The Ocean

Throughout this trip I've had plenty of opportunities to see the ocean. In fact with the exception of the landlocked countries of Bolivia and Paraguay, I saw the ocean in each of the countries I visited. But it wasn't until Brazil (in the last two weeks of my trip) that I actually swam in it.

I know it sounds crazy, but in Colombia the beach I was at had super dangerous currents.

 In Ecuador, the water was dirty where it met the polluted river. 

In Peru and Chile it still felt far too cold, 

in puerto madryn it would have been freezing, plus scary to swim with whales. 

 In Uruguay it was stormy everyday, and finally here... In the warm shallow bay waters of a Brazilian town called Paraty I finally swam in the ocean.

Paraty felt like a bath

The waves were tiny and the water far warmer than it should have been, but the saltiness could not be denied.  It's been a long time since I swam in the ocean. I never went in Southern Europe, or India. I didn't swim in Mexico or Belize, I certainly didn't swim in Iceland or Ireland... So the last time I swam in the ocean must have been a family trip to California right around the time Ok Computer came out.... That had to have been the mid 90s.

The ocean is always impressive to see. The waves of all sorts, the colors, the vastness. But there is something incredible about being in the ocean. Something a little bit scary and also incredibly natural.  Considering I grew up around tranquil lakes, I will probably never get used to the ocean.  But I kind of like that, because it will always make me feel that awe.