Captiva Sunset
I’m on vacation with family and friends on Captiva Island in Florida, watching a Gulf of Mexico sunset, and it’s incredible!
As a younger version of myself, I’ve vacationed at Clearwater Beach in Florida, and even though it’s beautiful there too, now on Captiva Island, I’m watching the Gulf of Mexico sunset with a greater level of awareness and appreciation of the beauty of the event. For a second, my mind drifts and I wonder if sailors and pirates of an ancient time also watched such sunsets with the same level of wonderment as my family and friends are currently doing.
The beach is tiered so that it look almost like two massively long sand bar steps to the ocean. I sit on the layer that is only one step above the ocean by a few feet. The beach texture is course because of all the flakes from partial seashells lying around everywhere. It’s not the white pretty sands of Clearwater, but still pretty nice all the same.
I would like to say that it’s just my family and friends watching the sunset, but the beach has a fairly decent crowd all watching the same magical sunset. In many ways it reminds me of the New Year’s ball falling at midnight to start the new year. Surprisingly, the sun submerges below the horizon line in the far off distance quite quickly, much quicker than I anticipated. The sunset spectators at the beach clap and cheer as if they were applauding after the Fourth of July grand finale fireworks display.
The most notable features of the sunset is the way the golden colors from the sunset rays dance on the tops of tiny waves in a line directly from me to the sun doing down. I looks to the left and notice the dark tiny wave tops and think how cool the bright rays might looks as a contrast. It’s quite striking! The overall lighting is on the edge of twilight and I can now imagine how sailors could see manatees off in the distance and think that their silhouettes (especially young manatees) look like the outlining shapes of mermaids.
It’s funny how our minds drift while on vacation and we appreciate the simple events in life. I guess this is what they mean by the saying “Stop to smell the roses”…
Having fun,
MR
Ahhhh, sounds like a great time and setting!
It’s nice, I’m wondering how it looks compared to Hawaii. I’ll definitely have to go there in the next few years!
Sunsets on the beach are priceless. I agree with you about how vacations let our minds drift and all the things that were stressing us out become so irrelevant. -Sydney
So far, it’s been great, especially after the constant walking at Seaworld and the fun swimming at Discovery Cove.
I want to go back to the beach! Sounds like the sand is similar to how it is in Marco Island.
Any stingrays???
Have a great time!
Captiva is just a bit North of Marco Island, so I bet the sand is similar!
I didn’t think about stringrays! I’ll have to read up and see if that’s a problem here, and if so make sure my son stays out of the water (lol).
So far, it’s been hot but a good time 🙂
Enjoy your time, it sounds amazing.
Thanks, I’m definitely making the best of it this year!
Sounds wonderful. I felt a wave of relaxation just reading. Enjoy the rest of your time off.
It been a great week so far. I’m thinking about skipping a few posts soon…
I am so jealous! I hope you are truly having a great time though!!!
It’s nice but too hot! My friend saw a small stingray in the water, that was exciting!
I’m enjoying this vacation like I haven’t before.
Boy, you are having fun! Enjoy your vacation MR!
Nice picture btw!
Thanks, I’ve learned over the years to really cherish vacation time with family and friends.
I was driving the other night and there was a gorgeous red sunset. The only thing I regretted was that I didn’t have anyone to share it with at that time.
Great photo! It always a surprise how fast the sun goes down into the ocean no matter how many time you’ve seen it. 🙂