It was a hot day, 36⁰C according to the temperature display boards along Avenida Beira Mar in Florianópolis. We left the apartment keeping in mind the usual “chance of scattered thunderstorms” warning, but the sky was blue when we arrived at Praia do Campeche.

The beach did look a bit weird, though. It was so clouded with steam you could barely see Campeche Island just off the coast. Colours seemed off as if the world had been bleached by the sun.

That, plus jellyfish. There are always a few jellyfish here and there but I spotted dozens washed up on the beach.

“I’ll just make a sand castle… I really don’t want jellyfish touching me in the water.”

“I’ll go swim with you. Don’t worry, the ocean is huge, chances are few actually end up coming into contact with us.”

I changed my mind two minutes later. Mark was right, there were so many jellyfish in the water I felt I was crashing the party.

I went for a walk. It wasn’t just jellyfish washed up on the beach, there were hundreds of fishes as well—all kinds of species and all kinds of sizes. Birds were enjoying an all-you-can-eat buffet, so busy wolfing down food they were barely noticing us, humans.

And then, suddenly, the sky changed colour. There was no loud thunder or big lightning bolts, just a bit of rain, but it felt like being on another beach. The sea was grey, the sky was pink, the sand was dark and it looked like the sun had set even though it was only five o’clock.

The Atlantic Ocean moody seascape at its best.