Cobalt turquoise and ultramarine

Revealing the beauty of Ballos beach

The "Big Blue" of Ballos Beach

The light at Ballos beach is almost spiritual. It creates a filter that makes the landscape look like a floating lace. It transforms the sea into a mirror; reflecting the sunlight in such a way that if you look at it for a while you have the impression that you are flying.

That was my first impression from Ballos, after having walked on the long footpath that leads to this famous beach of Crete. The wind that was blowing from the west and that made the clouds move fast changing shapes every two seconds, didn’t prepare me for this magnificent sight; for the shiny white sand and the crystal clear waters.  As I walked towards the beach, the colors of the sea kept changing and I had to stop again and again to look at the images that came into view.

The names of the painting palettes I know started to come into my mind: cobalt blue, Prussian blue, ultramarine, cerulean and cobalt turquoise… Are they enough to describe the colors of Ballos? Even if they are, there are few words that can describe the beauty of that place and the sense of calm and relaxation that you feel there.

words:  maria alipranti

photos: christos drazos