P = Elysium? Yes, so it does. Allow me to quote a few definitions to prove this:
- Elysium (or the Elysian Fields) is a conception of the afterlife that developed over time and was maintained by some Greek religious and philosophical sects and cults.1
- Elysium: The place at the ends of the earth to which certain favoured heroes were conveyed by the gods after death; A place or state of perfect happiness.2
- Elysium: The abode of the blessed after death in Greek religious belief; Elysian fields the dwelling place of the blessed after death; Paradise. 3
See? Paradise. Thus P = Elysium. P also = home to our family.
We live (yes, we are alive and kicking), high up on a hilltop in the tiny coastal town of Elysium, nestled between Ifafa and Mtwalume on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. During the off-season, we are just about the only people on the beach. Beaches. We can choose any one of the three beaches: Elysium right at the bottom of the hill, Ifafa beach to the left (a brisk walk of about 4,3 km) and Mtwalume beach to the right (a mere 1 km away).
Feel like an early morning swim? We have a choice between two tidal pools. We can always shun the tidal pools and go swimming in the Mtwalume river or lagoon. We only brave the waves in season, when the shark nets are in the water and the lifeguards on duty. Feel like fishing instead? Anywhere along the beach(es), river or lagoon will provide the bounty.
On those days when we do not feel like going to the beach, we go for a walk on the hilltop or down below in the river valley, but on those days we wear protective gear right down to heavy duty knee-high boots; this is snake country and yes … they are venomous. You don’t want to tangle with a black or green mamba.
But what is Paradise without a snake or two? 😀
[I decided not to bore you too much and chose only a few photos. Click on any image to enlarge]
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- Ifafa tidal pool at high tide
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- Elysiuym Beach I have the beach to myself
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- Early mornings and late evenings hundreds of crabs leave their holes in the sand and run into the waves
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- A colourful grasshopper in the grass on the hill
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- A rainbow over the ocean after a thunderstorm, as seen from our balcony
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- Water lilies in our secret pond deep down in the river valley
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- A view across the river valley with the typical KwaZulu-Natal hills in the background
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- African Crowned Eagle takes flight from our telephone pole
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- Mtwalume tidal pool just more than a kilometer along the beach
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- Egyptian Geese on the rooftop
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- Naughty little Vervet monkey helps himself to our breakfast fruit
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- Bushbuck ewe in the grass on the hilltop
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- The sun shining through the treetops that form a roof over the river valley
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- Long, long stretches of golden beach
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- A jetski spotted from our balcony early in the morning
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- View of the railway bridge over the Mtwalume river
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- The Mtwalume river lagoon opens into the sea after heavy rains
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- The motor bridge (N2 freeway) over the Mtwalume river
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- Shells collected during an early morning stroll on the beach
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- Cruise ship spotted from our balcony
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- Incoming tide
Footnotes
UpwardSpiral
Beautiful photos, and what a wonderful life! Truly looks like paradise 🙂
scrapydo2.wordpress.com
Paradise indeed. These photos show how beautiful the place is!
Christina B
Pragtige foto’s van julle paradys! Dit lyk baie mooi daar.
Tannie Frannie
O, julle is so gelukkig! Ek onthou ‘n vakansie by Ifafa toe ek agt jaar oud was – paradyslik voorwaar!
HesterLeyNel
Die Suidkus het so ‘n bietjie agteruit begin gaan en die dorpies vervalle, maar daar word nou weer gewerk daaraan om die strande en geriewe op te hef. Daar is reeds baie gedoen in al die kusdorpies in die bietjie meer as ‘n jaar wat ons nou hier woon.
aj vosse
Daar’s ‘n geween en ‘n knersing van tande vir julle swaarkry! En sal nooi ooit oor julle gesukkel in die paradys kom nie!
PS – Ek het baie jare terug op Ifafa strand geslaap! 😉
HesterLeyNel
My beurt is my beurt. Ek het genoeg jare in die middel – reg in die middel van Johannesburg se middestad deurgebring. Ifafa dorp het bietjie agteruit gegaan (ons hoop dit lyk een van die dae weer beter), maar die strand is nog steeds onvergelyklik mooi. EN die water is warm 😀
aj vosse
Ek ween… van jaloesie! o_O
Hillechien
wat een mooie foto’s
HesterLeyNel
Dankie 🙂
perdebytjie
Pragtige foto’s en voorwaar ‘n paradys waar julle woon!
HesterLeyNel
Dankie 😀
kutukamus
“But what is Paradise without a snake or two?” LOL Love this!
And yep, pic-wise, that sure looks like a paradise alright. But really, where is the mamba anyway?
HesterLeyNel
Everywhere, but usually in the trees (the green ons) or under the thick brush (the black ones). We had one that lived in a tree next to the gate – we called it the Gatekeeper, but it has since moved. I wrote about it in another blog https://genisondiet.wordpress.com/2015/04/01/a-river-runs-through-it/ 🙂
Jacqueb
Paradise! Wonderful bliss!