Greek Island Beach Massages -- Choose Your Beach
Posted: Saturday, July 02, 2011
by Paroshep
http://www.parosparadise.com
When you decide to go to the beach do you seek a quiet commune with nature or do you prefer people watching, activity and services?
The Greek islands have beaches galore to suit every preference. They frequently score among the top ten lists for favourite beaches world wide.
In this photo taken during high season Golden Beach, the largest on my home island of Paros. What makes it interesting is that each beach has its own style and character and even that varies daily with the direction of the cooling breezes or sometimes high winds. Many beaches along the varied Greece coast are small and remote; just right for the two of you in the pursuit of personal pleasures.For now I want to write about the popular, full service beaches. This type of beach always has shaded lounge beds as well as food and drink on offer. Most also provide a mix of activities such as volley ball, wind surfing, kayaking, banana boats and the like. The last few years we have also seen a new service: Asians giving low cost massages. Personally, I have never had one but they do look like a pleasant way to break up the tedium of sun bathing.
But evidently the bureaucrats don’t agree, on Crete at least. In the first two months of the 2011 season on the beaches there they have arrested 25 foreign nationals for being unlicensed masseurs. From my own experience in Greece I know it is next to impossible and very expensive for a foreigner to get a business license. So effectively they are eliminating this service. The local Greeks have jobs that pay much better.
Perhaps this police crack down is a result of some beach goers complaining about having their tranquillity interrupted. I know some beach vendors can be a nuisance. My response is to go to one of the more remote beaches if you want total peace.
My all time favourite example of a valuable service offered on the beach was on the party island of Ios; an old man was peddling small watermelons and other fruit from baskets on his donkey’s back.
This subject reminds me of the crack down on street performances on our island of Paros years ago. It used to be great fun to stroll along the harbor front watching the jugglers, dancers and musicians. Then suddenly they disappeared as the police started requiring a license from every performer. No longer was there much joy or excitement along restaurant row. Thankfully, however, either the license edict was relaxed or the police found some other evil to pursue because the performers are back, although in lesser numbers it seems.
So this summer time will tell if the licensing foolishness infects Greek island beaches this year or if it is like most regulation in Greece, seldom enforced. My advice is to know before you go and choose your beach to suit your mood of the day.
This Article has been viewed 424 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.