Heaven Sky Clouds Rain Sea Waves Sand Me Earth.

Cassis storm

 

Cassis was under a wild wonderful wicked storm, all day long.

Waking to waves crashing, thunderous, my dream said, "Westport!" though the reality laughed, "Cassis! This loud?" Opening the shutters this is what I saw: Northern California! Oh la la, but it felt like it, as memory happiness swam right up to the window and splashed me.

Cassis in the winter, is my childhood summer, Oh! Laying on the beach in sweatshirts with my cousins Bernie, Alma, Bev. and my brothers under the fog, camping every summer.

 The first time I heard about Cassis: 30 years ago, I was in Paris having dinner with Yann's friends when one of them said, "Oh if you move to Marseille, you must go to Cassis, the locals St. Tropez."

 

 

 

cassis storm

 

The locals, and history said, "Never was there a day like today."

Photogenic storm.

Waves whipping as they do up north, with the boom that makes one know who is in charge: Nature.

And the mist sprayed against my face, glorious baptism, licking my salty lips, smile down to my toes.

The waves stayed rough throughout the day, spectacular, impressive, grand, dramatic, familiar of a distance home.

 

 

  Cassis

 

Cassis rainbow of color.

 

 

 

My second home
 

 The ever changing constant. The deep diving dreams, surfacing such things as sand, pearls, seaweeds and once Chelsea found a message in a bottle in Mendocino.

Mesmerizing, mysterious pull, oh siren how do you do that? I could not turn away. How fortunate seagulls are to dance above the waves.

 

 

cassis coast

 

 

parasol tree cassis

 

 

cassis dream house

 

God, I could live in this house.

How many times have I said that?

Does that count as prayer?

 

 

seaside prayer, corey amaro

 

Heaven

Sky

Clouds

Rain

Sea

Waves

Sand

Me

Earth.

 

cassis lighthouse, corey amaro
 

This evening you were still going strong.

xxx



Comments

30 responses to “Heaven Sky Clouds Rain Sea Waves Sand Me Earth.”

  1. Stunning photos Corey – I have been to Cassis a few times – even brought my Mum here in 2009 with my sister (we are all from NZ) we love Cassis – what a spectacular storm and how wonderful for you to be able to capture Cassis in its beauty on any day of the year. Can’t wait to see final photos of your wonderful place there!

  2. Beautiful photos and video! I know that siren call –

  3. Wish we were there. Tonight we’re forecast to have single-digit temperatures Fahrenheit (brrr!).

  4. Jacklynn Lantry

    I remember those crashing waves and the mysterious, luminous steel blue/grey green color of the sea. A very special place.

  5. It seems that the winds of change encircle the globe today.. there has been a wild prairie gale howling and yowling here all day and night..it enthrals me, but has me feeling a tad bonkers..does anyone else feel this way with wind? Does it herald change?

  6. Wish I had been there . Looks quite exciting. The weather forecasters predicted rains and or snow today. It wa in the 50s and dry all day, rain came at 8p.m.

  7. Evelyn Jackson

    I love your photos of the waves crashing. The video you posted on FB kept me mesmerized! I could watch the sea for hours. Your memories of northern Calif. beaches reminds me of my southern Calif. beach memories. Not a lot of crashing waves there, but good memories of salty air, beachcombing, camping in the sand and my dad surf fishing at night. Grunion runs and red tides that made the waves glitter with phosphorous. I miss it!

  8. Taste of France

    Those shots of the waves and the lighthouse are wonderful. I can almost feel the spray.

  9. Leslie in Oregon

    These photographs are spectacular, especially the ones of the huge wave crashing against, and almost encircling, the lighthouse(?). They are redolent of the famous lighthouse-in-wave photographs taken by Jean Guichard, titled Phare de la Jument (December, 1989).

  10. Jennifer Phillipps

    Fab photos, delicious waves and beautiful clouds….literally a “perfect” storm…..I would have been happy to be with you there to watch it all day too! Cheers from a balmy NZ late summer….

  11. Diogenes

    Green sea, grey sky…quite the dramatic, captivating combination. The huge wave…you need to exhibit your photography collection.

  12. Teresa Cesario

    Dear Corey
    Such a dreamy post!! I could look at it over and over. Your photos are excellent. I loved being there mentally. Thank you!

  13. Opening the shutters and getting sprayed by the sea would be too scary for me. Reminds me of pictures of a tsunami. Guess you won’t be walking outside and risk being washed away by the sea. My wild imagination at work. You could always stay indoors and photograph your Cassis apt for the final reveal!

  14. The same weather in Degagnac….500 kilometers away.

  15. What a sight! How cool that you were there to see it!
    Hugs to you both – hope to see you in April!

  16. Sue Tinker

    Wowowowow. Love these fantastic photos.

  17. The power of nature is awesome. Have spent many summer times in Mendocino and Wesport. Lovely memories. Enjoy your special place on earth !!!

  18. KAMFreeman

    A wonderfully beautiful capture of the beauty of wind and water. My childhood walks on the beaches of northern Washington state were stirred as I read your story and looked at your wonderful photos. Something about wind does change the colors of the water as it is rolling in to shore, crashing and splashing, and the skies, never are those colors present on a calm, clear day of sun. What a treat to take this beach-side journey with you in photos and words. Thank you, once again for giving my morning a magnificent beginning.
    Kristin

  19. I remember a raging thunderstorm at the beach in Alabama one time. Our beach house had a large picture window so we felt right in the middle of the storm. Amazing light and sound show and crashing waves. Nature is a mighty force!

  20. I Love thunderstorms!!! Never been in one by the sea or ocean though…. Would love to have experienced this…thank you for your pictures and words. Awesome!
    I once heard someone exclaim in comment to a big thunderstorm….”if you ever been in one, you Know there is a God!”

  21. Hi! A beautiful post! Loved that you mentioned Mendocino–my very favorite spot in CA!
    Cheers!

  22. CINDY hattersley

    That photo with the house on the edge of the beach with the storm…amazing…

  23. Leigh NZ

    Fantastic photos Corey! I adore rain and would have loved being in Cassis with you watching the weather unfold. I too would have been constantly at the window with camera in hand and venturing out when able. So looking forward to seeing your new place next time I’m in Cassis.

  24. Leigh NZ

    Did you use your camera or was it your iPhone?

  25. Wow! The power and magnificence of a storm by the sea. How beautiful! Take care!

  26. The force of Nature is impressive, if sometimes dangerous, and reminds us of how small we are compared to the Earth, not to mention the Universe(s).

  27. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    I saw your video of those waves crashing before seeing all these still photos. The two combined tell the story well, but I rather prefer the stills. So dramatic. I love the raindrops on the window blurring and adding to the wild view outside.
    That house you covet: Does it get crashing waves too? That would be intense.

  28. Rebecca from the pacific northwest

    That would be a good idea. And then we could all fly in for the opening, and meet each other!

  29. WOW. Beautiful, powerful pictures.

  30. Winter. My favor season. Just behind fall. Wicked winter storms are the best. Have had many here this year. Beautiful post!

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