Our European Adventure
is coming to an end. The last 25
days have flown by. I am making
this last blog entry riding in a Hellenic Seaways High Speed Ferry from Naxos
back to Athens. The journey takes
three hours and forty minutes. The
catamaran ferry is much more luxurious and comfortable than anything in the
B.C. Ferries fleet. Free strong Wi-Fi,
full restaurant and bar service, and plush seats that recline for those who
want to nap.
Our time in Naxos was most
enjoyable. It is more suited to
our style than Santorini. The
lifestyle is still touristy but without the large numbers and hustle of the
more popular island. Prices are correspondingly
lower than our last stay. Cold
beer on Santorini was Four Euro while on Naxos it was two-fifty. Our four-night stay cost only 296
Euros, including laundry service and full breakfast.
|
Things Are A Little Laid Back on Naxos
|
|
Salt Taffy Pull
|
|
Just One More Sunset
|
|
Hotel Delfini - of course, Kostas took Pic for Us
|
The Hotel Delfini only
has a one star rating but the service was closer to five. Our host Kostas was outstanding. He could not do enough for us. He was always there to greet us
returning to the hotel and even offered complimentary beer, coffee or ice cream
multiple times. Kostas went above
and beyond when Deborah inadvertently left her hotel key in one of the local
shops. The shopkeeper phoned
Kostas and he ran up to the shop, retrieved the key, and searched the beach
until he found me to ensure I had access to the room. When we were leaving he packed our bags into his car and
drove them to the ferry dock, so we could enjoy one last leisurely walk through
the town and seafront before departing the island.
Our routine didn’t
vary much from Santorini. We
enjoyed the sunshine, walks through the historic core of the village, pre-dinner
drinks, great meals, hikes, sunsets, and gelatos before retiring for the
evening.
|
All Greek To Me!
|
|
Naxos Salad
|
|
Chicken Pasta
|
|
Bacon Wrapped Scallops and Risotto
|
Our first day was
spent exploring Naxos Town. An
ancient arch built by the Venetians in the 6th century B.C marks the harbour. The Venetians started an edifice
dedicated to the goddess Apollo but never finished. Over time everything was pulled down except the arch. Speculation suggests it was simply too
difficult to destroy by ensuing conquers.
The town itself has an ancient core and parts of the original walls are
still visible when walking the rabbit warren of narrow alleyways.
|
Naxos Town
|
|
Calamari Anyone
|
|
Fisherman Selling His Catch
|
Day Two was an
adventure in quad travel. We were
going to rent motor scooters but Kostas was very concerned about our
safety. He strongly recommended
against it. He said the locals
were not good enough drivers to not hit us. He felt the quads were more visible and that we had a greater
chance of survival. We spent 23
Euros each (plus gas) for a full day on the road. We tried following maps but soon lost interest and simply
went exploring in the mountains.
We stopped for lunch at Chalki, a small village in the hills before
descending to the seashore and a return to town. Good fun and it did not prove too dangerous.
|
Last Minute Instructions and Prayer
|
|
We Soon Tossed the Map
|
|
Lunch in Chalki
|
We are now returning
to the Metropolis Hotel in Athens for our final night in Greece.
Greece has been well worth the
trip. History, culture and antiquities
are deeply embedded in every experience.
The Greeks are clearly struggling economically but that hasn’t seemed to
deter the generally positive nature of the people themselves.
No comments:
Post a Comment