A fishing boat in the bay at Megali Ammos Beach on Koufonissi
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Category: Greek Islands
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Chasing butterflies
A butterfly rests near Agia Anna beach on Naxos island. This particular species has the hallmark characteristics of a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)
Winging it: Back in late April, when southern Ontario experienced an irruption of Red Admiral butterflies, I recalled the time our island bus tour on Paros skipped a scheduled stop at the famous Valley of Butterflies — because there were none to be seen.
That was back in mid-June 2005. We had signed up for a day-long Orbit Travel excursion that would take us to places right around the island, including an afternoon visit to Petaloúdes, the butterfly valley 6 km from the port town of Parikia. I’d read about the Valley in my Greece travel guidebooks; they described Petaloúdes as a Paros must-see attraction during summer months simply because of the staggering numbers of Jersey tiger moths that would swarm the area. We had been impressed with the Butterfly Conservatory near Niagara Falls, so we thought it would be neat to see an entire valley teaming with tiger moths.
Unfortunately, it was not meant to be.
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Spectacular, out of this world Sarakiniko beach on Milos island
Spectacular landscapes surround Sarakiniko beach and bay …
… which have great views toward nearby Kimolos island
There’s a small sandy beach with a shade tree at the foot of the bay…
… and incredibly fascinating, unusual terrain all around
Beyond compare: I’ve got to say at the outset that photos simply do not do justice to Sarakiniko beach on Milos. You truly have to see it to believe it and fully appreciate the grandeur of what, to me, is one of the most extraordinary coastal swimming areas I’ve ever seen.
I’ve been to dozens of beautiful beaches elsewhere in Greece, as well as in North America, the Caribbean, Central America and Hawaii. While Sarakiniko isn’t a palm tree-lined crescent of soft white sand like some of the postcard-perfect beaches I have visited in other places, its remarkable landscapes and seascapes offer a unique sensory experience that seems almost out of this world.
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Actually, many people who have been to Sarakiniko describe it as having a surreal “lunar landscape,” and compare its breathtaking terrain to giant swirls of meringue or frozen yogurt. When you walk on and around the remarkable pumice rock formations, you sometimes do feel like you’re visiting an alien world.
The beach itself is fairly small; a narrow strip of pebbly and soft light brown sand at the foot of a zig-zag-shaped shallow bay with gorgeous turquoise water. But many beachgoers prefer to lay their mats and towels on slight slopes or flat sections of the surrounding “hills” so they can enjoy the scenery and views across the sea to nearby Kimolos island.
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Swimming laps & lounging at the Yria Hotel pool
Paros’s Yria Hotel has a beautiful big pool that’s perfect for swimming laps …
… plus a comfy poolside terrace that’s perfect for lounging and relaxing
Dreamy setting: Our only visit to Paros, so far, was back in June 2005, but I still recall how relaxed I got chilling out on the beautiful swimming pool terrace at the Yria Hotel near Parasporos beach.
I remember getting a drink from the bar and plunking myself down in a big wicker armchair near the pool, where I quickly drifted off into daydreams while watching the thin beige drapes in the sheltered poolside lounge billow in the soft breeze blowing off the nearby sea.
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