Anastasia

Memories of a Magical Holiday in the Aegean - Part 1

The islands of the Cyclades lie leisurely in the middle of the Aegean Sea southeast of Athens. They consist of 2200 islands, islets, rocks but only 33 of them are inhabited. They belong to the prefecture of Syros with Ermoupolis as their capital city and look like music variations on the same theme offering the visitor a unique feeling of calm and relaxation. They are also known as the "white islands" because of  their traditional cycladic architecture and their milk-white colour against the bare land and the deep, blue sea. My husband and I have already been to Mykonos, Syros and Naxos and were so impressed by the breathtaking views and the cycladic harmony and beauty that we decided to spend our vacation in the Cyclades, this summer as well. This time, we spent three days in Athens and a week on Serifos. We also visited the nearby island of Sifnos. 

 

DAY 1 - Friday, July 6 - Athens

We took the early morning flight of Aegean Airlines to Athens, which left on time at 05:10. and landed at Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos at 07:45. By 07:30, we checked in at Titania Hotel in the city centre. As our room wasn't ready yet, we left our luggage at the reception and set off to enjoy sight seeing in Athens and shopping at Monastiraki. Having visited Acropolis and the Parthenon many times, we preferred to explore the city centre which sits amongst the ruins of Ancient Greece. Our walk through Athens took us to Stadiou Street - one of the city's large avenues and from there we headed to Syntagma Square and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which stands in front of the Old Royal Palace and is guarded by the Evzones of the  Presidential Guard. We watched the change of guard for a while before visiting the ruins of Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Olympian Zeus

As it was very hot that day, we continued our walk through Zapeion National Garden - an oasis of peace and quiet in the hustle and bustle of the city centre.  Time flew by so fast! We didn't even realise it was already 1:00 pm.  Only then did we realise that since breakfast at home at 03:30, we hadn't had anything to eat! It was such a bad idea to decline breakfast on Aegean Airlines! We dared the heat and walked back to Stadiou Street and from there to Aiolou Street where we had a glass of ouzo and appetizers called ouzomeze. Finally, we had lunch at Paradosiako - a traditional Greek restaurant. After lunch, we went back to the hotel and had a good siesta!

In the evening, we met our good old friends, Titos and his wife Mary who we hadn't seen in a long time. We had a drink at Olive Garden - the roof garden bar & restaurant at our hotel and then a great dinner at Kouvelos Tavern  in Koukaki.

DAY 2 - Saturday, July 7 - Athens

Our second day in Athens was entirely devoted to shopping. We shopped at Attica - one of Athens' most renown department stores. I got a boho style black dress for the beach, a total white outfit, sandals, a couple of T-shirts, a handbag and cosmetics. Alkis got linen trousers and shirts and a pair of beige sneakers. Soon after lunch, we took a taxi to Piraeus Port. Our boat to Serifos sailed off with a two-hour delay! That was the beginning of a quite eventful arrival on the island of Serifos!

Conversation with my Paper-Oriented E-Diary-Edited

Hi there! I hope you are still alive and kicking!

- Hi

- Is that all you say to greet me?

- I said HI

- Please don't type in CAPS. It's like shouting at me!

- But I am shouting at you! Besides, haven't you already told me that TypePad has me in CAPS in your Categories?

- No! Not in Caps! In Bold.

- I am bold and beautiful, aren't I? This is why you can't live without me.

- You are impertinent!

- Is that a compliment?

- I'm going to delete you!

- Look who's talking! A barking dog never bites!

- See what I mean ? You are impertinent! I've upgraded you and made you electronic. What's more, I've been posting you on TypePad for soon 18 years now! You are no longer ...a miserable paper notebook! Count your blessings!

- I don't have any blessings to count! The last time you opened my electronic pages was back in 2009! When my pages were made of paper, you used to open them every day!

- True, but there was no Internet then, no blogging, no TypePad, no Facebook.

• Maybe so, but there was TV and all those boring books you loved to read! "Bleak House" or "Murder in the Cathedral", for example! But you never neglected me! You always made time for me. 
• I still make time for you.
• No, you don't! You are neglecting me and I am worried about  being electronic!
• Why worry?
• You can't lock me like you used to do so that no-one reads me, except you.
• Ah right....but...you see, now that you are electronic - alias e-diary - you have so many other privileges. You have a password!
• Yes, dear diary - a password!
• What's that? 
• Well, it's a string of characters that allows access to a computer! This is much safer than your old paper-oriented lock.
• OK - but who can read me?
• Me and my friends......
• Your friends?
• Yes, my friends on Facebook and ..... everyone on TypePad      .
• I don't believe it!
• However, I have another password.
• What's that?
• Don't be stupid!!! I won't tell you! This password gives access to me only...and you , of course!  
• And ...where's my key ? My little , golden key?
  
• Give me a break!!!                                      
  

Bidding Farewell to 2017 – Paphos 2018

Alkis and I welcomed 2018 in the picturesque city of Paphos, which is situated on the western coast of Cyprus at about 150 km from Larnaca. We set off in high spirits on New Year's Eve after having done some last-minute shopping. On our way, we stopped at Pissouri Village where we enjoyed our last lunch of 2017 while watching the rain – actually, it wasn't just rain, it was a heavy downpour. As we had forgotten our umbrellas in the car, we ran to the parking lot hit by the sweet smell of fresh, invigorating drops of rain. The rain poured down over the city of Paphos throughout the remaining few hours of 2017. By 5:00 pm, we had checked in at Coral Beach Hotel and had coffee by the glowing fire in the elegant lobby.

The New Year's Eve party surpassed our expectations. I was impressed with the festive decorations of the lush buffet as well as with how well the whole event was organised. There was a wide range of starters, sushi, seafood, various meats and salads, desserts and cheeses. I don't think I've ever eaten so much on a New Year's Eve before! We ordered a smooth, medium-bodied Côte du Rhône with a delicate bouquet to pair with the delicious dishes the Executive Chef and his team had created. We bid farewell to 2017 and welcomed 2018 on the dance floor amid cheers, laughter, wishes and festive music. There were about 300 people of various nationalities in the ballroom, yet I felt as if we were one huge family

 

On New Year's Day, we woke to a bright, sunny morning! Some clouds, though, were still trying bravely to keep the rain away. And so they did! After a festive breakfast at the hotel, we enjoyed a leisurely stroll in the sunshine along the promenade in Kato Paphos. After the feast on New Year's Eve followed by a big breakfast , we had a light meal at Bacchus Restaurant consisting of grilled chicken and a salad. We sat outside, enjoying our meal and the sunshine and feeling thankful to those clouds which didn't give in to rain. Alkis and I are bon vivants, so we had Chinese for our first dinner in 2018. We loved the food at Phucket's even though we didn't eat everything and the service was excellent!

On our last day in Paphos, we went for a walk around the medieval castle. Paphos castle is located in Kato Paphos at the harbour. This castle was originally built to protect the harbour and was a Byzantine fort. During the 13th century the castle was rebuilt by the Lusignans. In 1570 however, the castle was once again destroyed by the Venetians who at that time were unable to protect the castle from the ongoing attacks by the Ottomans. The Ottomans succeeded in gaining access to Paphos and during the Ottoman rule the castle was once again restored, expanded, and strengthened to what it is today. The castle itself is a stunning stone walled castle built on the harbour.  There is an arched battle way bridge that connects the castle to the harbour itself.  There are very few windows in this castle but the view from the top platform is magnificent and from here you can see Kato Paphos in all its glory.  It really is a site worth seeing and for those interested in culture; Paphos Castle is a definite must see during your trip to Cyprus.  Paphos Castle is listed in the UNESCO list of world heritage sites and is fully protected.

In 1935 Paphos castle was declared an ancient monument and to this day it is considered to be one of the many hallmarks of Paphos .  The square just in front of Paphos castle is used for many cultural events throughout the year.  Most of these events take place annually and in September you can see the Aphrodite Festival.  The Paphos Aphrodite Festival organizers invite a well known opera troupe to come and perform every year.  This stunning event takes place in the square in front of Paphos Castle and the castle itself is used for scenery in the opera.  Some of the famous operas that have been performed include Verdi's La Traviata and Bizet's Carmen.

Once inside the castle there is not much to see or do but once you reach the top platform you will see the breath taking view of the marina.  Many people also use Paphos Castle as a backdrop for some amazing and memorable holiday pictures.

On our way back home, we stopped for lunch at Governor's Beach in Limassol.

Right now, I'm counting my blessings and wishing you more. Have a happy and prosperous New Year. I wish you new dreams, new hopes and new joys.

November

November is the month when the weather in Cyprus breaks from warm autumn towards colder winter. Around the middle of November temperatures begin to drop noticeably and the rainy season starts. During this month it can rain from three to six days. November is the third rainiest month after December and January. On average maximum temperature gets up to 22°C on the west coast and inland and 23°C-24°C on the eastern-south coast. On the mountains it already gets noticeably cold with temperatures not going higher than 13°C. At night, temperature drops down to 13°C-14°C on the coast and 10°C inland. On the heights of Troodos, it already feels like winter at night with the temperature staying as low as 6°C. The sea water is about 21°C.

I can’t dare the sea water temperature, though. Some people are braver than me and enjoy a swim in the sea.  The sea has its ups and downs in November. It’s sometimes calm and  tempting, but it’s often  rough and gloomy.  Yet, we never get huge waves or unbearably  cold waters.  Last Sunday, November was cruel!  it was raining heavily and then the rain gave way to a terrible storm. I’ve had the fear of storms since my early childhood – thunders, thunderbolt and lightning  give me the willies!  At last, since Monday , November has given us back our sunshine and great blue skies! I wish it rained only at night, preferably after midnight.  Despite the occasional storms, November is an ideal month – neither too hot nor too cold. And it’s that time of year again when chrysanthemum  is in full bloom.

 

Most  importantly, November is the Herald of Christmas! By the way, there are only 44 days, 3 hours, 56 minutes and 40 seconds until Christmas!!!

An Evil Bee!

Most people consider spring to be the best season of the year. It's that time of year again, they say, when Mother Nature is reborn, flowers are in full bloom,  you can enjoy the countryside and breathe fresh air. Longer days invite you to go out and socialise or work in the garden. Oh my! What a tedious occupation this is ! I once tried it when my friend Stefania asked me to give her a helping hand with her springtime garden endeavours. All I remember was how dirty and sweaty I was and I promised myself that I'd never do that again. I also felt blessed not to have a garden! I'd rather go buy flowers and plants from the nearest fresh produce stand or at the supermarket.

To me Spring is the most wicked season of the year. Fresh air ? Where is the fresh air? All I see is a terrible cloud of yellow pollen which I mustn't breathe because, if I do, I get itchy eyes and a runny nose. This is why I hardly ever open the windows in Spring. If you look out the window to  enjoy the sunshine in April, it's Spring ...pretending it's warm. Many people are fooled by the sunshine, they put on summer clothes and catch a cold the following day! Spring tempts you to enjoy the outdoors but as soon as you are in the countryside, you can feel that biting wind and you regret not having put a jacket on. Spring is such an evil season!

An evil bee prompted me to write this post today. I had the bad idea to open my bedroom window this morning and let the so-called fresh air come in. No sooner had I done so than an ugly bee sat on my bed. It just sat there....enjoying the sunshine. I was once stung by a bee and hated the experience, so I prayed it would fly away to its natural habitat! Phew!!! It finally did! I guess I am a summer lover. I can't wait for the summer to come. It is , by far, the most reliable season of the year!

 

Healthy Eating

Insight every fat girl

There's a thin girl trying to get out

Sweet and sad and slinky

That nobody even knows about

(Fran Lanesman)

Interlaken, Switzerland - July 1978

In my early twenties, as a student in Switzerland, I was really fat. I could have been even fatter but I walked a lot and went horseriding 3 times a week. I didn't know how to cook, so I indulged in junk food such as burgers and pizza, sweets, chocolate, crisps and fizzy drinks - not to mention raclette or cheese fondue! Within a year, I had forgotten all about my mum's healthy cooking based on the Mediterranean Diet . Consuming so many fatty and unhealthy foods for a long time took its toll and I had to have my gallbladder removed at the age of 25.

my favourite sweets

Since then, I've decided to adopt a healthier eating pattern. At the beginning, healthy eating made me feel depressed and unhappy. It was as if I were permanently on diet. I also gave up fizzy drinks - cola in particular - and replaced them with fruit juices and water. However, I've never been deprived of my favourite sweets, chocolate or apple pie, but these were exceptions occurring only occasionally. After all, variety is the spice of life.

greek salad

Before I knew it, I started to feel healthier, stronger, happier and lighter.  Adopting a healthier eating pattern and sticking to it involves changing lifestyles, and I was determined to change mine. So I took up regular exercise as well - walking in particular. It might sound hard to accomplish but, in actual fact, it doesn't really take a lot of effort - just an effort of will.  I did not starve to death or go on diet, neither did I ban fatty foods from my life. I just changed my methods of cooking. 

grilled chicken burgers

fresh lemon juice

....and occasionally some french fries

In order to reduce my calorie intake, grilling or roasting my food - especially meat - was the answer. I've also replaced fatty sauces with fresh lemon juice or a little mustard. Steaming is a particularly healthy way of cooking fish and veggies while baking fish in the oven with onions, fresh tomatoes, a few drops of olive oil and lots of oregano is a delicious alternative. As for cooking potatoes, well, I know you can't beat roasting them or frying them There was a time when I had french fries with every meal. Naturally, I still eat chips but only once in a while. I usually boil or dry roast my potatoes using just a little olive oil and lots of spices and lemon juice. Stir-frying, especially vegetables, is another healthy way of cooking that appeals to me. This helps food retain both its taste and nutrients.

stir-frying vegetables

Judging from my experience, the bottom line is: a healthy diet cannot be imposed on anyone - it's the individual's choice.

 

Thessaloniki – August 2015

Thessaloniki, also known as the "Bride of Thermaicos" is the capital city of Macedonia in Northern Greece and the major port city of the Thermaic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. Situated at about 520 km north of Athens, Thessaloniki is a bustling metropolis which bears the marks of its stormy history and is noted for its cosmopolitan character. Thessaloniki is also the host of the International Trade Fair and the International Film Festival held annually. What's more, the friendly, hospitable people have won my heart. On our holiday in Macedonia, Alkis and I spent three wonderful days in Thessaloniki. We stayed at our favourite hotel – Mediterranean Palace – a fine five-star hotel with reasonable prices, situated in the city centre.

The White Tower in Thessaloniki

 

DAY 1 – Monday, August 10

Thanassis, my brother-in-law, drove us to Thessaloniki from Serres. I was a bit disappointed because he didn't have lunch with us as he had to go back to Asprovalta where his family were spending their summer vacation.

Having checked in at Mediterranean Palace Hotel in the city centre, Alkis and I decided to have lunch at one of the many restaurants at "Ladadika". Well, it wasn't the best option but that was very near our hotel. In the afternoon, we had coffee at Aristotelous Square and then I shopped till I dropped! Poor Alkis! He was exhausted at the end of our shopping spree.

When we got back to the hotel, I realised to my horror that it was 7:30 pm. At 8:00 pm, we had arranged to meet Alkis' cousin Antonis and his wife Irini, at the bar of the hotel for an aperitif before going out for dinner. Alkis had a quick shower and was ready by 8 o'clock. He was such a darling! He didn't shout at me. He only said: "I'll be at the bar with Antonis and Irini. Please, don't be late." I was 20 minutes late! I apologised, of course, but Antonis and Irini gave me such a warm welcome and made me feel comfortable. We had a great night out in Thessaloniki!

DAY 2 – Tuesday, August 11

In Thessaloniki, we met Alkis's cousin Antonis and his wife Irini and we all set off to Veria and Edessa. First stop: Panagia Soumela on the outskirts of Veria.

The monastery of Virgin Mary Soumela

 

The monastery of Panagia Soumela (Virgin Mary Soumela) is very close to the village of Kastania, near Veria. It was built in 1951 by refugees from Pontos region that were trying to revive the monastery of Panagia Soumela, which was built on the mountain Mela near Trapezounta. In the monastery of Trapezounta was the miraculous painting of Virgin Mary Soumela. According to tradition, it was painted by Evangelist Luke himself. From the monastery, it was transferred to the Byzantine Museum, but when the monastery in Veria was built, it was transferred there. Since then, thousands of people have been travelling to the monastery to see the painting. In the monastery, you can also see a variety of ecclesiastical and historic relics and artefacts from the Greeks of Pontos region that were saved and brought to Greece. Special celebrations take place every year on the 15th of August, the day of the Assumption of Virgin Mary.

The Holy Icon of Virgin Mary Soumela

 

The monastery of Virgin Mary Soumela

 

The splendid view from the monastery

 

Kastania - Veria

 

We had coffee there and then drove on to Edessa - the capital of Pella in Central Macedonia, Edessa is renowned for its waterfalls. We stopped for lunch at Edessa Waterfalls.

The town of Edessa

 

Edessa

 

Lunch time - with Antonis and Irini

 

Traditional Greek Salad

 

Edessa Waterfalls

 

DAY 3 – Wednesday, August 12

Antonis and Irini picked us up soon after breakfast and set off for the Blue Lagoon Princess Hotel at Kalyves, Halkidiki – one hour drive from Thessaloniki. This is where we met our good, old friend Andreas Christodoulides, who is the manager of this amazing hotel resort. Both Alkis and I were so glad to meet Andreas after such a long time!

Kalyves Beach - Halkidiki

DAY 4 – Thursday, August 13

Thank God, I followed Alkis' advice and packed soon after our trip to Halkidiki. The two of us had a late night out in Thessaloniki, which left me reluctant to get up on Thursday morning. Finally, I managed to wake up at 8:00 am and after a hearty breakfast, Aegean Airlines safely flew us back home.

This was yet another fantastic holiday in Greece.

Serres, Greece – August 2015

Whenever I come back from a holiday in Greece, I am convinced that there is not one single part of this fantastic country that is not filled with unspeakable beauty. Greece is endowed with thousands of golden beaches, snow-capped mountains, caves and gorges, lakes reflecting in their waters all the splendour of the Greek landscape; not to mention 6000 islands which are scattered gems in the Aegean and Ionian Seas. Macedonia, however, is by far a place of outstanding natural beauty. It's also my husband's homeland – this is why it has a very special place in my heart.

Ai Yiannis-Serres

 

Serres-Town Centre

 

Serres-Town Centre

 

 

Macedonia is a Greek region situated in northern Greece, gifted with endless greenery, fertile plains, roaring waterfalls, imposing mountains, and some of the country's most stunning beaches in the area of Halkidiki. I'll never have enough of Macedonia, however often I visit this blessed land.

DAY 1 – FRIDAY, 7 AUGUST

We flew Aegean Airlines, which safely landed us at Macedonia Airport in Thessaloniki – the capital city of Macedonia. Thanassis, my brother-in-law, was there, waiting for us, and drove us to Serres – my husband's hometown. The journey by car takes about an hour, so by 1:00 pm we had already checked in at Elpida Hotel. We loved our room – a junior suite in two levels overlooking the pool. Soon afterwards, we had lunch followed by a short siesta at the hotel. In the evening, we had dinner at "Kataraktis" Restaurant in the area of Ai Yiannis. I was delighted to meet again my sister-in-law Evangelia as well as Yianoula – Evangelia's sister and her husband Babis. We had a fabulous evening and a great dinner. Unfortunately, I was so impressed by the landscape and the food that I completely forgot to take photos of all six of us!

Ai Yiannis Waterfalls

Katarraktis Restaurant - Ai Yiannis

Ai Yiannis

DAY 2 – SATURDAY, 8 AUGUST

We spent the whole day with our niece Zoe and her two adorable little girls. We met in the town centre and had "bougatsa" at one of the many cafés. "Bougatsa" is a kind of Greek pastry consisting of either semolina custard or cheese between layers of phyllo. Serres is renowned for its "bougatsa" throughout Greece. Serres is a modern, bustling town of more than 80,000 inhabitants – the second largest town in Macedonia after the capital city Thessaloniki.

Bougatsa

In the evening, we had a great night out at Koulas, which lasted till the early morning hours. The ancient and Byzantine acropolis of Koulas lies on an evergreen hill north of the town of Serres. It was named "Bes Koules" by the Turks during the Turkish occupation of the town (1383 – 1846). Hence the name Koulas.

DAY 3 – SUNDAY, 9 AUGUST

With 2,539 inhabitants, the village of Neo Souli lies at an altitude of 160 metres, at about 7km east of the town of Serres. It is a lovely, picturesque village which belongs to what the people of Serres call "dardanochoria." Neo Souli also boasts its local taverns, with tables on the street. Needless to say that the food was delicious! I wish we could stay longer in Serres. It's a magical town.

Neo Souli

Naxos, Greece – July 2015 – Part 3

Day 5 – Friday, 17 July

On a summer holiday, I'd rather not spend time wandering around sites and monuments or travelling by car to discover hidden villages. I'm glad Alkis shares my love for the sea and enjoys as much as I do spending time on the beach and finding romantic bars or tavernas in the evening while contemplating yet another sunset. While sipping our wine at Bossa Café, we were watching with an unwavering gaze the sun sinking slowly beneath the horizon. Tiny threads of light painted the sky with the dexterity of a skilful artist: first a fiery orange, then red and finally a velvety dark blue that melted away into the chalky mauve of the Aegean Sea. And then darkness settled leisurely on the island of Naxos. I think Mother Nature is the greatest artist in the world.

Day 6 – Saturday, 18 July

Time flies. This is, perhaps, a cliché, but it was reality to us. The countdown had started: one day left before flying back home and before the end of what I call a dream Summer holiday. Soon after breakfast, we went to the beach and spent the whole day there. It was pure magic!

Day 7 – Sunday, 19 July

This was our last day on the island of Naxos. After the beach, we thought we deserved a special treat, so we had our last dinner in Naxos at Nissaki Restaurant. Alkis had what I had on our first day – grilled pork fillet, and I had grilled king prawns. There were eight in a portion. In Cyprus, you only get four or five. But I ate them all! Alkis' choice of the wine was excellent: Gerovasiliou – a great Greek red. Intense and ruby-garnet in colour, it overwhelms the palate with intense flavours.

Day 8 – Monday, 20 July

After enjoying our last huge breakfast at Glaros Boutique Hotel, we packed and then spent a couple of hours strolling in Naxos for the last time. At 12:30 pm, the taxi arrived and drove us to.... what they call an airport in Naxos! Oh, my! It was a very small house! Here is my conversation with Alkis before flying Olympic Air to Athens.

- Alkis, where are we?

- At the airport.

- But ... this is a small house, NOT an airport.

- And this is a small island called Naxos, remember? Small islands have got small airports.

I was scared to death! We checked in one hour prior to the departure of our flight and then we sat down waiting for the flight to Athens.

- Alkis, there is only one helicopter outside. Are we going to Athens by helicopter?

- No, we aren't, Alkis said while reading his newspaper. We're flying Olympic Air.

Olympic Air landed and I got into a panic!

- Alkis, I'm not going to fly THIS!

- My love, this is an aeroplane, and it will fly us to Athens.

- I'm not going to fly this...this....aeroplane. It's got ...propellers!

- So, what do you suggest?

- I suggest staying in Naxos for yet another night and take that wonderful Blue Star catamaran to Athens!

- Now it's too late. We're flying Olympic Air to Athens.

There were only 30 people on board. Some Americans, some Germans, some French and us. And we only had to go up four steps to board. And there was only ONE air hostess. During take-off, she happened to sit opposite us and she held my hand and said that air travel was the safest. And then she went on chatting and saying that she had two more Olympic Air flights to take – Paros and Milos! The tiny aeroplane with the propellers safely landed at Eleftherios Venizelos Airport in Athens. We only had time to have a quick bite – a delicious spinach pie – before the final call of Aegean Airlines to Larnaca. It was a huge Airbus A321 which landed us safely at Larnaca International Airport at 6:15 pm.

Back home, we had pizza delivered for dinner! We ate our pizza watching the news on TV and talking about our exciting holiday on the island of Naxos in Greece.

Naxos, Greece – Part 2

Day 2 – Tuesday, 14 July

We got up early in the morning and right after breakfast a taxi drove us to Rafina port where we caught the catamaran to Naxos at 7:30 am. However much I fear flying, I truly enjoy travelling by sea. We had a very pleasant trip to Naxos, which lasted about four hours. When we got off "Blue Star" at Naxos port, a taxi driver was waiting for us to take us to the hotel. Glaros Boutique Hotel was even lovelier than on their website. The hotel consists of 13 rooms overlooking Saint George Beach, which is only a few steps away. Alexis at the reception gave us a warm welcome, offered us cold orange juice and explained how to get around in Naxos.

 

Sailing to Naxos on board Blue Star

 

 

Naxos Port

 

 

Our hotel room

 

Then we were shown to our room which was small but functional and very nicely decorated. After having unpacked, we realised that we were starving. We had our first lunch in Naxos at a small restaurant opposite the hotel right on the beach. The food was delicious! We enjoyed a rocket salad with sun-dried tomatoes and parmesan cheese for starters, grilled pork fillet for me and ravioli for Alkis. After a short siesta, we spent the rest of the day on the beach. In the evening, we set off on foot to explore the town of Naxos, also called "Chora".

Alkis at Nissaki Restaurant

 

Nissaki Restaurant

 

Rocket Salad-Nissaki Restaurant

 

Grilled pork fillet-Nissaki Restaurant

 

While strolling about the narrow streets of the old town, we were only aware of the presence of the sea. Cul-de-sac often roofed over, and tiny balconies block the view of the sea. Its presence is roused by the salty tang and the brilliant light that is unique in the Cyclades.

Day 3 – Wednesday, 15 July

Lying virtually in the centre of the Cyclades, very close to Mykonos, Naxos is the largest island in the group, with a coastline of 148 km and a population of over 14,000 inhabitants. According to tradition, the island was named after Naxos, the leader of settlers from Caria in Asia Minor. Legend has it that the island was the home of Dionysos and Ariadne. Ariadne, the daughter of King Minos of Crete, helped Theseus, son of Aegeus, to kill the Minotaur.

Naxos

 

 

After a very good night's sleep and a hearty breakfast on the veranda overlooking the sea, we spent the whole day on the beach. The waves rolled in long and white fringed. The beach was such a shallow incline that even a child could wade out 300 hundred metres or more and still the water would be below their knees. Saint George Beach is very much like our own Mackenzie Beach in Larnaca. Walking along that beautiful sandy beach for over an hour, swimming in crystal-clear waters, reading, sunbathing or chatting away the hours were some of our favourite occupations.

Saint George Beach

 

Saint George Beach

 

No wonder we got up an appetite. We had lunch at Kavouri Restaurant where we tasted the traditional cheese of Naxos called "Arseniko" and their salad called "Naxiotiki". It consists of tomatoes, cucumber, green peppers, olives, capers, onions and "xinomyzithra" – a local white cheese. The salad was followed by fresh fried calamari and burgers both served with crispy French fries.

Traditional Naxos Salad

 

 

Arseniko - Traditional Naxos Cheese

 

Fresh Fried Calamari

 

Later in the evening, we enjoyed our aperitif at Bossa Café while contemplating a breathtaking sunset. Peace and contentment. The sun like a fiery orb looked like it was receding into the waters below. After dinner, we went for a long night walk along Saint George Beach and had a last drink at Vammos Bar while listening to murmuring waves.

The sunset in Naxos

 

Naxos by Night

 

Night Walk on the Beach

 

Night Walk on the Beach

 

Vammos Bar, Naxos

 

Vammos Bar, Naxos

 

Day 4 – Thursday, 16 July

When I travel, I love learning about the culture and history of the places I visit. So, just after swimming, I leisurely lay in the sun, took my iPad and read about the history of Naxos. In the evening, we walked to Chora and bought some souvenirs to bring back home. While having dinner at a one of the many local tavernas by the seaside, we realised that time flew by so fast and we only had three days left on the alluring island of Naxos. 

To be continued