An afternoon at sea.

I like sunsets. The colors seen in the firmament are not surpassed by human creativity.

Here I am at the beach, where I would see a sky as beautiful as this one, so full of color. I walk along the soft sands. As the waves of the sea hit my bare feet, the breeze does its thing. It brings me the murmurs of the sea, music to my ears.

It comes and goes, comes and goes, so is the swell of the sea. Leaving its trail of foam as it breaks its waves on the seashore.

It pleases me to see the fishermen arranging their ships to set sail. They are already leaving, they go in search of their favorite places on the high seas and there they will find the places where they usually see the shoals to then cast their baits.

The fisherman's life is not a quiet one. Night after night they take their vessels out to sea, sometimes defying the elements of nature, when there are winds, when there is turbulence, then it’s better not to go out fishing because it’s very risky.

And it's a double risk, you go with your mind on bringing in your bounty but if nature punishes you for wanting to challenge her tempest, then, you may return home with nothing in your boat… Or you might not even return at all.

The fisherman leaves with his mind set on the positive. He goes out thinking that it's a good day to set sail and that the shoals will be waiting for him in that place he already knows.

How can a fisherman find the signs in the sea? Each one knows his job, knows his sky and knows his land, they go looking at their stars and look at the islands they leave behind, they find a favorite spot and there they prepare their place.

They carry their lamp to leave lit while they throw their bait, nets or hooks, and now they wait, maybe it will be a lucky day and bring lots of fish to the table… Or maybe it's a heavy day and they just bring one catch to count.

Even on such dark nights when the weather suddenly stalks them with its stormy winds, even when they may become disoriented and may even dare not to return. The fisherman's life is not easy.

I used to believe that the fisherman was lucky to go looking for food that is already being raised by the sea. They don't need his food, nor care for the fish to grow to the biggest size you can imagine.

The fisherman of my land is a very peculiar man, the fisherman is a man that prepares his body for his task, a man of tanned skin and thickened by the sun and the sea. He is known wherever you see him, by his demeanor and the way he speaks, affectionate, talkative, friendly and a drinker.

He is a bit like the farmer who put seeds in the field and after all his care, it eventually becomes his own turn to harvest.

The fisherman learns the paths by looking at his stars. He learns to find where the fish are usually to be found, he is guided by the moon, by the stars, by the sound of the sea... There are many details he learns in the course of his life.

And even if he does not feed the fish and does not have to take care of them, he is sure from everything he observes that there is a month, a week, there is a sign, there is something in the environment that makes him sure that he will find something to bring to his table.

He expends fuel, he consumes his energy, he throws his adrenaline into the depths of the sea with the hope and dreams of a great catch that will give him sustenance and something more for him and his whole family.

And as I walk along the seashore I watch all the ships set sail. With the commotion that the fishermen make on the seashore… and suddenly all is silent, they're gone. Neither heard nor seen.

So long fishermen, may the virgin of the sea take you to a good course on the high seas. May she return you to your places with the marvelous booty that are the fish of the sea.

My dear readers, this is where I bring you my imaginary walk along the beach. These photos are from one of the beaches on Margarita Island. A beautiful and enchanted place for all the beauty of its people and its sea.

I hope I have not bored you with an account of the daily routine of the small fishermen.

All photos are my property.

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