Far Away

It calls me, the water and the skyline meet. The ocean waters so blue, I'm unintentionally mesmerized. The colorful fish that swim beneath, breathtaking. The mountains in the distance, covered in green. Trees, tower over like the skyscrapers in a city. Engulfed by the beauty all around me, from the moment I step away from the vessel. Panoramic views for as far as I can see, on one side, trees and mountains. On the other, clear blue water, ships and boats.

To the white sandy beaches we head, greeted by the locals ready to sell. I, with long locks of red hair, stand out, as the locals attempt to pull us into their shops. One lady stops to say "miss I must braid your hair. Two American dollars a braid miss." I follow the lady to the colorful flea market her and many other ladies run small souvenir shops from. Each shop no more than the size of my walk in closet back at home. Each person selling something else, bargaining and bartering for the American dollar. After indulging in each small shop, we walk back to the beach. Greeted by each local along the way, asking us to come into their store fronts, as I kindly decline.

I found my self laying out a towel on the white sandy beach, just feet away from the crystal clear glistening waters. To my left, the rum bar. Each server that approaches says, "You must try the rum, it will be the best rum you have ever tasted." I order a Piña Colada. Frozen, it comes to me with foam on top. The sweetest rum I had ever tried. The drink, so delightful, I only needed just one. A sweet treat, deliciously, my taste buds discovered. To my right, a beautiful dark skinned woman laid out on a chair, reading and writing. Her long hair, gray with the trends. When she opened her mouth to speak, pure unfamiliar bliss to ones American ears. An accent so deep and sweet, the kind you only hear on television and imitated by Americans. When she talked, I enjoyed. We soon became friends.

The woman told me all about growing up in Britain, how she travels alone and is soon moving to Spain. I, jealous but in awe, envy the woman's ability to travel and be so free. Soon, I let her finish her work, though only after sharing with her the organic herbs sold by the locals. I head to the water, I dip in my foot with my face covered in snorkeling gear. Over to the pier I swam. As I skimmed the top of the water, small pointed balls lodged between the rocks below. Colorful coral covered the gaps, and fish swam around and between it all. By now, the local herbs have taken affect in my mind. I skim the top of the waters, I feel weightless. Everything suddenly felt so beautiful. I swim back to the shallow areas. When I arrive, I float in the clear blue salty water, on my back. My partner grabs me under the arms and started to spin me, as I floated there, weightlessly, starring up at the white fluffy clouds with out a care in the world. I prayed, and I wished that day would never end, as it was the most perfect day I had ever felt.

Soon, hours passed and we had to return to our vessel. As we toured the streets back, taking in all the beauty this exotic part of the world had to offer. The uniqueness on the locals, and the character of the city, seems to melt away as we depart further and further and draw nearer and nearer to our vessel. Bag filled with souvenirs, mind filled with memories and heart filled with bliss, we said goodbye to the locals, to the herbs, to the women on the beach, to the rum, to the flea markets, to the white sandy beaches, to the mountains painted in green, the colorful fish and the boats in the distance, as we sailed away to where the water meets the skyline.