05/05/2023
The Shell Cemetery Beach is a dumping ground where millions of empty shells, previously emptied of snails in kitchens and restaurants, are thrown away and broken into pieces. You can easily see that these pieces are used on the island, among other things, as decorative gravel in the gardens. The view of the beach is extraordinary, and the clatter that the broken shells make when you walk on them is reminiscent of walking on a million little bones - it's a sight to behold.
Contrary to what many people popularly think, the site is not a natural phenomenon. The shells are not thrown ashore by the waves but by fishermen and employees of local restaurants. Some remnants are little – from very young animals – which means they come from illegal fishing. Therefore, the shell cemetery, placed far from the settlements, is also a place for easy disposal of evidence of active environmental destruction done mainly by indigent islanders. The moral question of whether or not the site should be supported and advertised as a tourist attraction I leave to you.
Undeniably, however, the sight of the beach is impressive, and the sound of shells underfoot, rhythmically turned by the incoming waves, can mesmerise. Cleared, bright pink-orange remnants contrast with the black volcanic stones of the jetty or, a piece further down, blend in with the beige-golden sand of the beach.