Each with its own paradise - Thassos Island

I believe that everyone has their own paradise. I like to think they found it here on earth and not in heaven. Because it is more likely to exist on earth.

My paradise is on the island of Thassos, in the northern part of Greece, in the Aegean Sea! This is far from a perfect paradise but for me, it is a paradise and I like that it is imperfect, because it proves to me that it is real, not just an imagination and a dream.

I am convinced that only in Greece there are a lot of places, islands, much more beautiful. I saw in movies and presentations on Youtube many sensational places, islands, and dream beaches in Santorini, Corfu, Crete, but I arrived only on Thassos and found everything I needed.

Everyone has their own paradise and I found mine, fortunately. Thassos Island! I set out to go there at least once a year, as long as I could move. The pandemic stole this pleasure from me last year, but I hope this doesn't happen again this year.

Until then, I live from memories. Relaxing moments in Thassos Island, beaches in Thassos Island.

Recently, a well-known contest, #BeachWednesday, reminded me of the beautiful days spent on the island. I have written many times about Thassos and I will write many more times, because this island is, as I said, my heaven. Of course, I will not repeat myself, I will try to present differently every time.

Just as this island has long been an unknown place to me, I think it can be the same for many readers. I will make a short location and presentation.

The island of Thassos is the twelfth largest of the Greek islands, with a perimeter of 115 km and an area of 379 square km. It is located in the northern Aegean Sea, 16 nautical miles from the town of Kavala. The easiest way to get to the island is by ferry from Kavala and Keramoti.

Thassos is a mountainous island, the highest mountain, Ipsarion measures 1206m. Much of the island is forested, especially pine forests, firs, plane trees. There are also extensive olive groves here. Apart from tourism, the main riches of the island are olive oil, pine honey,and marble. There are more than 50 beaches around the island, bigger or smaller, but all very popular with tourists.

I chose to spend my holidays in Limenaria, the second-largest city on the island. It is also an excellent place to go to different places to visit and to many beaches, more or less arranged. I want to tell you about a beach near Limenaria today, that is, I want to show you more than to tell you. Even if a picture does not always make a thousand words, it is still much more convincing.

I am attracted to the island because here I can combine walking with relaxation, trips to the beach,and swimming in the sea. Let's not forget the food and drink, of very good quality.

Today's story begins with a place of relaxation and rests in the shade of pine trees. After a long walk of a few kilometers under the scorching sun, we reached a terrace on a terrace, that is, at a height.

I must now admit that I am a big fan of terraces, I like them even more than the beaches. But I wasn't alone on vacation, so I had to move, not sit at a table with beer and coffee all the time. When you say terrace you mean flowers and geraniums think they are national flowers, they are planted everywhere in pots and clay pots. Very decorative.

This beautiful terrace, located in the courtyard of a large jewelry store, is built on a hill and offers a beautiful view of the sea and the beach. It's a place you really don't want to leave.

First of all, the sea. Wonderful! Then, in the distance, you can see Mount Athos, the holy mountain of Orthodoxy. It is an independent ministry, full of monasteries and monks and where the presence of women is not allowed. Anachronistically, from my point of view, if I were a woman I would be upset.

Anyway, we have something to see outside the mountain. All kinds of boats cross the sea, especially tourist boats.

At the same time we can see the deserted and undeveloped beach, as it has always been.

The view of the beach and the road by the sea draws us to a walk near the seashore, leaving the terrace table. Can you guess how many men and how many women sat at this table?

The beaches are of two types, arranged and unarranged. I prefer the wild ones, without shops and terraces. A place where you are exclusively for the sea, sun and sand. Our walk on the way to the city went through both types of beach.

That's how I like it, from the field with dry grass directly on the narrow beach and without arrangements. I also found a Greek flag that looks like a beach, that is, broken by the wind and old.

But that doesn't last long, because the constructions also appear.

Suddenly the beach is arranged. A few umbrellas and sunbeds make the difference.

If there is a small tavern where you can drink and eat something, then I think that's all you can need. If you are not pretentious and you like nature.

However, this is a minimally arranged beach ...

... which still deserves a newer flag!

I really like this flag and its white and blue colors.

For those like me, who do not stay in the sun too long, for health reasons, remains the pleasure of walking on the beach. A crowded beach would not be suitable for a walk, but here in Limenaria, there are miles of undeveloped beach where you meet only a few people. People prefer to be as alone and undisturbed as possible on the beach and in the water.

A walk on the beach

With one eye on Limenaria and the other admiring the view.

What can we see in this walk? Which I like the most. Freedom and nature. Freedom, because you can stay wherever you want, you can stay in the sun to sunbathe and you can swim in the sea without restrictions, lifeguards and buoys.

I remember my best vacation, many years ago, in a similar place in Romania, called Vama Veche. With big differences due to the climate and the sea, that is much further north, at the Black Sea. It was the only place on the Romanian coast where you could feel this freedom, before the 90s.

True sea lovers that means. They just want a quiet place to sit by the sea all day. No stalls, music and hustle and bustle. No souvenir sellers and amusement parks. Only the beach, natural and undeveloped ...

This is my beach, that's how I like it and I didn't know I could still find something like that. That was the pleasant surprise that Thassos Island gave me.

A beach and a way to spend a holiday shared by other people who avoid the crowds and ordinary beaches where, usually, people look for fun and not peace and solitude. The pleasure of being with only the three elements ... the sun, the sea and the beach. At most with a few friends.

A beach where I discovered that people wanted to showcase their talents as designers. They had the opportunity to draw on marble. There are many marble quarries on the island of Thassos, marble from Thassos was used in antiquity in the construction of temples in Egypt. Now, pieces of marble can be found on the beach, some even painted.

I had the opportunity to see that many of my fellow citizens visit the island and the beaches. I found an inscription in the sand referring to a party in Romania, the largest and most controversial political party, with many members coming from the old Romanian communist party. A party that has many supporters but also many opponents. Some of them wrote on the beach something I can't translate, but not good for it!

I was glad to see that and the party even lost the election.

The walk on this beach gave me great pleasure, even if I did not lie in the sun and swim in the sea. I let the others do this ...

... and we approached the city. Arranged beaches have also started to appear, of course they must be to everyone's taste.

At the end of the road, Limenaria. A bigger village or a smaller town, I don't know exactly how to characterize it. A place where I feel very good and I want to come back. A place I recommend but, in fact, I recommend Greece. Wherever you go in Greece will be great!