Sandcastles
It's the start of the long weekend and, despite the autumn weather, Manly Beach is just chockers. Truly, this place is a mecca for tourists. Now having started as a tourist here myself, I am hesitant to be too harsh or negative about the influx of tourists - however, I am finding myself quite relieved with the beginning of fall and the decrease in local traffic...
That being said, the holiday weekend has made Manly pretty busy again, but the cooler weather does seem to make the evenings quieter. So, late this afternoon - as the beach started to empty - I headed down to the ocean with my book and a cup of hot chocolate. The waves were awesome and the surfers were out in full force.
Now along the beach, the effects and influences of the tourists were visible all over. Some good, some bad.
I'll start with the bad: trash. Everywhere. All over the beach. Why do people think it's okay to leave their empty drink cups/pop cans/food wrappers/cigarette butts all along the beach? There are recycle bins and trash cans at the top of each staircase coming up from the beach. LOTS OF THEM. It's the worst thing about having the beach jampacked - when everyone leaves they their trash behind.
Despite that, I cleaned up a small place for myself and alternatively read my book, sipped my hot chocolate and/or watched the surfers wipe out. I love to spend that last hour before the sun goes down on the beach. And tonight, due to the cooler weather, I got to do it all rugged up in my favourite pair of jeans and hooded jacket.
It was on my way home that I got to see one of the best things about having tourists: sandcastles.
On weekends when there is heavy traffic there is a local artist who spends the entire day building a sandcastle. Six to eight hours on one massively huge sandcastle. It's truly exquisite - and tonight it reminded of the castles with turrets and spires that I seem to remember from the movie Aladdin. The most magical part of it all was being there in the early evening and all of the windows were lit up from the candles placed strategically inside. Really beautiful. I wish I had had my camera so I could show you.
Maybe next time - I'll just try to make sure to avoid getting any trash in my frame so as to not ruin the picture....
That being said, the holiday weekend has made Manly pretty busy again, but the cooler weather does seem to make the evenings quieter. So, late this afternoon - as the beach started to empty - I headed down to the ocean with my book and a cup of hot chocolate. The waves were awesome and the surfers were out in full force.
Now along the beach, the effects and influences of the tourists were visible all over. Some good, some bad.
I'll start with the bad: trash. Everywhere. All over the beach. Why do people think it's okay to leave their empty drink cups/pop cans/food wrappers/cigarette butts all along the beach? There are recycle bins and trash cans at the top of each staircase coming up from the beach. LOTS OF THEM. It's the worst thing about having the beach jampacked - when everyone leaves they their trash behind.
Despite that, I cleaned up a small place for myself and alternatively read my book, sipped my hot chocolate and/or watched the surfers wipe out. I love to spend that last hour before the sun goes down on the beach. And tonight, due to the cooler weather, I got to do it all rugged up in my favourite pair of jeans and hooded jacket.
It was on my way home that I got to see one of the best things about having tourists: sandcastles.
On weekends when there is heavy traffic there is a local artist who spends the entire day building a sandcastle. Six to eight hours on one massively huge sandcastle. It's truly exquisite - and tonight it reminded of the castles with turrets and spires that I seem to remember from the movie Aladdin. The most magical part of it all was being there in the early evening and all of the windows were lit up from the candles placed strategically inside. Really beautiful. I wish I had had my camera so I could show you.
Maybe next time - I'll just try to make sure to avoid getting any trash in my frame so as to not ruin the picture....
posted by lala at
8:35 PM
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