Our Secret Cove
Perhaps the only disappointment (and that is probably to strong a word) has been the beaches and swimming that we have encountered on our trip across the Cyclades – we haven’t encountered any of the brilliant beaches that we have previously found in Corfu, Kefalonia and across the Ionian islands. We like a small cove, pebbles/rock are our preferred surface, and I like crystal clear seas that gets deep quickly. Many of the beaches we have encountered on this trip have been thin strips of sand – and not to far from really being dirt – and very shallow shelving seas. Add in the near persistent wind ruffling the surface of the water – thereby masking its clarity – and the beaches haven’t been the best.
Today, though, we found a secret cove and enjoyed a wonderful, private, day on the beach. We had scouted it out on our first day on Antiparos, and this morning, laden with lunch, water, umbrella and other supplies, we walked over the “other side” of the island (the west side) and continued on past the main beach (with a surf rolling in that would tempt a Cornish surfer) along a track past the “Sunset” taverna before scuttling down a path to our cove.
We cleared some dried seaweed away and set up camp in space more than comfortable for two, but would be cramped if anyone else had wanted to join us. We had a very small bay which took the worst out of the waves, instead they rolled gently in, providing a rhythmic and hypnotic sound track to our stay. And the swimming was good. Sand turned to stone, and a few metres out the water deepened and bobbing in the swell was blissful.
All day it was just the two of us on a deserted Greek beach. Heaven.