The Island of Paros to The Island of Naxos.

Written 20^th August 2012

This morning when we were packed up we said good-bye to Rena and headed off down to the port with our back packs brimming. Steve had a coffee and then we went over to where the ferry comes in. People we waiting everywhere but the boat was late. We were herded into these long sort of holding bays and I felt a bit like a cow lining up to get a stripe on my back. Luckily though no one doused me with anything - although we did have to withstand the pungent fumes of the smokers next to us.

We finally got to board the ferry after a wait of 30min or so in the holding space. We were all packed into the garage of the ferry and unsure where to go. For a while confusion reined and people were wandering everywhere while Greek ferry men in fluro vests hollered in Greek and blew whistles. We had to sit up the top of the ferry as it was so packed. It was SUPER windy. The ferry was rolling over the wind swell all the way to Naxos. It was not a long journey – only about 30 mins and then we were herded down into the car storage area. All us passengers waited in the bowls of the ship as she opened her ass end to the elements to the accompaniment of seriously loud sirens.The ferry backed up to the wharf and men were running and yelling and throwing ropes and pulling ropes until she came to rest in the correct position. Then we were streaming down the ramp and onto a new lovely island.

We were unsure where to go at first. The instructions for our hostel (Klimataria Studios) were a bit vague; Agios Prokopios Bus Stop on the left in 50 m. The hostel is located on your right. 50 m from Agios Prokopios Beach. So we thought first we better see where we were in relation to Agios Prokopios (or if we were actually there already). We found a map on the wharf and saw it was a little way away so we must have to catch a bus. At the end of the wharf there was a bus office slightly to the left so we bought tickets for the bus and waited in the sun for it to be 2.00 (A half hour wait.) We then crossed the road to the bus stop with permission of the whistle-happy pedestrian crossing cop. (He loved his job!)

When the bus driver was ready to go we loaded out packs into the luggage place and joined the throng trying to get in the bus. The bus driver was yelling the whole time at the top of his lungs in Greek and we had no idea what he was talking about. We just squeezed on (only 2 others made it on after us) and it turned out the the bus driver had just been talking on the phone. It reminded me of yesterday morning when I was woken up by two women yelling in (I think Greek) at each other outside our bathroom vent. It sounded like they were having a massive argument but maybe they were just passionately gossiping!

So the whole way on the bus was a squash but it wasn't too long a trip, maybe 15 mins. And then we were deposited at Agios Prokopios Beach. It is a lovely beach. All golden sand and turquoise water. We reread the instructions. We were unsure if the bit about the bus stop and left was for when we first left the wharf or for when we left the bus. We though we couldn't start walking left because then the sea would be on the right so we went off to the right. We could not see the hostel anywhere down there. So we walked back to where the bus had let us out and saw that on the other side of the road to where we got out was a bus stop sign and to the left of that sign (if you are facing the sea) was a little road. So we tried that one and we found it! (That's our room on the corner at the top.)

We were greeted by a little round lady called Eva with hugs and kisses like we were long lost friends. It is a lovely place. Eva led us up the stairs to another room number 4. It is lovely and large and had aircon and a fridge and balcony.

I like the lampshade and the table cloth and the foliage on our balcony.

Such a nice room! After we had payed we went off to get some lunch with yet another beautiful view. Steve tried fish roe salad which turned out to be just a sort of pureed fish roe mixed with something which he liked but it was more like a pate or something you would want to eat with something else. I had greek salad.

Now we a chilling back in the room. I'm going to go and read my book! :)

In the evening we had another dinner with a view and a nice stroll on the beach.

Amy Water-Baby Fletcher and Steven Sun-Child Clark.

Written 19th August 2012

Today has been a nice relaxing day. In the morning we tried to get e scooter again but they were all booked out. The wind had ripped up yesterday and was still blowing around so we walked around the bay until we found a more sheltered spot and swam to our hearts content in the lovely warm water.

And Steve had a bit of a sun bathe.

Then it was back to the Cactus Restaurant for a yummy lunch. Steve had 1 Euro beers and mexican salad.

And I had iced chocolate and guacamole salad. It was SO yummy!

I love the pretty tables and chairs.

And now we are just chilling in our room.

Continued 20th August 2012

Last night after hanging out for a while we went for a walk and got some tea. We tried Gyros which is a Greek thing similar to a Kebab and just as tasty. Afterwards we had a bowl of yummy ice cream. 

Next we went for a stroll down the other can of town and discovered a whole other part of Parekia that we never knew existed!

And today is another day and we are off to visit a new island called Naxos.

Bye!

Athens and The Island of Paros, Greece.

Written 18^th August 2012

The morning we had to catch the plane to Greece we woke up at 4.25am and caught a taxi (30 Euro) to the airport. We were pretty tired as it was really hot that night and we only got a few hours sleep in the end. We left from terminal 1 this time which was a much nicer terminal (possibly because some things were open). The plane ride to Zurich was fine and I just read my book. We didn't have to wait long in Zurich before our flight to Athens. The flight to Athens was also fine and after some more reading we arrived to a hot hot Greek day. It was sweltering and my feet were so slippery in my jandals because they were sweating like crazy! We caught the train okay and arrived in the centre of Athens without a hitch. We then had to find our way to the hostel which proved more confusing that we initially thought but luckily we had had the foresight to load the destination on maps on the iPad so just used that to find our way which made it easy enough (apart from me slipping and sliding everywhere in my jandals with my heavy pack on).

Our hostel was quite nice

but it was so SO hot and we were tired from the early start and also we were both feeling a bit sick (I had caught Steve's cold). We got a quick bite to eat near the hostel (this is the view from our balcony)

then went back to bed and slept for several hours which we woke from sweaty as. We decided to head out for dinner so ate below our window at a place where we had roast chicken (Greek style). Which was yummy but nowhere near as good as Leanne's. After that we went for a night time stroll

around the bottom of the Acropolis.

We couldn't go in because it was too late but it was still nice to see it. After a cold shower I went to sleep with not even a sheet. We didn't sleep well knowing we had to get up early again and not sure if the guy on the desk had understood about the wake-up call (we ave never had one before).

The next morning was another early start – 5.10am. We walked to the train station in the half dark morning light, wandering down empty streets trying to find our way. The thing about Greece is that it has the Greek alphabet so it is difficult to read the sighs if they are not written with the latin alphabet too. Luckily most things we need to read are written in English too (or at least with the latin alphabet) which makes things a little easier. So we made it to the train station, bought tickets (the machine worked for Steve but not for me) then hopped on the already full train for the port. We sat on our packs for the ride. I was feeling a lot sicker and very tired.

When we arrived at the port it was light. We picked up the tickets we had booked online from the ticket place and hopped on board the giant ferry. We were lucky and managed to score a bench/couch type seat near a window. We were both so tired we slept nearly the entire way (which was about 5 hours!) I would wake up occasionally and dreamily glimpse charming little islands, boats, shining sea, out the salty window and then fall back into slumber. It was lucky that I happened to wake when we came into the port on the island of Paros because Steve didn't wake up and I had to wake him so we could get off. It would have been easy to miss your stop! So we got off,

(that is our ferry)

and followed the directions from Hostel World to Pension Rena. - Turn left at the port, walk 300 metres, turn right at the ruins of the old cemetery, and you will see it up that road a little way on your right. We all that and found it no sweat! We couldn't go in yet though as it was only 11.30 and the other people hadn't checked out yet. So we went for a little walk, ate a spot of lunch and then headed back. Rena showed us to out lovely room which has a view of the sea, aircon, and a fridge.

This is the view.

Then we fell back asleep for a few more hours! We managed to wake up in time to go out for some tea so we headed down to a place called Cactus which had 1 Euro small beers at happy hour.

This is the view from the bar.

 Steve got a beer

and I had a freshly made watermelon juice

and then we both got a delicious dinner. I had chicken and Steve had sward fish.

Both were scrumptious.

This is the restaurant when we left. (We were sitting on the from left of the photo.)

It is so pretty here!

After tea we headed off to another bar where we sat in couches by the sea and ate ice cream (and Steve drank beer).

WE LOVE PYROS! It is lovely and relaxed the so nice and warm but most of the time we have been here there has been a nice breese too.

Yesterday morning we had a big sleep in which helped us to recover a bit from our early mornings and colds. We mucked around for quite a bit, had a yummy breakfast of muesli with Greek yoghurt and milk, 

then went to try and hire a scooter. But they were all taken. So we went to try and catch a bust to Lefkes so we could do a walk but we missed it by 5 minutes. So we went to catch a boat to an island but we missed that too. So Rena suggested we go to a town called Naoussa which was near by on the bus. We made it on that bus and arrived at Naoussa after about 15 minutes. 

We wandered around a bit

 then had a Cesar salad there (which was average) then we wandered around a bit more. 

Next we had a swim and the water was so SO warm it was like swimming in a bath. Bliss. 

After that Steve really needed to use a toilet so we wandered around looking for one.

 I took some photos.

When we finally found one it was a squatter with no loo paper so we decided to get a beer. We stopped at the nearest available restaurant – a nice one next to the water and ended up staying there for a yummy dinner too. 

We had fried aubergine first 

followed by Greek salad for me 

and squid for Steve. 

Yum, it was sooo good!

There was a snobby cat there but he had the most beautiful light aqua eyes.

After tea we decided to head home so we wandered around a bit more, 

I bought a pretty hangy thing,

then walked back to the bus stop and got the bus back. 

Then we got a yummy greek frozen yogurt (where you choose what topping you want to put on top) and Steve had a beer 

and I had a honey due melon juice. 

Yum!

After that we went for an evening stroll around Parikia (where we are staying).

This morning we mucked around for ages. 

Then had Greek Salad for lunch.

Eventually we caught the bus to Lefkes where we walked up and admired the view from the top of the hill. 

Nearly all the buildings a white with blue windows and doors. The paths are stones and all the stucco is painted white. Everything is very pretty. The landscape is pretty dry at the moment but it is still lovely. Everything is pretty old, including the plumbing. You can not flush your toilet paper down the loo! 

It is a bit odd at first but you get used to it. You have to put it in a little bin next to the toilet. 

Anyhow, Rena had told us there was on old track that you could walk from Lefkes to Prodromos so we thought we would do that after looking at the white marble church at Lefkes. We eventually found our way to the church after wandering through the village.

This is the gate to the church.

The church is made of white marble which was mined on this island a long long long time ago.

We had no idea were to start walking from 

but after visiting the church we saw a hand drawn map (on the side of that building with the umbrella) which said bus stop in one direction and Byzantine trail in the other. We guessed maybe this was what we were looking for and followed the signs for it. 

We consulted our maps to check we were on the right track (no help), 

and continued following the signs.

We started walking but had no idea if it was the right track.

It was a VERY old road. 

We discovered it was the right way when after about 40 minutes we crested a hill and saw a village down below us.

We walked along the old stone road until we reached the village of Prodromos and we were ready to catch the bus home to Parikia. 

We found the bus stop after some confusion trying to follow hand drawn maps again. 

On the bus we talked to some nice Auzzies – it was good to talk to some people with a similar accent to us and who were doing a similar kind of trip. They were really friendly. Now we are back in our room chilling. 

Our room is the one on the right at the top.

Steve is having a nap and soon we will go eat more yummy Greek food! Mmmm!

A few hours later...

We ate a yummy dinner at a table a few steps form the sea.

I shared a bit of my tea with a hungry feline.