On the Edge of the Atlantic

The Morocco Atlantic coast stretched into the distance below me as I stood on a rocky cliff near Legzira Beach. On one side, the dry, layered landscape of southern Morocco; on the other, an endless expanse of turquoise water and parallel lines of white waves rolling towards the shore. This part of Morocco feels very different from the crowded medinas and imperial cities. The landscape is open, raw and almost empty. Wind, salt and the Atlantic have shaped the cliffs, while the dry hills behind them seem to continue towards the horizon without a single unnecessary detail. Standing there, I was trying to take in the scale of the view—and possibly checking whether the Atlantic had moved any closer while I was adjusting my sunglasses. The edge certainly encouraged concentration. It was one of those places where the surroundings immediately put everyday problems into perspective. What I remember most is the contrast: warm, sandy rock beneath my feet and intensely blue water below; complete stillness on the cliff and constant movement in the ocean. The photograph captured me between those two worlds, looking small against a coastline that seemed to have no beginning or end. I came for the Atlantic view. The Atlantic made sure I kept a respectful distance.