We head down to take some pictures. It is late morning and the light in the cave at the sea window is great. The camera on the iPhone is not. Memories of my children in this cave come and go. My daughter caught the bug for photography in this very spot. I try to let them come, honor them as a good memory and let them go. I try not to let any sadness or yearning linger but that’s not entirely possible. We have a lot of fun shooting down here, Sweetie Pie let’s me pose her and I get a lot of shots I will enjoy for a long time. It doesn’t matter if the lighting or focus are wacky, they capture this moment. I find some interesting places to scramble out to and Sweetie Pie grabs a few shots of me. A few of them turn out OK.
We grab our face masks, drop our bag at the bar and head down the beach cave steps. They are slippery and we take our time. Sweetie Pie is amazed to walk out a hole in the cliffs onto a coral shell beach and out into the sea. I think of what a fish my boy was in the water here, it’s hard not to be a little sad about that. We swim in the cove for a while then head over to the island platform where we catch some sun. Bohemian couple come out for a swim too and we exchange pleasantries, even Sweetie Pie! A few dives off the island rock and we head back in to the beach cave. I tell Sweetie Pie about my daughter getting caught by a wave one day on her way out and getting pushed up into the rocky cliff, fortunately with nothing more than a couple of scratches to show for it. “Be careful,” I say, “ I don’t want to hear…” “I know, I know!” says Sweetie Pie. We safely head up the stairs and grab a couple of drinks to wet our whistles while we dry off.
When we are done we pack up and head off to our next destination, Joseph’s Cave. As we leave Xtabi for the last time this reach I know that we’ll be back. It’s my place now and always will be. I have shared it with my love and now it’s her place too. I hope to fill it with only positive memories for her.
