Paradise: invaded

After coffee and pastries we drove north towards the tip of Zante where we're staying for two nights in a stone windmill. We didn't have much of an itinerary except to stop off at a nice-looking beach.

A flat tyre soon after we started (not surprising after the beach track yesterday) delayed us temporarily and we had to await the rental people in the car park of a winery. While we were there a British couple had a quad bike accident during which they lost control and got stuck in reverse, were thrown off the bike and went crashing into a bank of plastic containers. How they missed the cars on either side was incredible. Their pride was wounded but it was less messy than it could have been.

We found a particularly lovely looking beach (pictured) at Xygia on the north east coast of the island. Barely anyone was on it because it appeared access was down a sheer scree slope. We were willing to try it until we realised a more manageable path snaked around the cliff.

It was all pretty idyllic bobbing in the sea and reading on the beach. Until, that is, hundreds of day trippers arrived in boats, one of which resembled a medieval galleon. The beach is apparently a swimming stop-off on island tours so we were treated to invading crowds fanning out in the water and onto the beach. It was decidedly less peaceful at these times, although Berry and I did sneak onto the galleon to jump off its deck. The captain was not happy when we did it from a high level.

In the evening with a sun drenched feeling, we dined on moussaka, fried cheese, ice cream and Greek lager to round off a relaxing day.