Salt, sun, wind, palm trees, and appetizing scents saturate the air in this wonderful place. To many people, their special place is somewhere nearby, or in their minds. Although my place is the beach and is not at a close distance to me physically, memories of days there always intrigue me. It is my place for relaxation, fun, and the place that always comes to mind when I am having a bad day.   The warm waves slowly undulate back and forth, hugging the smooth, clean beach sand which welcomes the water with great open arms. The salt seasons my tongue, and lightly burns my eyes as I stare up at the vast blue sky and lie gently floating with the flow of the small waves. Water trickles into my ear and lightly distorts the beat of an enjoyable Bachata song blaring from a speaker nearby. A few feet away I see some people splashing around in the wetness and enjoying the beautiful clear day as much as I am. While I place my feet onto the lusciously soft sand, a tiny fish quickly scrambles away and tickles my toes.

Walking towards the shore, I get a glimpse of the sky-scraping palm trees barely swaying to the nice breeze. I also see people seemingly lost in their thoughts and basking in the omnipresent sun. My taste buds light up at the aroma of a variety of foods being enjoyed under the shade of the crowded umbrellas. An upbeat Bachata song plays throughout, and couples and children gather on the sand sway their hips and feet to the lively music. I sit on another area of the beachfront and begin playing with little cousins, molding shapes in the sand. I am in heaven. There’s nothing better for me than this salty, pleasant atmosphere. I suddenly snap out of my trance and am back sitting in the same hard chair at school, the teacher jabbering on in the background. The memories of the beach refresh me. At once I get my self to pay attention to the lesson. I can only keep hoping to visit the beach soon. My entire body and senses are yearning for that ambience.

 My special place: the beach. Although most of the time I only have the opportunity to experience it my mind, I cannot get enough of remembering all the sensations that I have experienced the few times that I have visited it physically in the Dominican Republic. I fully enjoy the sun, the breeze, the salt and trees that help mold this magnificent experience. Relaxation, fun, and getting away from the usual days of being at school and fun, the beach is my ecstasy, my place to escape.

Vanessa Trinidad © 2007