Continuing with my series on my recent travel to California, here's a peek at Ocean Boulevard and 17 Mile Drive.
17 Mile Drive is a stunning stretch of residential (I know, right!) property, that has turned into a tourist attraction. The ethereally beautiful stretch runs along the coast, with vistas of endless ocean on one side and rolling golf greens on the other.
Look at that beautiful blue of the ocean! The entire stretch of the drive was this clear and shimmery, with hues blending from deep Pacific blue to an almost crystalline aquamarine. And of course, plenty of seagulls!
As we drove on, it got even more stunning. Just off the coast are several large rocks where seagulls and seals (sea lions? I'm not entirely sure which) perch and sunbathe. I know this picture isn't very clear thanks to the distance, but if you look closely, you can see the seagulls on the rock on the left (which is also painted white by gull poop!), and the seals upon the rock on the right side.
And all the houses in the area are SO beautiful (and owned by multi-millionaires, I'm told! Wow). I didn't take pictures of those, of course. Wouldn't want to violate their privacy any more, since I'm sure the thousands of tourists driving through their neighbourhood everyday is bother enough. :)
But what really stuck with me long after the drive, was this.
A lone bench upon the beach, looking out into the ocean. No story except a pair of names and dates, with the haunting caption 'Together At Last'
It's been a month since the day I took that picture, but I can't shake the thought of that bench from my head. Who were Tommy and Cynthia? What was their story? Were they spouses? Star-crossed lovers? Siblings? What took Tommy from Cynthia so early? Was it illness? A twist of fate?
Perhaps I'll never know. But I do feel a sense of haunting peace at the thought that at least in death, they have been reunited. <3
To Tommy & Cynthia.
More posts from my travels coming soon. :) In case you liked this post, do upvote and share/resteem.