beach

The smart shops and restaurants running down to the beach are now pockmarked with shrapnel and bullet holes, the park with its French-manicured trees, is buried under grey rubble.

My tent set up and food safely stored in the provided metal boxes, I went over to the tiny beach and sat on a driftwood log, relaxing under the sun’s warm rays.

Halfway across the buoyed perimeter of the swim area I climbed up on the wooden float, like the beaches of my childhood.

Children ran and played in the water, couples with full beach setups caught a slight buzz in the sweltering heat and American flags decorated the sands like a planet conquered.

From the top of La Playa Stadium, you can see the beach, palm trees and many boats in the harbor.