The Seaside Path to Port du Niel: Why I Travel

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Yes, it says 'ferme' but how can anyone resist such a path along the crashing seashore of Provence?
Yes, it says ‘ferme’ but how can anyone resist such a path along the crashing seashore of Provence?
The swimming pool of Hotel Le Provencal sits right on the path.
The swimming pool of Hotel Le Provencal sits right on the path.
The crashing waves got my feet wet, but it's the journey, wet feet and all, that makes all the difference.
The crashing waves got my feet wet, but it’s the journey, wet feet and all, that makes all the difference.

The morning began with a ride in a public bus full of children on their way to school and a great way to mix with the locals.  We were headed for Olbia, a Greek and then a Roman settlement ruins, built next to the sea where thermal baths once cooled off the well-heeled upper classes in the fourth century BC.

I was left with a decision after my host gave us five hours of free time in the village of Geins. First, a well-deserved nap on the second floor of the hotel overlooking the most dramatic seascape I’ve ever set eyes on. I couldn’t think of any reason to be anywhere else except up on the first floor lying on the bed catching up with zzz’s.

With the brilliant light of October, the path was irresistible.
With the brilliant light of October, the path was irresistible.

An hour later I woke up refreshed and headed downstairs to a narrow path that led to the sea.  First the path turned, then I came upon the Hotel Le Provencal’s seaside saltwater swimming pool, where a bather casually swam laps as her partner lounged in the evening sun.

This coastal pathway led to the Port Du Niel, where a small enclosure and tiny beach area was filled with fisherman and pleasure boats. But the path was what brought me to this place, and the best thing about it.

If anybody ever said that it’s not the destination but the journey they must’ve hiked this rugged path. As narrow as a few feet in places and nearly every foot crashed by the seawater, I made my way over the waves and held on to the rugged craggy coastline as I made my way to to Port Du Niel.

The time was 6 PM –and there was good light that provided that striking brilliance of the fall shining on every crevice in the rocks, and lighting up the waves as they crashed beneath me. I practically danced as I walked along, joyously letting my feet get soaked and thankfully I was wearing water shoes.
It is moments like this that again and again bring me back out on the road and make me want to travel the world. I can’t think of a time when I’ve regretted getting on a plane or missing something at home because truthfully, this is where the action is.
As my life ticks by and I think back that I’ve spent 10 years, 15 years, almost 20 years traveling regularly, I can only hope that I’ll have many more journeys ahead of me that will be nearly brilliant as this moment.