Written by Since I established in an earlier post that my favorite vacation spot is anywhere there’s a beach, I don’t really have a favorite one. I do like white sand beaches and had a lovely time snorkeling at one on Vieques Island once. This was years ago and I was so excited by the experience I vowed snorkeling was my “new thing.” Despite this childlike enthusiasm at the time, however, I’ve never actually snorkled again. My favorite thing to do on the beach is to kick off my flip-flips and start searching for seashells, sea glass, or anything interesting that’s washed up on shore. I don’t like beaches with large numbers of human bodies littered around the coastline, so my favorite beach is always rather remote and less inhabited.
Many years ago, on the southern coast of Spain, I visited a lovely beach in Nerja. It was part of a larger trip so I was just there for a couple of days. Most of the memories are of body surfing and generally lounging around, which is not something I do often, so it was remarkable. Once, while laying on a towel with my eyes closed, nearly lounging myself into a deep sleep, I suddenly felt the sun disappear. There were no clouds in the sky, so this seemed rather odd. I slowly opened my eyes and was horrified to see the bare arse and bits of an obese German man squatting over me. He had apparently picked that spot and that moment to change into his swimsuit. I know most Americans are ridiculously conservative when it comes to nudity, but this was a perfect example of why that’s not always a bad thing.
And this is why, still today, I only choose secluded beaches and shun crowded ones. Also, I just think that the primary enjoyment of the beach is the peaceful feeling of being on the edge of infinity. When I experience this, I prefer to be with just a few people I actually know. Watching the sunset over the water, and listening to the waves, while clearing my cluttered mind and actually managing to think of nothing much at all for once. It’s a magical moment that any lovely beach can bring. Making each and every one of them I visit, my new favorite.
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About the Doodlewash
M. Graham Watercolors: Naples Yellow, Burnt Sienna, Pyrrol Red, Azo Orange and Ultramarine Blue. Sennelier: Caput Mortem. Lamy Safari Al Star pen with Platinum Carbon sepia ink in a 5″ x 8″ 140 lb. (300 gsm) Pentalic Aqua Journal.
Love your painting and your description of how beaches should be. May the sun upon you never be obliterated in the same way again – oh my!
Thanks so much!! 😃💕Glad you liked this…and really appreciate the good wish!! Hehe
Again, you have caught my fancy with a scene at the beach ! And talking about snorkeling ! I have just the island for you to get plenty of snorkeling in a vacation: Grand Cayman Island. My husband has made it his life’s work to eventually be able to say he has snorkeled every spot on the island and there are many very good ones. I love my snorkeling, especially from my youth, when the oceans weren’t so warm. The fishes colors were BRILLLIANT, the coral was magnificant. Things have changed drastically in 60 years. 8( Sure hope you get some more snorkeling in soon. (If you plan a trip to Grand Cayman, ask me for suggestions: we know where the turtles swim every day; possible sightings of sting rays; star fish beach; Sting Ray City, etc., etc. ). ~Pam
Thanks, Pam! 😃💕Wow!! That all sounds amazing!! Yeah…I really need to try snorkeling again. Never been to Grand Cayman before…sounds lovely!!
Haha Charlie, love your story. And, your beautiful doodlewash is a call to the shore.
Hehe…thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 Yeah…not the best beach day that day! Lol
Ha ha ha!
Hehe!! Was definitely a memorable experience 😳
ROFLOL. This could only happen to you
Really great pair of flip flops and star fish.
Haha! Glad ya liked this post, Teri!! Thanks! 😃💕
The very single spot in front of you – of course! Had that happened to me, I might never again have visited a beach.
Hehe…thanks, Sharon! 😃💕Yeah…it was years before I ever got the courage to return! Lol
so well put – and for very good reason! LOL! Lovely little doodlewash too 🙂
Lol! Thanks so much, Jodi!! 😃💕Hehe…was a weird day that day at the beach. Glad ya liked the doodlewash!
Looks like paradise! 💕🌈 I love being at the lake in our boat, anchored near a sandy beach with no one around… The perfect place to relax! Cheers to doing nothing! 🏖🐚💜🌞
Thanks, Jill!! 😃💕 Being on a boat is so relaxing. It’s been ages since I’ve done that. Doing nothing is the best way to recharge!! Love it!! 😉
Fabulous as usual. I laughed when I read about how your sun was blocked. I much prefer deserted beaches too.
Yeah… Definitely does provide an entirely new meaning to the term sunblock! Lol thanks so much, Georgie! 😃💕
Me too. And beach combing – especially for sea glass 😎
Yeah…see glass is the best. I like sparkly things!! 😊Hehe
Gosh that memory has quite literally left a dark shadow in your mind! I love the flip flops covered in sand, I love our local beach to search for sharks teeth, even better when nobody is around….I avoid it in the summer!
Yeah…that’s a memory you can’t shake even though you really really want to!! Lol And yeah…crowded beaches are just terrifying. I won’t go hear them!! 😊
It seems that all artists don.t like crowdy beaches. Well Holland is a small country but we have a long beachline all covered with white sand. Pity that the water is always cold.
In summertime our neighbours Belgium and Germany are coming en mass to the shores.
I have my favorite little town on the sea in the south and like to stay in a cosy family hotel!
Your story is pretty and snorkeling I did long,long ago and after a few times no more.
I like your painting and this time, surprise, you used the red color, the flip flops (again a new word for me)
Thank you for sharing!
That all sounds so lovely, Margriet!! 😃💕 I don’t need to get in the water so that sounds perfect! Hehe And yes to the red! I mixed it with a bit of Azo Orange to get an even more plastic red color.
Another great story, and I love your sparkly flip flops. (K)
Thanks, Kerfe!! 😃💕 Hehe…definitely a memorable day that day!
I love this watercolor and this red!
Awww thanks so much!! 😃💕
Charlie, your description of the beach is perfect and I agree wholeheartedly that an uncrowded beach is the best place to truly relax and enjoy the “edge of infinity.” There is nothing like it to clear your mind, relax, and just be in the moment – unless someone is changing their swim suit overhead 😂
Hehe…thanks, Carol!! 😃💕 Yeah…secluded is the only way to go. I’ll use my own “sunblock” thank you!! Lol
This doodle wash is the definition of summer for me! I live in a landlocked state now, but I lived on an island in the Western Pacific for about a decade and your painting brought back all of those fantastic memories. Fortunately, in all of of my beach time I never encountered a German “arse and bits”. hahahahaha!
Thanks so much, Ellie! 😃💕 Glad you liked this doodlewash!! And wow! That sounds like an amazing decade… that would be so fun! And so relieved you didn’t have to endure sheer horror that I did! 😊LOL
You seem well and truly in ‘holiday mode’ now, Charlie! This is so cool! And obviously, such love for the beach, it is exactly as you describe – I expect, though, that those nearby are a little different to the likes of Nerja and Vieques Island! It’s good to hear your harrowing experience with the German behind – das Gesäß 😉 – hasn’t put you off the beach for a lifetime!
Thanks, Jacob!! 😃 I’m totally feeling like I’m in holiday mode, but unfortunately have yet to take an actual holiday! Lol But yeah… it was a close call on putting off of beaches, but even an arse and bits can’t sully my love of them! hehe
Aw, well it’s not that long now until your actual holiday!!
Fantastic painting, I can almost feel the sand. Great story, horrible eclipse moment, I hope you find many other nice secluded beaches to enjoy with family and friends. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks so much, Haunani! 😃💕 Yeah…. I’ve always been told that you should never stare directly into an eclipse… I now realize why! lol
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Thanks so much! So happy you like my doodlewashes and stories! 😃💕 yay to art and writing! I’ll definitely stop by your blog!
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