Water's Song: Greek Beach Bagging

Beach bagging may not be a sport…yet. But, it is one of our favorite hobbies.

Gialos Beach, Ios.

It all started on our honeymoon in Maui and Kauai decades ago, we made a safari out of visiting different beaches. Since then, when we have traveled to lands that interface with water, we go beach bagging. Like wine, we savor a beach’s characteristics-cobble, pebble or sand; white, golden or black color; belly whomping (steep drop off), lapping (shallow waters) or dangerous rips; shell, rock or seaglass collecting potential; coral, rock or sponge bottom substrate and the potential viewing of sunsets. The beaches are compared and favorites chosen. Drew and Meg were indoctrinated into our beach bagging ways twelve years ago, when we spent a few months on the island of St. Lucia and traveled around the Grenadines. Last year in Grenada, I even made a map of the trails and beaches that we “bagged” on the southern tip of the island.

Just a 30 minute hike from our hotel to Tzamaria Beach, Ios.

Andrew on the rocks of Tzamaria Beach, Ios.

Clear, clear water (but a bit nippy-short swims.)

While on the Greek islands of Ios (3 days then we returned for 3 more days) and Naxos (3 days), we naturally spent our days bagging beaches. On Ios, we’d rent a car and hit 3 beaches each day. We also kayaked to one small beach. In Naxos, we walked an hour down one long strand and rode a bike to another lonely strand. The Aegean water under the surface was extremely clear, giving it amazing teal blue colors. But, the substrate was mainly rock with little biota; only a few fish and very little sea grass.