Naxos buying blow

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Naxos buying blow

Two days spent on the beautiful Greek island of Naxos will definitely leave you wanting more! I visited Naxos after spending four days on uber-touristy Santorini, and it was a relaxing revelation. I loved my time in Naxos and could easily see myself spending a week or longer there. Naxos feels like a Greek island where Greek people actually live. Part of the appeal of Naxos is that cruise ships do not come here. During the evening stroll along the waterfront and through the labyrinthine lanes of the old town called, fittingly, the labyrinth , visitors mingle with locals, children play in the largely car-free streets, and everyone seems to be in a good mood. And why not? The air on a September evening is warm but not stifling, the sunset over the Aegean is magnificent, the food well prepared and cheaper than Santorini , and the general atmosphere easy going. This post describes my two days on Naxos, including my recommendations for excellent accommodation and food. The map of Naxos below shows the locations I visited. I stayed with my daughter Julia at Giorgios Beach 1 , a short walk from the main town of Chora 2 and the ferry dock. Click a number to read more about each location. We bid farewell to Aethrio Sunset Village and take a taxi to the ferry port. Unlike the old port that services the cruise ships, the ferry port is accessible by car and bus down a very steep series of switchbacks. When our ferry arrives, we join the throngs of suitcase-toting visitors for the mad dash up the gangplank and into the cavernous hold. The ferry workers blow whistles and gesture for us to form two orderly lines fat chance. The online ticketing went smoothly, and the app was easy to use. When we boarded the ferry, we showed the tickets on the app to the attendant who scanned them and waved us through. The voyage from Santorini to Naxos takes about 90 minutes. Julia knocks herself out with a strong Gravol gum and I settle in to write while occasionally glancing out at the white-capped sea. The ferry docks briefly at the island of Ios and then Naxos is next. We are among the first visitors off the ferry, where we find the taxi rank and are soon on our way to Kalergis Studios on Plaka Giorgios. The small studio contains two beds, a tiny kitchen, a bathroom, and a balcony overlooking the beach. The reasonably-priced place three nights cost the same as one night in Oia! The portions are enormous! Here is the most massive hamburger Julia has ever eaten and my Dakos salad. Although groaningly full after our lunches, we have to jump into the Aegean Sea. Agios Georgios Beach 1 on the map is sandy, and the water is just the right temperature to be refreshing. We bob happily for a while before returning to our room and getting ready to check out the Naxos sunset. Sunsets really are a thing in Greece! On Naxos, the most popular place from which to watch the sunset is the Portera 2. Also known as the Temple of Apollo, the Portera is a huge marble gate and all that remains of the temple of Apollo that was built, but never finished, in BC. We stroll toward the Portera, but my knee is aching, so I opt to sit on a bench overlooking the boats bobbing in the harbor while Julia runs on ahead to catch the sunset from the Portera. Here are two of her amazing shots. The Naxos sunset just keeps on giving. After finally tearing our eyes from the sky, we settle on dinner at one of the many places lining the harbor. We decide to make one of our two full days on Naxos a beach day—our one beach day of the entire day visit to Greece. We seriously do nothing for the entire day. The air is breezy and warm, the sun hot but not unbearable, the view of the sparkling blue Aegean sea restful, and the occasional swim restorative. Thoroughly sun-warmed and relaxed, we follow the sunset back to Chora and stroll up to the top of the town to see the view. We are virtually alone as we wander around, occasionally checking out a souvenir store or snapping a picture of one of the cats. We learn later when we go to Athens that the tight architecture of the villages in the Cyclades Islands owes a lot to pirates. Over the millennia, pirates the so-called Sea People have been a constant thorn in the side of peaceful occupants of islands such as Naxos and Santorini. To protect themselves, people built their villages with houses very close together and clustered around narrow, serpentine lanes that wind around and through the villages with seemingly no logic. If a pirate manages to get to such a village, they can be more easily repelled. The result of all this pirate repelling are villages that to our modern eyes are irresistibly charming and achingly picturesque. Every turn brings into focus another angle for another photo. Cobbled lanes and slippery steps lead up, up, up between houses so close they can be touched with outstretched hands. And everywhere there are cats—lounging across the tops of thick walls, tails swishing lazily in the heat, stalking around corners, skittering across the cobblestones. Cats are a thing in Greece, we are discovering. They are everywhere! Most look sleek and well fed, although I think they are feral. Their presence is a constant source of pleasure for photo-snapping tourists, us included. After our wandering and picture-snapping, we go in search of a well-reviewed restaurant in the labyrinth. With its 4. After being seated under a huge tree in an airy courtyard, we order chicken souvlaki for two. While we wait, we watch in awe as the black-clad waiters literally run from table to table. One young man actually sprints, while holding aloft plates of food. When our souvlaki comes, he plunks it down and rushes off, only to return seconds later to offer to help us de-skewer the chicken. The meal is plentiful and tasty. Today, we sign up for an all-day tour of the island. The plus is that the price is startlingly reasonable—just 30 Euros each for an eight-hour guided tour that takes us all over Naxos. As two of the last people to be picked up, we settle into our seats in the second to last row and prepare to enjoy ourselves. Other than putting up with their rudeness and to add insult to injury, they are fellow Canadians! We leave the town of Chora and head up into the hills. As the largest of the Cyclades Islands, Naxos has an ecosystem very different from desert-like Santorini. Although dry, the landscape is much more verdant with plenty of greenery and high mountains framing views of the ever-blue Aegean. There is a great deal of agriculture here, including olive oil production, which explains the delectable freshness of the food. Over the centuries, the temple suffered attacks and repurposing, including the building of a small Christian basilica in its center. As is the case throughout Greece, the marble and other materials from ancient temples was frequently used to build Christian churches. I learn that the impressive looking ruins were rebuilt in We stop in the village of Damalas 4 to watch a pottery demonstration. The potter throws a pot with impressive speed and accuracy. His pot comes out perfectly. The small store adjacent to the workshop sells an impressive array of plates, jugs, platters, and figurines. I purchase a bowl and resolve that it will be my one pottery purchase of the trip. I have a soft spot for buying pottery while traveling, but I have only a carry-on this trip and must make hard choices. The tour progresses at a brisk rate with frequent stops, the next being the charming village of Chalki 5 where we have forty minutes to wander the picturesque alleys and sample olive oil and citron liqueur. I buy a can of olive oil and a small bottle of the liqueur because, well, why not? The town also contains an ancient Byzantine church called Panagia Drosiani that dates from the 4 th to 6 th centuries AD. We have a quick look inside; the frescoes are impressive. The village of Apiranthos 6 is billed as the most famous village in Naxos because of its marble cobbled streets slippery when wet , narrow lanes, and panoramic views. It is definitely charming, and we enjoy a stroll around. Between Apiranthos and the seaside village of Apollonas 7 lies some seriously twisty mountain roads. Our driver takes us around sharp curves and up steep slopes that would be challenging to negotiate in a small car, never mind a bus the size of a whale on wheels. The views are stunning in this remote area of the island. Our guide tells us about some of the tiny villages we lumber through, how harsh life was historically and how their populations are decreasing. The village of Apollonas clusters alongside a white sand beach. We find a table right at the edge of the water and order the best lunch of our entire trip. We devour it along with a massive Greek salad and an order of saganaki Greek fried cheese. Our last short stop is to admire a prone, large, and unfinished marble statue that is over 10 meters in height, weighs 80 tonnes, and dates to the 8 th century BC. Because the statue wears a long cloak and has long hair and a beard, most researchers think it depicts Dionysius, but some disagree and favor Apollo. Taking the tour did at least allow us to see a lot of Naxos. But if possible, opt for a small group tour or a private tour. We arrive back in Chora around 5 pm and return to Kalergis Suites for one last swim in the Aegean before the sun sets. For dinner, we eat leftovers from our souvlaki dinner the night before. In the evening, we stroll the fifteen minutes back to Chora, poking through the many souvenir stores and enjoying the relaxed ambience, very different from Santorini. Bright and early, we bid farewell to Kalergis Suites and take a taxi back to the port. More or less on time, the ferry churns in. Along with of our new friends, we surge up the gangway and stash our luggage. We find and settle into two very tight seats with no view and no leg room in tourist class. The voyage takes almost four hours, and Julia decides to check on upgrading to business class. Off she goes to inquire, returning ten minutes later with upgraded tickets 25 euros each. We mount the interior staircase to business class where we discover that the extra cost is well worth the increased comfort of much wider seats and a view of the passing sea. Our trip to Greece included only two islands—Santorini and Naxos. Santorini has the stupendous views, and Naxos has the laid-back atmosphere and rugged interior. We stayed four nights on Santorini and three nights on Naxos, which worked well. Also, the longer you have to enjoy the views at many different times of day, from sunset to sunrise, the better. Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Contents hide. Map courtesy of Wanderlog , a trip planner on iOS and Android. Powered by GetYourGuide. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published.

Greek Island Hopping: Next Stop Naxos

Naxos buying blow

Lena Philippou, President of skincare brand Korres, is no stranger to Naxos. The largest island in the Cyclades, Naxos is mountainous and rugged, with storybook villages throughout. Despite all its perks, Naxos is often overlooked by guide books—this paradise is reserved for Greek locals in-the-know. So take it from Philippou, who knows the island like the back of her hand: here is how to spend the perfect day in Naxos, Greece. The hike is short, but make sure you have trekking shoes as much of the trail is an ascent up the mountainside. Adventurous travelers should leave an hour before sunrise for an incredible view by the time you reach the top. Having worked up a huge appetite from an early morning hike, fill up on breakfast before a full day at the beach. In Chalki village, you can easily find traditional Greek tavern breakfasts using high-quality ingredients like fresh cheese, eggs, and local produce like capers. You can also head to a glykopoleio sweets shop for coffee and a bite of orange pie, a specialty. Chalki is known for Vallindras Distillery which produces Kitron, a citron liqueur that Naxos is famous for. Beach lovers, choose your adventure! For those who want a serviced, luxury beach experience with recliners and refreshments, go to Plaka. Adventurous beachgoers and families might prefer Mikri Vigla for its water sports and huge boulders that are great for climbing and parkour. Finally, Psili Ammos is a stunning superfine sand beach with opportunities to dive from the rocks above. Or, head to Axiotissa , located close to the beaches. Spend your evening visiting any of the small bars and taverns in Naxos Chora. For the perfect snack after bar-hopping, head to Naxos Grill for some affordable souvlaki to satisfy those midnight cravings. Be prepared to be blown away by the iconic Portara when you arrive. The best time to visit? It will be cold and deserted. You can walk to most of the other beaches, too. I love the hotel—the staff is so hospitable. Plus, every morning they catch and prepare fresh fish for you. Polis Boutique Hotel : With its modern aesthetic and central location in Naxos Chora, Polis is perfect for those who want a more intimate stay. Lena Philippou-Korres is our expert on all things Greece. We wanted to know about a destination that's overlooked by guidebooks yet treasured by locals, and Naxos checks all the boxes. Read on for Philippou's guide to spending a day in Naxos like a local. Where do the urbanites of Athens go on vacation? Zas Mt. Noon — Beach day, all day Beach lovers, choose your adventure!

Naxos buying blow