On our first sunny day in Crete, we leaped at the chance to visit our first Cretan beach. From our research, we knew that Agii Apostoli beach fulfilled all of our Top 3 priorities. First, it has a sandy beach suitable for playing. Second, the water is gentle and warm. Third, it was not too far away from our Airbnb.
Agii Apostoli is about a 15-minute drive west of Chania. It is a popular beach among locals and tourists who prize the golden sand beaches, crystal clear turquoise waters and relaxed family-friendly environment. Agii Apostoli is also special because there are two beaches in close proximity to each other, separated by a narrow sandbar. The beach is in a sheltered bay, surrounded by protective rock formations, creating calm waters in the bay. One of the beaches is nicknamed the “Children’s beach” because it has a very long and shallow approach to the sea, where kids can play safely in the water.
We didn’t waste any time finding a sunny spot on the sand to park ourselves. In the middle of December, the temperature was around 25 C. RY and DY are less affected by the cold and were ready to jump into the water. AY and EY thought it was too cold and brought toys to play in the sand. Before setting them free, we enjoyed our favorite meal on the go – sandwiches.
Whenever we go to the grocery store, we usually buy back-up supplies for a sandwich meal on the go. Other than buying the ingredients, this meal requires minimal prep-work, so it is super easy, healthy, inexpensive and delicious. At the grocery store, we buy a loaf of bread, any kind will do. Some of our favorites are sliced sandwich bread, sourdough, baguettes, sandwich rolls, panini and pita. We buy one pack of sliced ham and one pack of salami, though in the past, we have also used bacon, pastrami, roasted chicken, sliced chicken or turkey and hard-boiled eggs. We enjoy having fresh ingredients like tomatoes, lettuce which can be iceberg, romaine, green or red leaf lettuce or even more convenient is pre-washed salad in a bag, and cucumbers or one or two avocadoes when they are available. Though the kids do not, Leo and I enjoy having mayonnaise in our sandwiches, so we take one or two extra individual packets of mayonnaise when we see them in delis or restaurants. With the sandwiches, we often have some fruit and a bag of chips.
Before we leave the house, I wash the fruit, tomatoes and lettuce. It is helpful to bring a plastic container with a lid, that I use as a cutting board. Although it makes it easier, the plastic container is not necessary. In order to make this meal easily, I always carry around a pocket-knife that was given to me by RY on my 45th birthday. I use the pocket-knife to cut the bread, slice the tomatoes, cut the avocado and cut the fruit. The kids can pick out the ingredients they want and I assemble the sandwiches on paper towels and then wrap each one up in the paper towel for the younger kids so it doesn’t fall apart. EY sometimes prefers to have a deconstructed sandwich so I just give her the ingredients in a box and she eats with her hands.
We have enjoyed this meal many times throughout our travels – in national parks, neighborhood parks, picnic areas, roadside stops, beaches and even on road trips while Leo is driving.
After lunch, we spent the rest of the afternoon playing, relaxing, reading and sleeping at the beach. In the summer, Agii Apostoli beach is covered with sun chairs and full of tourists. I was grateful that on this day, besides a few others swimming in the water and sunbathing on the beach nearby, for the most part, it was all for us. RY and DY splashed in and out of the water and even in the absence of any snorkeling gear, managed to spot some fish using just their goggles. AY and EY played with their dolls and toys in the sand, enacting a story about a family visiting the beach. The kids never tire of building fortifications and embankments to try and stop the sea water from flooding into their fortress. It is fascinating to watch them work together against a much more powerful force that they know cannot be defeated, but they never cease to try.
As the sun was going down and our shadows began to lengthen, we decided to call it a day. On the way out, we remembered the playground that we saw driving into the parking lot and we couldn’t resist stopping by to let the kids play. The playground was large and impressive. The climbing structures and large features were made mostly of wood. It had different areas for varied skill levels so the kids split up for a bit and then came together again. I hope that’s how it will be for them as they grow older.
By the time we got home, Leo and I were exhausted but kids never seem to get tired. Leo and RY began preparing dinner with help from DY. AY brought EY over to the dining room table for a drawing lesson on: How to draw fairies. After an hour and a half, the boys had produced a marvelous feast of grilled ribeye, roasted cauliflower, homestyle mashed potatoes and creamed spinach.
