What a wonderful memory. Though I have always lived near the ocean in the U.S., it is Nantucket Island on the East Coast that is a place now rooted in memory, blood and soul. Though now it is a destination place for tourists and the ultra wealthy, when I lived there it was a thing of wild, natural, remote and genuine beauty. As children -like most-we always looked forward to the Summer. Days were spent at our favorite beach accessed by descending a set of wooden steps from the cliff to soft, hot sand, with sweet Honey Suckle and Beach Plumb decorating the path down. We swam to a protective sandbar where one could rise out of the Gulf Stream warmed water 40 or 50 yards out and walk for a few paces before swimming back to the shore. Nights where spent with friends riding bicycles through quaint lanes in town cruising through the warm mist and fog at night which lent some relief from the humidity. The sounds of fog horns, sea gulls and sailboat mast lines clanging dominate. Food memories of the local sweet cooked in butter and white wine Bay Scallops, the Bluefish and the fresh clams are irreplaceable. It is the first place that I had my first authentic croissant made by the French family who operated a magnificent patisserie in town. I had my first stack of fresh Blueberry Pancakes covered in maple syrup at a diner which you could smell from 50 paces before entering the door. There are so many memories of the place but what is inescapable is the influence the ecology that the island has. One never forgets that no matter what modern convenience one brings to the place, you are surrounded on all sides by sand and ocean. It is said that no man is an island but I would argue the opposite in my case. Thank you for your post card series.
I grew up by the beach in southeast Florida and I can’t help thinking my childhood food-beach memories are much more prosaic- squished peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches gritty with sand, Publix fried chicken, and generic grape soda out of a can. Well, maybe that was a little poetic, ha ha.
When I think about the sea, I am drawn to two places. One in Clifornia where I grew up along the ocean and the other in Hawaii where my mother and I would holiday once a year and where I lived for a period of time. It is in Hawaii where I am drawn the most and it is a very specific beach that holds a place in my heart. My mother passed away at the end of 2019 and we were to take her ashes back to Hawaii in 2020. However Covid hit, then lockdowns, my own sickness and just life in general. Here ashes are still waiting for the return and I hope if not this year then the next that I will be able to return to the beach that was soloved by my mum and her ashes be returned to the sea.
Thank you so much Tommaso for the sharing of your memories.
Thank you for your postcard. For me, I remembered some beautiful vacations on the seaside of Les Îles de la Madeleine. It is located in the Atlantique sea near the eastern provinces in Canada. Beautiful location, people so kind, fish and seafood always fresh ! Yvonne
We are heading to Puglia (staying with friends in Fragagnano) in August and I am jaunting down all the places to go. This beach area looks heavenly ...
Love reading your Postcards as well as memories; delightful.
What a wonderful memory. Though I have always lived near the ocean in the U.S., it is Nantucket Island on the East Coast that is a place now rooted in memory, blood and soul. Though now it is a destination place for tourists and the ultra wealthy, when I lived there it was a thing of wild, natural, remote and genuine beauty. As children -like most-we always looked forward to the Summer. Days were spent at our favorite beach accessed by descending a set of wooden steps from the cliff to soft, hot sand, with sweet Honey Suckle and Beach Plumb decorating the path down. We swam to a protective sandbar where one could rise out of the Gulf Stream warmed water 40 or 50 yards out and walk for a few paces before swimming back to the shore. Nights where spent with friends riding bicycles through quaint lanes in town cruising through the warm mist and fog at night which lent some relief from the humidity. The sounds of fog horns, sea gulls and sailboat mast lines clanging dominate. Food memories of the local sweet cooked in butter and white wine Bay Scallops, the Bluefish and the fresh clams are irreplaceable. It is the first place that I had my first authentic croissant made by the French family who operated a magnificent patisserie in town. I had my first stack of fresh Blueberry Pancakes covered in maple syrup at a diner which you could smell from 50 paces before entering the door. There are so many memories of the place but what is inescapable is the influence the ecology that the island has. One never forgets that no matter what modern convenience one brings to the place, you are surrounded on all sides by sand and ocean. It is said that no man is an island but I would argue the opposite in my case. Thank you for your post card series.
I grew up by the beach in southeast Florida and I can’t help thinking my childhood food-beach memories are much more prosaic- squished peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches gritty with sand, Publix fried chicken, and generic grape soda out of a can. Well, maybe that was a little poetic, ha ha.
You have thrilled us with the poignancy and immediacy of your memories…mine are of Mississippi Delta farmland but just as visceral
When I think about the sea, I am drawn to two places. One in Clifornia where I grew up along the ocean and the other in Hawaii where my mother and I would holiday once a year and where I lived for a period of time. It is in Hawaii where I am drawn the most and it is a very specific beach that holds a place in my heart. My mother passed away at the end of 2019 and we were to take her ashes back to Hawaii in 2020. However Covid hit, then lockdowns, my own sickness and just life in general. Here ashes are still waiting for the return and I hope if not this year then the next that I will be able to return to the beach that was soloved by my mum and her ashes be returned to the sea.
Thank you so much Tommaso for the sharing of your memories.
Thank you. I've taken a virtual tour along with you. Rosalie
Thank you for your postcard. For me, I remembered some beautiful vacations on the seaside of Les Îles de la Madeleine. It is located in the Atlantique sea near the eastern provinces in Canada. Beautiful location, people so kind, fish and seafood always fresh ! Yvonne
We are heading to Puglia (staying with friends in Fragagnano) in August and I am jaunting down all the places to go. This beach area looks heavenly ...
Love reading your Postcards as well as memories; delightful.
You have brought Porto Cesareo alive Tommaso and now I want to go there! Thank you for sharing your memories!