Often, a walk is a necessity, whether for oneself or for someone else. If it’s for oneself, it benefits both body and mind; if it’s for someone else, we help them to clear their thoughts and find peace when they need it.
A week ago, my mother had an operation. It was a simple one, a common procedure, cataract surgery, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any nervousness, stress or worry involved. So, a few days beforehand, I invited her for a walk. One where she could focus on other things, breathe in the sea air and get a change of scenery. My aim was to take her mind off things for a few hours.
So I prepared some mate, a typical Argentinean herbal tea, packed everything we needed into a rucksack including a small apple cake and we took the bus. The plan was to reach the start of the path leading to the lighthouse, rest there for a while, drink mate, chat about anything and everything, and then walk along the sand, listen to the soothing sounds of the sea and have a lovely time.
That day, when we found a place to sit, we saw a black cloud in the distance, which you can see in the photos, but which was much darker and denser when we got there. We sat down and looked it up online. There was a fire in an industrial estate in a town to the east, and the cloud was visible from the centre of Málaga. It was a huge fire, but the fire brigade managed to put it out. Little by little, the cloud dissipated.
Meanwhile, we chatted and enjoyed the peaceful atmosphere. There were lots of people out for a stroll. The seafront promenade is the place of choice; it’s always a favourite with both locals and tourists alike, and at this time of year there are plenty of tourists, though I suppose there are always some. With so many festive seasons, combined with the summer and the beautiful beaches, there’s always a lot of tourism.
After a while, we resumed our walk towards the sea, right where Malagueta Beach meets the Paseo de Levante, which in turn is the continuation of the Paseo de la Farola. There are so many paths to explore that there’s always a great opportunity for wonderful walks.
The walk took us past rocks, sand and water, but above all, we admired the beautiful views. You could still see the dark cloud of smoke in the distance, but it was getting smaller and smaller.
You know I love paying attention to everything I see around me, and I couldn’t help but look at the moss on the rocks, its shapes, its size, and how the water left its foam on them.
I’m a huge fan of watching the white sea foam, and it’s one of the things I love most to paint in my pictures when I paint the sea. That’s why every little wave that came in was an opportunity for a photograph. The sea is always an excellent subject for that.
Behind me stood the streetlamp, creating a beautiful scene, and ahead of me lay more and more foam. On one side of the promenade was the Levante, with its row of palm trees, and on the other side was the beach, where people were already enjoying the early spring sunshine. It was a perfect day. And best of all, my mother took my mind off things; I walked and could see her looking so calm.
Water always brings good energy and I believe it is healing; even its sounds calm a restless mind, and that is good for the body too.
The walk continued back along Pier One, watching as the sun was already bidding farewell to the city to bring energy elsewhere. The sun is another great source of energy and I always love feeling it on my face and enjoying its many benefits.
What’s more, there are always large, beautiful ships to see there; I love ships and their reflections. The setting is one of the most beautiful in the city, with the castles in the background, avenues lined with palm trees, and the cathedral visible on the other side. A magical moment, where time stands still to offer us pure beauty.
Thank you very much for joining me on this relaxing Wednesday stroll. Warm regards to you all. See you soon.
Amonet.
All photographs are my own.