Beach Photowalk in Mexico

I’ve been ending every day here in Mexico with a walk on the beach with John. Yesterday we brought out our cameras and wandered just about 200 meters off the resort’s beach to adjacent rocky shores. Chasing the sunset, we captured the incoming tide, fossilized imprints, and some unexpected castaways.

Located on the Eastern side of the Yucatan Peninsula in the Quintana Roo region along the Caribbean Sea our resort is a part of the Bahia Principe Ecological Foundation that protects (as best it can) the surrounding swamps, rain forests, and coral reefs. We don’t have miles of sandy beaches as some waterfront areas are separated by rock walls or man-made breakers to protect the reefs. Any garbage that comes ashore here is (I assume) promptly swept up and disposed of. Unfortunately just off the resort, there are no workers or volunteers to clean up what might wash ashore.

It was rather depressing to find so much junk during our quick stroll but it was a small dose of reality. Within sight of our villas we were hopscotching over flippers, shoes, drink containers, a doll’s arm, an asthma inhaler, and motor oil bottles.

Back at the Gran Bahia Principe the ground is raked and the trees are pruned. Dump trucks beep as they back up and deliver piles of white sand to cover coarse white stones.

This morning I lay comfortably under palm branches listening to the white-capped waves crash and turn to foam — and I couldn’t help but imagine the handful of trash each one must carry… and where it may have started its journey.

All photos are available on Flickr in John’s set or my own.