Soft-appearing sand in a pale pale yellow fills your sight as you stride downward in long smooth switchbacks.

Shortly after the last switchback, the small grey stone bricks that paved the path all the way here come to an abrupt end, turning into large stones in stretches of hard dirt, which quickly merges with the expanse of sand.

Surveying the scene, you see a cluster of outbuildings towards the northern end of the beach, and three piers jutting out into the water.

At each of the piers is a boat: at the first one is a wooden sailboat, maybe eight meters long, with a green sail; at the second is a small wooden scull; at the third is a catamaran, its twin white hulls shining gorgeously in the slightly waning sunlight.

On impulse, you walk over to the first craft. It looks shipshape, and you feel ready to take on the sea.