I love watching sunsets.
Unfortunately, the way my house is situated, a forest blocks our western views, so we can’t just sit on our porch and watch the sun sink into the horizon. (I’m not complaining, just explaining.)
So when I have the opportunity to see a glorious sunset, I take it. Bonus points if we are traveling and staying in an Airbnb with glorious views.
I’ve seen the sunset in national parks in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. It’s wonderful to sit near a watering hole during this time and have the opportunity to see, say, a herd of elephants, including wee babies, approach and hydrate.
There have been stunning sunsets over the ocean water in California, the Cook Islands, New Zealand, Washington State, and here in Virginia when we’ve stayed on the Eastern Shore.
Watching the sunset over Uluru (f.k.a Ayers Rock) in Australia is an experience I’ll never forget. Once the sun was completely down for the night, we sat and waited for our ours to adjust to the darkness. Eventually, we could see the Milky Way, which was a first for me. It was blissful.
(And then my husband whispered, “The dingo ate my baby” and all I could think about was animals hiding in the darkness, which ruined the moment.)
Hawaii is probably my favorite place to watch the sunset. When we were last in Maui in 2019, we planned our days around that time and would be on the sand well before the grand finale every evening. Ten days in a row, we didn’t miss a sunset and each day was a little different.
Sunset time is relaxed. I settle into my chair, exhale, and just sit. I don’t look at my phone, I don’t read a book. I slow down and breathe easier. My body is looser. During sunset time, things are calmer and mellower.
The sun sinks lower and lower, it reaches the horizon. I always watch for a green flash but have never seen one. Then the sun dips out of sight and the sky continues to become bluer and darker.
We usually sit on the beach for an hour around sunset time. It’s an hour of total peace and calm. It’s the most marvelous combination of meditation and therapy.
Where and when is the best sunset you have ever seen?
Our screened porch just happens to face west- without big obstructions and without dingoes. We will watch a sunset with wine/port/ beer/ seltzer in hand and no babies shall be eaten.