My friend Jake has come up with the theme of Silence for this week’s Sunday Post challenge. Hush! I’m searching for the sound.
How rare is silence! At home, with the TV and radio turned off, still there’s that intermittent ping of the fridge, a gurgle from the central heating, or the steady breathing of my laptop. Walking down the street, my head buzzes with thoughts and words, never mind the rumbling of the traffic.
So where do you find silence? For me, the gentle Algarve countryside is peace and quiet itself. Bird song, or maybe the rustle of the eucalyptus, is all of the sound.
Rio Arade, with Silves in the far distance
Even the Algarve villages can be a place of refuge and silence.
Looking out from the village of Salir
A quiet corner in the village
Empty beaches on the Ria Formosa, with sandbars that stretch for miles, have no lapping tide to disturb the stillness.
Ria Formosa at Cacela Velha
Wide, open spaces characterise the west coast, but peace there can often be disturbed by the crash of the waves.
Still, there’s always an empty cove to be found, at the right time of the day.
The beach at Burgau
And as the day ends, sunlight, glinting on the water, carries no sound.
Algar Seco, near Carvoeira
Cliff tops have always held appeal for me. High above the water, I revel in the silence.
Clifftop near Staithes, North Yorks
Far from the Algarve, the North York moors owe their restorative powers to the stillness of their ridges and valleys.
Ruggedly beautiful, the Moors can be a bit of a scramble
But so worth it!
Roseberry Topping in the far distance
And when the colours roll in…
August’s riotous colours
…there’s no place like it. Even the bees hum quietly.
So where do you go to find your silence? It’s something to be treasured. Something that all of us need.
Jake has given so much pleasure in providing this opportunity to look at and experience our world. Many thanks to him. You will always be welcomed to Jakesprinter’s world. Please, just follow the link.
restlessjo 
Thanks Imogen. I love your sound of silence.
LikeLike
I love this post. It is hard to find silence. Hot yoga is one place I enjoy to get away. Hiking in the mountains provides solitude and peace, but I love all the sounds of nature. I like to put my ears below the water when I am lying on my back swimming or in a bath and get a moment of silence. Love the question and the post!
LikeLike
Thank you so much. Glad you enjoyed.
LikeLike
True silence comes to me when I am visiting my family in the country, I can stand on their driveway and really see the magnificence of the night sky and all the glittering stars, no street lights, no traffic and no loud music. It is heavenly 🙂
LikeLike
Aaah, sounds lovely. No, maybe that’s not the best way of putting it!
Thanks for visiting Sam. I had to return to the post to remember what was in here- so much has happened in these few short weeks.
LikeLike
You’re welcome, I am still catching up on reading the blogs I follow, sometimes all I can do is ooh and aah at photos but hopefully life will slow down a little soon 🙂
LikeLike
I spent the summer of 1966 in Lisbon, but now I’m sorry I never made it to the Algarve.
Your thoughts on silence remind me of the opening sentences of Emerson’s essay “Nature”:
“To go into solitude, a man needs to retire as much from his chamber as from society. I am not solitary whilst I read and write, though nobody is with me.”
Steve Schwartzman
http://portraitsofwildflowers.wordpress.com
LikeLike
Great quote Steve. Wracking my brains to think where I was in the summer of 66. It has a nice ring to it.
Thanks for visiting.
LikeLike
Beautiful photos Jo, I don’t know anything about the Algarve so thank you.
LikeLike
It’s a lovely place, Gilly. As you can see, not just a tourist trap, but that’s there, should you want it. (I know you don’t)
LikeLike
What a gorgeous place Jo! Your photos capture the serenity perfectly! Love them all.
LikeLike
The Algarve ones are for daydreaming and the Yorkshire ones, the “sound” of reality. (rain drumming on the windowpanes, Madhu) Thanks, hon.
LikeLike
OMG … These are incredibly gorgeous. I want to be there! So beautiful … 😀
LikeLike
I have to say I would like the sunnier option of the two right now. Another non stop rainy day in north east England! I’m still smiling, but only just. All the nice comments do help, though.
LikeLike
Well … then here’s another. I LOVE YOUR BLOG … It’s awesome!! 😀
LikeLike
Bless you. How very kind. I shall dance off into the sunlight this morning.
LikeLike
😀
LikeLike
I can “hear” the silence in these photos! Well done! As a big city girl, I always love to escape to the woods every weekend, so just love this post!
LikeLike
Thanks Zoe. It’s seriously wet in our woods at present, but I’m trying to keep my spirits up.
LikeLike
Your places of solitude are just beyond words. Every image takes the viewer to a journey of peace , wonder and beauty that touches the soul. I can gaze at the sea forever…Thank you.
LikeLike
It’s always on my doorstep. I’d be lost without it too. Many thanks.
LikeLike
Beautiful places to find silence. My sister used to live on the Yorkshire Moors. So beautiful there.
LikeLike
Whereabouts, Ad?
LikeLike
She lived in Ilkley, and we used to take her golden labrador for walks on the Moors.
LikeLike
Gorgeous! (but not today- it’s pouring again)
LikeLike