The water at Laguna Beach was exceptionally clear; you could see the rocks at the bottom. There weren't many people on the beach; an old man strolled leisurely with a metal detector. As the tide receded, small puddles were revealed, and children squatted down watching the sea anemones retract and expand. A cool sea breeze blew, the waves crashed, and the sun made everyone sleepy. Climbing up the hillside, the sea below was a truly beautiful blue, much more so than in the photos.