The island of Naxos

Finished Rhodos with a final drink at our local rooftop bar and captured a wonderful photo of the old house where we were staying.  It was old, but charming, and nicer than a hotel.

We left Rhodes yesterday morning carting our wheelie bags clattering across the cobblestones early in the morning to catch the bus to the airport. Another smooth flight by Aegean airlines (part of Air Alliance) and we were in Athens. An easy bus ride to the secondary port of Rafina for our hydrofoil trip to Naxos - 100 miles away. And this is where the Greece I remember stared to reassert itself. For any of you who have ferried between Greek Islands before will remember, the timetables are indications only, and there's loo of waiting around in hot, dry, dusty places. Our ferry was due to leave at 15.45, and left at 18.20. But we wandered about the town, and had a great souvlaki lunch at a small place on the waterfront. The wind was up, and the waves were breaking, but the trip was smooth. Just a bit long at 5 hours, and 3 stops before us. And wow do they load and unload quickly - we were all gathered on the dock beforehand, and as the last person was coming down the car ramp they were herding us up and into the cargo bay; quick stow your bags and get upstairs - quick, quick, hurry up, and then they're off again, raising the ramp while we're moving off. Health and Safety NZ would have a field day!

Lunch

Waiting with the throngs - at least there was some shelter.

Today we woke to another beautiful day, slightly cooler than Rhodes with a high of 29. We're up on the hill above the port in the main town of Chora, and we look out over the small island of Palatia that has the remains of a temple dedicated to Apollo in the 6th century BC. All that remains is a giant gate.

Our apartment is up here.

We had an easy day and walked to the nearest beach and made like European holiday makers. We rented deck chairs and an umbrella for a few hours and did swimming and sunbathing. And yes I'm a tad pink tonight! We were surrounded by English,Scandinavians, and Germans, young and old, incredibly tanned, or trying to be. It was very relaxing, but there is no way I could do that everyday - it would bore me to tears.

The great thing though is that it is now September, and the mad holiday rush is winding down. The ships are not packed to capacity, the restaurants are calm, and the streets are walkable. In fact wandering around Naxos today It felt much the same as last time I was in Greece - a slow and relaxed atmosphere.

We saw octopus drying on the side of the wharf and I just had to have some for lunch.

Grilled octopus - delicious!

And then there was the stunning sunset across the bay

That's the gates from the temple, and people gathered on the island to watch the sunset.

Kalinychta (goodnight)