Big Sur: Where Mountain and Sea meet

The California coastline between San Simeon and Montreal is popularly known as Big Sur. The remarkable aspect of this coastline is the meeting of the mighty Santa Lucia mountains with the vast Pacific Ocean. The result - stunning views that treat the mortal eye! The Pacific Coast Highway (PCH) winds along the coastline making it accessible to the thousands of eager visitors. One can glimpse the mountain and the ocean on either side as one zooms along the highway.

At Big Sur one gets to see various facets of Nature and also appreciate it in the solitary setting. One can see the seals sleeping peacefully on the shore as well as a flock of white birds taking off over the ocean. One can hear the sounds of nature very distinctly: the silent whispers of the wind, the ebbing of the ocean and the waves crashing on the rocks. The mountain and the waters are lit up differently by the sun's rays at different times of the day. So every vista point and turnout offers different yet distinct views. It’s amazing to note how the same mountains and waters can look so different.

Apart from all the views, visitors can also visit the state parks along the PCH. I visited Andrew Molera State Park, Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park among others. The parks offer some interesting hikes. Along the paths one sees streams bordered by trees and dense foliage offering no clue to what will meet the eye at the end of the trail. The trails finally culminate with a view of the calm ocean.

Big Sur offers the perfect ingredients for relaxation and what better way to enjoy it than a walk on the beach and a cup of hot steaming cocoa. And when one is very relaxed, who knows it could arouse the artistic side of you - the poet, artist or the photographer in you. Well it did mine!

Big Sur: A Bird's eye View

I swooped down
From the mountains crown
Mottled patches of green and brown
Into a sea of blue did drown

The vast and calm sea
Met the rocky might with glee
The waves gently caressing the rocks
And swirling around with a foamy frock

I caught the gentle breeze that blew
I did a little roll and then flew
Over the waters so blue
Soaking in the throbbing sound
And the calmness worth many a pound
Where was I bound?

I soared once more
Away from the shore
I glimpsed again the high and the low
And all the varied hues in the sunset glow
Stretched two great mights
Each unique in their own right
And yet incomplete without the other in sight

The beautiful scene filled my soul with ease
A deep and lasting peace
I circled in the air
Without any further care