This post comes a little late, but I made a promise to myself that I would complete this blog no matter what. I was finally able to write, edit, select and edit the right pictures to describe my last two days in Greece. Sailing through mad winds, I landed in Paros where I enjoyed great food, stunning beaches, and a wonderful winery. Upon my return to Athens, I had a memorable Girls Night Out that provided the perfect end to my vacation.
One Last Farewell to Naxos
I woke up after daybreak. After getting dressed and dabbing on some make up, I donned on my new hat and walked out of the hotel determined to visit some of my favorite places in Naxos Town. I crossed the cobblestone streets, walked below the hanging pink bougainvillea, climbed the steep alleyways, got lost in the maze of white buildings and blue banisters until I emerged at the port. I returned to the hotel via Papavasileiou St. I wanted to glimpse at the ships all tucked besides the harbor, swaying to the rhythm of the Aegean.
At the hotel I ate some breakfast before departing to Naxos Port where I would take the ferry to Paros island. I decided to order a taxi instead of walking to the port even thought it would only take 15 minutes. I did so much shopping in Naxos that I would rather have someone carry my bags instead of hauling my heavy luggage across town. I mean, what’s a girl to do? 😉
Adverse Winds
Once the taxi dropped me off, I walked down the port to a small enclosure where passengers would gather and wait for the ferry. The winds were strong. Stronger than the day before. I had to hold my luggage with both hands as I walked towards the small enclosure. There I was protected from the wind.
Our ferry arrived on time, unfortunately, it took it over 45 minutes to dock because of the strong winds. According to the Weather Channel, there were 20-35 miles winds with gusts of over 50! The fierce gusts would blow the boat off course. The ferry tried four different times to dock. Since the vessel was large, it had to circle the harbor each time to try again. Fortunately, after the fourth try, the sailors were able to tie the vessel to port with the help of thick ropes. A big cheer ran out through the enclosure as the passengers gathered their luggage, ready to board the vessel. As we walked towards the ship, the gusts of wind whipped the sea into a frenzy. Columns of water rained upon us as we tried to board. The port was slippery and in more than one occasion I slipped. The forceful wind pushed my luggage and I had to grip it tightly to keep it from rolling away. It was a tense moment. The ship’s platform would sometime detach from the port, which made climbing onto the ferry a little nerve-wracking. The people around me were nervous too. Some cried out as they slipped, others voiced their displeasure to anyone who would listen, and others simply walked along their hands gripping their belongings or children tightly. Safeley inside the vessel, I deposited my luggage in the rack and climbed up to find my seat.
The Port of Naoussa
The passage to Paros went smoothly, notwithstanding the strong winds. Paros is the island next to Naxos and in fact, it is so close in proximity that it can be seen from Naxos Town. My destination was the port of Naoussa, not the Paros Port. I had asked the hotel to provide transportation to Naoussa. Best decision ever. After the chaos in finding a taxi at Naxos Port, this is the best decision I could have made. During the twenty minute ride, we passed through wineries and fields, churches and small villages.
A Very Greek Hotel
The hotel was small, but lovely and well situated. It had a nice pool (not as nice as Naxos Beach Resort Hotel, but it was a nice size with plenty of chaise lounges and sunbathers), a lovely reception area, and my room had a very Greek island vibe. Inside it was pure white, like the buildings facing the Aegean Sea. The door was wooden and it had small windows at the center which you could open and close. There was a small but charming patio at the entrance of my room with two chairs and a small coffee table. And it faced the pool! It felt at once intimate yet in the middle of the action.
But no time to lounge by the patio! After all, I only had one day in Paros! And there was plenty to explore!
Fresh Octopus and French Lunch
I walked out of the hotel and through a very busy street. So busy you had to keep on your toes. Some people were in haste to get to the beach. I walked down the hill to the port. As I got closer to port, I became immersed in a labyrinth of alleyways similar to the ones in Naxos, all tremendously beautiful. As I twisted through the white walled streets, I could smell the sea air growing stronger, until at once, on one final turn, boom! The sea! Blue as a saphire. Strong and proud as a soldier.
I walked along the restaurants lining the port. The tables by the water were empty. No surprise. The wind made it unbearable to be anywhere close to the sea. At port, fishermen cleaned and repaired their nets. Octopus hung by the ships, their tentacles hanging sleekly.
I was hungry. And I was craving seafood. So I picked the place closest to the boats and the hanging octopus. As I enjoyed my seafood pasta, I struck up a conversation with a French woman, who turned out to be a professor in Paris. We chatted for a while and I enjoyed her company through lunch. She thanked me for speaking French with her and I thanked her for spending her lunchtime with me. She also gave me a few tips about Paros.
Off to the Beach
After my delicious seafood lunch, I walked back to the hotel, changed into my swimsuit and asked the consierge how to get to the nearest beach. He recommended the Paralia Agioi Anargyroi. It was only a 10 minute walk from the hotel and after reading the reviews I was happy to see that it was one of the best beaches around with plenty of restaurants and umbrellas available.
I walked down to the beach, beach bag hanging from my shoulders. The closer I got, however, the clearer it became that maybe I should reconsider my beach day. The wind was unbearably strong. When I finally reached Paralia Agioi Anargyroi, I was greeted by one of the most beautiful beaches I had seen in Greece so far. The sand was a champagne color and the sea a deep blue. There were plenty of umbrellas and restaurants. However, it was empty. And with good reason. The sea was choppy and aggressive. The wind buffeted your face mercilessly. Judging by the number of umbrellas, this beach would usually be crowded, but only a few people were at the beach and only two were swimming. I realized that going into the sea would be impossible. I did not know how strong the currents were and since I was alone, it was imprudent to swim by myself. Bummer! I decided to make the best of the situation and dipped my feet in the cold water, enjoying the playfulness of the waves.
Moratis Winery
Nature thwarted my beach plans. I figured that not all was lost. Maybe there was a wine bar at the port where I could have a drink and enjoy a view of the port. I googled “wine bar near me” and found that an actual winery was located 900 ft from my hotel. WHAT? How did I miss this? How was I not told by the concierge? Whatever! With no time to lose, I packed up my stuff and walked up to the hotel to change into a dress. Ten minutes later, I was on my way to Moratis Winery.
I could see it from the top of the hill. First, I saw the vines, then a building resembling an Southern Italian villa. When I reached the winery, I was fascinated to see that it was a very popular place. Lots of people were there. The atmosphere felt fun yet relaxing. I walked into their vast tasing room and was able to do a tasting and order some food. I sampled a variety of wines made from local grapes. On their walls, they displayed all the accolades from wine periodicals like Decanter Magazine and Wine Enthusiast. I sat by a window and had an excellent view of their patio. And just under my feet… you could view their cellar through a glass plane on the floor. It was a very charming place and I bought some wine to take home.
Fresh Sushi Dinner
For dinner, I walked back to port and chose a restaurant named Calypso which boasted of sushi made from fresh fish. The sushi was amazing. I also ordered a swordfish fillet. I walked along the port for a while enjoying the nightlife. At last, I walked back to the hotel, did some packing, and sat by the pool before finally going to bed.
Back to Athens… and Dinner with a Travel Blogger (a real one!)
The following day, I woke up early and walked one final time to the Naoussa port. The wind was still strong that day, probably stronger than the day before. The waves crashed against the port, seawater splashing everywhere. I walked back to the hotel and ordered a taxi to take me to the Paros airport which was about half an hour away from Naoussa.
During the drive, my taxi driver pointed out places of interest and other beaches. “You should go there the next time you are here,” she said. “Oh, I will,” I said to myself. “I will be back.”
The Paros airport is very small. Only one terminal. The installations are old and have probably seen better days. I was flying Skyjet and based on the time, I was worried that it would take a long time to document my bags. There were two long lines and not a lot of time to spare. However, I was impressed by the efficiency of Skyjet. The line moved quickly and before you knew it, you were boarding the plane.
The flight to Athens was bumpy. No surprise. The wind didn’t help and there were patches of intense turbulence. So intense, in fact, that the lady next to me started crying. Another woman was praying in Spanish somewhere behind me.
Forty minutes after take off, we were landing at the Athens airport. After collecting my bags, I took a taxi to the Royal Olympic Hotel. After checking in, I walked to Plaka neighborhood, close to the Acropolis and did some shopping.
For dinner, I met Georgia, my friend Maria’s little sister. Georgia introduced me to Dani, who is an actual travel blogger. How cool! Like an actual travel blogger. That’s her job! We shared plenty of Greek food and then went to a local bar for a drink. We talked about solo travel, places we’ve been to and places we want to see. It was a very refreshing conversation which rounded off my trip just perfectly.
I flew out the following morning, hoping to come back to Greece soon!