Dear Blogreader,
In most parts of the Northern Hemisphere,people are looking forward to the summer holidays right about now.Central to that sunny thought, holiday makers are thinking about the best ways to disconnect,catch up on some personal time or family time,undergo some health or cosmetic treatments etc.
If you are thinking in particular of getting a tan on fine sands with palm trees behind you and endless turqouise-blue waters ahead of you,then have a look at the following destinations here
I have gone to a few beautiful beaches both in Africa and Europe.I mean few in terms of my own travelling experience,and am not implying there are few beautiful beaches on both continents!
Beaches in South Africa
Clifton Beach:In my native South Africa,I have been to the Clifton Beach which is very popular every summer for being a coastal haven for the exclusive club of local trendsetters and international jetsetters.This beach has the same name as the sorrounding upmarket surburb.
Gonubie Beach:I have also been to a beach in the Eastern Cape in a camping town called Gonubie!I went with my final year classmates and we had an excellent time.I was lucky because we arrived on my birthday!The coral reef adds to the beauty and tranquility of this pleasant coastal town ideally lodged between the Gonubie River and the warm current Indian ocean.Therefore,the winters are warm and the summers are hot!
Durban South Beach:I made 3 visits to the Durban South Coast beach.Durban is a cosmopolitan and multicultural city.The suprising experience about my latest visit in February this year, was how much warmer than sorrounding air, the waters were.It was a cloudy day and windy,with the sun teasing to come out every hour or so,and the seawater was a warm blanket.So I basically,sat at the edges of the wave-breakage points and kept warm.Its important to watch out for rocks while playing in the water,the waves can also get quite aggresive and the avoidance of shark infested waters as stated by notice boards along the beach, remains without saying!Pity South Africa is nearing its colder months of June or July now!
Beaches In Spain
The rest of the beaches I have been to have been in Spain and the South of France.In Spain I went to the beaches in Cadiz,Malaga,La Coruña(Galicia) and Sitges (Catalunya) and several beaches in Ibiza!
Cadiz Beach:I was on a day trip while I was in Cadiz,therefore I didnt even get to feel the fine white sand under my feet.I recommend this beach because of the pretty city of Cadiz in the background,great sunny weather,majestic and historical architecture made of fortifications along the city edges with the ocean.
Malaga Beach:I liked this beach,but like Cadiz didnt get to enjoy I as much as I would have wanted to due to time constraints.I had excellent company in Malaga which compensated for it.A good friend from university in South Africa came to visit me in Madrid,so we sat in front of the beach in the afternoon and watched joggers go by,got a tasty whiff of sardines being fried using an open wood fire on the beach...
Sitges Beach:The decision to go to Sitges was a half fluke as well as a process of elimination.Due to my friend´s ingenuity to experience travel in a new and unique way,she recommended we go to a beach in a wine town while in Barcelona.This lead us to Sitges one 40 minutes-long train ride later.The beach was exquisite with boats alongside it and warm great waters.I tanned noticeably against my white bikini that day!It was serene to lay in the sun like that,let go and drift away in thoughts and a well deserved siesta.I think sufficient vitamin D for the whole summer was synthesised that afternoon!It was my friend´s birthday that day too so we ended the day with excellent cake and coffee in a nearby coffeeshop.
Nice beach:Im not sure its even called this way,but its a good geographic reference.After a drive from madrid through San Sebastien thn along the South of France,a sight of the blue-green waters was a God-send.it goes without saying that this city is exquisitely beautiful,but the beach has big sided peddles,so if you want to dip your feet in the water...guess what you have to do:)The people and food compenstate for it hundred-fold though...:)
Ibiza Beaches:The Ibiza experienced is categorised by party life throughout the summer.The beaches were stunning and there were scattered with heavenly bodies,excuse the pun!This island has many beaches and I couldnt go to all of them on my 3 day visit.However,I went to the quiet ones,the party ones (BorraBorra),sunset watching ones(San Antonio) sans the nude ones...well,the fact is you do get some women topless on all these beaches.However the nude ones refer to both men and women in their birthday suits!
All in all,beach life can soothe our minds and relax our bodies while distracting us with the sheer power and beauty of nature of the seas or oceans and encourage the perpertual workaholc to take some real downtime for themselves!
Splash!
Sarah
