Monday and Tuesday, long, long days at the beach

Up and at em, Monday, as I said before, after going to the amazing outdoor/indoor market, and picking up the floats for the waves (no rules about no toys, but carefully watchful lifeguards striding the beach, with flippers in hand and a motorboat ready). Everything for fun, and the girls were psyched.

Khaldia prepares the mussels and Calamari..

And we're packed and off to the big time beach. EN gapes a bit as we pass a grandmother or two going topless. She quietly sings a little of the 'do your ears hang low do they wobble to and fro. . .' only with a substtution for the word 'ears'. Still, after romping in the waves that come in high and wonderfully strong, there's a few bodies to be buried, a little snack to be had.

Tuesday it was on to a smaller beach, a smaller one on the other side of the town center, lined with great piles of rocks, the lower ones encased in oyster shells and barnacles. EN found this wonderful. She remembered a time when their daddy found a mussel crop under a bridge and they collected bucketl loads and shared them with her friends.

The waves were mild and the wind cool. Swimming was swimming, but there's just so much of that you can do. We'd bought an umbrella, for shade, and there's always reading. But I'd bought a little rubber dragon in Cambridge, feeling it would pass the time on the trip. I took him out, and instead of grabbing it from me and threatening its dire murderous end by choking, stretching , sllicing or hacking, EN simply buried it in the sand, then decided it needed it's own city, dragon city. She mapped out a 20' square, and built walls all around, then paths in the center which would lead to a high tower where the dragon would reign. We'd need some shells for the tower, so we collected them at the shore. Lovely yellow to rose barnacle shells.

Aicha reminded me of Paul, you couldn't get her out of the water. Hour after hour. She just loved being there, pondering life, observing people.

We finally went home, sandy, sun-tanned, exhausted, and Khaldia whipped together a lovely quiche and salad. I was exhausted, but dragged myself out after midnight to send off messages,but the place was closed. I didn't mind. There's this amazing quiet in the town streets, and bright stars shine overhead. Magical.

More about the town tomorrow, and the boat ride down the coast.

much love to all,

d.