards the horizon.

The sun setting the sky on fire as it sinks towards the horizon.

The sun was sinking lower and suddenly to my right, laughter burst into the air, filling my ears with its joyful noise.  As I turned to the side, I watched a young man darting onto the beach with his three dogs running with crazy excitement around him, as the laughter continued to escape from his lips.

His laughter was contagious and I laughed out aloud listening to his joy, smiling from the inside out.

Ships lining the horizon as the sun sets fire to the sky. As if unoticed, a young man laughs as he plays with his three dogs.

Ships lining the horizon as the sun sets fire to the sky. As if unnoticed, a young man laughs as he plays with his three dogs.

I watched this man for a while as he threw a ball for his dogs, who would then dart off after the ball, barking and wagging their tails in delight while dashing in and out of the waves.

The fading sun splashes the sand around me in soft tones of pink, engulfing everything around in colour.

The fading sun splashes the sand around me in soft tones of pink, engulfing everything around in colour.

I could watch a thousand more sunsets, yet each one will always be more beautiful than the last.

I could watch a thousand more sunsets, yet each one will always be more beautiful than the last.

The blue sky dissolving into wisps of colour as the sun begins to sink.

The blue sky dissolving into wisps of colour as the sun begins to sink.

Pink sky night, gentle warmth lighting up the sky.

Pink sky night, gentle warmth lighting up the sky around me.

A couple strolls hand in hand with the sunset as their backdrop.

A couple strolls hand in hand with the sunset as their backdrop.

The blue sky began to dissolve into wisps of crimson and tangerine, setting the sky on fire, the sun melting into the creamy clouds on the horizon.

With beauty like this, how can my soul not be restored?

With beauty like this, how can my soul not be restored?

Darkness begins to fall as the sun melts into another part of the world. Such perfect in such simple moments.

Darkness begins to fall as the sun melts into another part of the world. Such perfection in such simple moments.

A slip of the camera in my hand, caught this contract between the sand, sea and sinking sun.

A slip of the camera in my hand, caught this contract between the sand, the sea and the sinking sun.

My soul full again, my heart at peace ~ sunset, a perfect band aid for a long day!

My soul full again, my heart at peace ~ sunset, such a perfect band-aid for a long day!

The sun having melted into another part of the world.

Let the darkness of night creep in.

Behind me, the moon began to rise.

Above me, the stars came out.

My soul full.

My heart at peace.

I was ready to head home.

~ All Photos By Me ~

2 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. marlizem
    Mar 01, 2013 @ 09:59:07

    What can I say…. you just helped me relive so many of my afternoon home trips… turning off… turning left… and just ‘being’…

    I miss our Mother City… I miss the laughter and the humour and the warmth of its people…. the same people so many Jozie’ers warned me won’t accept me… who turned out to become the best company my soul ever kept. Thank you Lar, for reminding me what I have to still look forward to (again) Somehow, knowing that you’re still out there… on that beach… staring at that mountain… feeling the sea and the sand and all that comes with it with every fibre of your being… makes life in the concrete jungle a bit more bearable for me.

    When all our days have gone by, I will still admit that you are one of the best things Cape Town ever blessed me with. I’m honoured to be your friend.

    Love you loads
    m

    Reply

    • Walking 4 Air
      Mar 01, 2013 @ 12:12:15

      And the Mother City misses you so dearly! What a blessing you were when you came into my life too, your friendship is very missed here and I know one day when the time is right, you will return again and then we can go and do more beach walks together. Thank you for your beautiful words.

      Love you hugely my friend xx

      Reply

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