Weekly Photo Challenge: The Golden Hour

Dusk falls over the Western Cape.

The Golden Hour:  that first and last hour of daylight.

Wherever we are, we always seem to have a camera to hand at this time.

We’ve worked, cruised and holidayed in some beautiful places over the years, but few more so than in South Africa.  Whilst living and working in   Johannesburg during the nineties, we took time out when we could to drive down through spectaular countryside to Cape Town, where we spent many happy weeks taking a leisurely tour of the vineyards, driving the coastal roads or relaxing on the Waterfront.

We’ve seen a lot of changes in South Africa over the years, and it holds a special place in our memories.

The sun sets behind Sierra Bernia, Costa Blanca, Sp;ain.

Spain – a cold country with a hot sun they say.  We remember it that way too; hot sunny days, balmy nights throughout the summer with a few spectacular thunderstorms, but oh… those winters.  In houses built to keep cool and dark, winter nights provided a stark contrast to the pleasantly sunny days.

We still have a soft spot for Spain and all things Spanish, so in recent years we’ve taken extended winter breaks in the Canary Islands (Tenerife).  La Gomera is located to the west of the island of Tenerife, thus affording some spectacular sunset photography opportunities.

Twilight from the moorings at the pretty little French town of Trevoux on the River Saone.

We’ve cruised the French waterways for the past five years.  The camera is always kept in the wheelhouse to catch the magical combination of sunset over water.  These vapour trails captured our attention as they criss-crossed the evening sky as we moored up on our way down the River Saone towards Lyon.  We’ve been in mid-eastern France for the last two summers.

Wild mooring close to the lock at Puicheric.

Prior to that, for three years we cruised  between colonnades of beautiful plane trees along the Canal du Midi and the Canal Lateral a Garonne in south west France, mooring the boat for winters at Carcassonne, Castelnaudary, Castelsarrasin.  Running east to west, the waterways provide plenty of opportunities for glorious golden hours.

And as with all of the places we’ve visited, glorious golden memories.

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Weekly Photo Challenge: The Golden Hour