Sanibel Island, Florida

[lavendertook]

Here's some pics from the couple of days I stayed on Sanibel Island last week, collecting shells like a mad shell collecting thing:


Morning light on the beach. Why Sanibel Island is a beachcomber's paradise.


I got up before dawn--a feat that is astonishing to those who know my not-a-morning-person essence--carrying a little flash light to hunt my intrepid prey under the cover of nightfall. My prey being empty shells--I don't like taking the live ones, even though that's what real collectors go for.


White shores are calling. Two days were not enough.


And all will turn/To silver glass/A light on the water . . .


Why do the white gulls call? Well, sandpiper's really--they prefer text messaging.

Comments

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

If you ever get out here, I'll take you to Delaware Beach State Park, which is lovely for a non-tropical beach. I'm partial to the west coast of Florida for the shells and fine sands--have just been a visitor several times--I'm a total ocean lover. I knew you lived in Trinidad--how long were you there? Are there any good shelling beaches there that you found?

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

I didn't actually go to the beach hardly at all in Trinidad (I was there for about 6 months), believe it or not. We lived too far inland and didn't have a car and it would have been at least an hour's drive through windy rain-foresty roads to get to the main beach. But I DID have an adventure one day:

http://claudia603.livejournal.com/1709733.html

Those pics might give you a bit of insight as to what the beaches were like there. Not as typical Caribbean as you might think!

I'm in love with the ocean and palms, which makes living in central IL a little heart-breaking for me right now!

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Were you there for work or play?

Yay for getting to hike and explore.

Yeah, I know the beaches, or lack thereof, can vary depending on the rock content and whether there is reefing.

Palms are silly, silly trees that make me happy. And that's the reason I never thought I could survive in the midwest--I fear being landlocked and unable to journey to the ocean in a day, even though I don't get out to it more than a time or two some years. *hugshugshugs* I hope you get to go coastal soon.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

My husband works at the University of West Indies in Trinidad. I was there with him for 6 months or so (maybe 5? tis blurry). I didnt' work while there so I suppose it was play for me for awhile. I was able to take part in a really great writing workshop, for example.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

That must have been a neat opportunity. (-:

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

The workshop was a wonderful opportunity, as well as the friends I made there. And so many things that were great and adventure-making. And I'd say a great experience all and all...But I had a very bad experience last May (er...you probably haven't known me long enough to know that drama) that involved being the victim of a violent crime. So it's sort of like I have intense feelings for my time there, but then there was this dark shadow at the end. So it's a mixed-feeling type of thing!! :)))

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Oh no! I'm so sorry! *hugshugshugs*

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

**hugs right back**