August 10th, 2016
Yesterday morning I woke up super relieved to have slept through the night! Jet lag has been kicking my butt and this was the first time in a couple weeks that I slept for more than a 4 hour stretch. Yay! I decided to go visit a city called Parikia. I had met an American woman the day before who told me that it might be a good day trip. Either I was a couple minutes too late for the bus, or it just didn't show up for the 9:10 departure at all. In either case, after waiting 15 minutes with no bus, I decided to just go to the beach that was a short 5 minute walk from the bus stop.
 |
| This is a local beach in Aliki, 8 minutes walk from my hotel |
This was my kind of beach. The sand was soft. Chairs were provided along with umbrellas. The water was clear and beautiful. I should add that this is an 8 minute walk from my little apartment. I tested the water. It was chilly. I eventually plunged in. It felt great. Even when shoulder deep, I can see the sandy bottom. It was like being in a salt water swimming pool. I hung out at this local beach until about 11:15 and decided to try for the 11:30 bus to Parikia again. This time, I was successful.
 |
| ferry and bus station in Parikia |
 |
| Beach in Parikia |
After a 20 minute ride, we are approaching Parikia. It looks familiar. Oh, this is the port city where I arrived on the island 4 days ago. I hadn't even realized that. I wander around and see lots of shops with cute stuff for tourist. That gets old for me. As a frequent traveler, I try to avoid the keychains, hats, and typical souvenirs with the city's name on them. Actually, it can be tempting sometimes, but I only travel with a carry on bag and can't even bring bulky items back with me. I decide to find the beach. The beach is just a ten minute walk from the bus station. The pros: There is plenty of seating available on comfy beach chairs. The chairs are shaded. When a guy approaches me offering me a menu, I realize the chairs belong to the restaurant across the street. I order a drink to wash down the lunch that I packed. Cons: There are little sticks and debris all over the sand. There is seaweed and other stuff floating in the water. This beach has a stony bottom. I guess I won't be getting in here. I hang out at this beach for a couple hours and decide to catch a bus back to my home for the week in Aliki. The bus driver tells me I missed the bus What, I'm on time? Did it leave early? He tells me his bus goes to AntiParos. AntiParos? That name rings a bell. Earlier this week in Athens, I became fast friends with another solo traveler who told me that she loved visiting the beaches in Antiparos. OK, I'm sold. I tell the bus driver that I will stay on board. He looks at me questioningly and shrugs his shoulders.
The bus reaches it's final destination. It's a little city called Pounta. Everyone gets off of the bus and starts walking toward a ferry. Pounta? I thought I was going to Antiparos? I follow the crowd. It turns out the ferry takes us to Antiparos. OK, I buy a ticket. Now at this point, I take a photo of the schedule. I start to remind myself that I have no idea where I am going or how I will get back. Lots of people have suitcases with them. I suppose I could find a hotel if there are no return ferries. I would hate to have to pay for a hotel stay when I have already paid for the one I am staying at in Aliki. These things run through my head, but I assume things will probably work out.
I get off at the port in Antiparos with the goal of finding the wonderful beach that my new friend mentioned. I guess she never told me the name. I Google local beaches. There are 4 on the island. I ask someone about the closest one and she gives me directions. My surroundings are really beautiful. I don't mind exploring. I'm guessing that this sandy path might lead to the beach. I see some people fishing along the way.
 |
| Beach in Antiparos with slippery, rock plates |
This rocky path should have given me a clue that I was approaching a rocky beach. I turn a corner? Is this a topless beach? I remind myself that I am in Europe. The entire beach is not topless. It just seems that the group of ladies where I entered were eager to tan with absolutely no tan lines. Actually, the other beaches seemed to be pretty casual about topless sunbathers now that I think about it. I walk a bit further and notice some chairs. I grab one, sit down, and put down my belongings. This beach is not sandy at all. It is covered in tiny pebbles. I take off my sandals and walk carefully to the water's edge so that the pebbles don't stab the soles of my foot. It seems there is another obstacle. The water has slippery rock plates to climb. The plates go out for about 15-20 feet before you drop down to water with a sandy bottom. I cross the plates carefully hoping not to fall. The temperature today has been in the low 90s. I'm glad to cool off in the water. I return to my chair to read a book. After a while, an old man with leathery skin and white stuff around his mouth approaches me. He holds out his hand and says: "4 Euro". I'm alarmed and quickly say : NO! I'm thinking, is this drug addict demanding money from me? He points at the stack of chairs close by and points at my chair saying a sentence in Greek and ending with the words "4 Euro". I now realize that he is referring to the chair I am sitting in. I still don't want to give him 4 Euro for a chair, so I get out of the chair and lay my portable mat on the ground. A lady nearby who overheard the exchange turns and tells me that 4 Euro is the cost of the chair for a whole day, but it seems silly to pay that much now late in the day. I agree with her. I lay on my mat and finish my book. It is starting to get late and I should figure out how to get home.
 |
| This man insisted that I give him 4 Euro. I was really confused about why he wanted money from me. |
I catch the ferry back to Pounta and the bus back to Parikia. I have dinner in Parikia. It is a traditional snack/meal called Souvlaki. It is grilled pork and veggies wrapped in a pita. It taste good and it is cheap at about $2.50USD. Afterward I take the bus back to Aliki.
Back in Aliki, I look around with new appreciation. I picked this part of the island because they had accommodation that was available when I needed it and it was affordable. It turns out, the place fits my needs. I took 4 busses and 2 ferries to find out that the best beach on the island of Paros is an 8 minute walk from my hotel.
No comments:
Post a Comment