Naxos, Greece
After crossing back from the Dodecanese Islands last night, this morning found us in the calm harbor of Naxos. With a whole day to explore the largest of the Cyclades Islands, we left the port after breakfast for a trip up into the mountains.
On the way we learned about marble quarries both present day and ancient. Our first stop was at one of the ancient quarries where a larger-than-life-size Kouros (archaic male statue) from the 7th century BC had been found in place where it had been carved. This Kouros had been most likely been left (and never shipped to its final destination) because it broke while it was being carved. But like so many mysteries of long ago, we will never exactly know what went on and the best we can do is make guesses from the information we have, and enjoy the unknown.
From there we split into two groups, each going off to see a trade of the past still being performed today. The adult group went to a small local distillery to see how citron liquor is made. The kids went to visit a local potter and try their own hands at the wheel or hand mold clay pots.
Once back in Naxos town, we had the afternoon to explore on our own and then joined Ellie and Nani for a walk through the old Venitian castro (castle). This is a beautiful example of how towns were built like forts, with all the outside walls joined together for protection. The narrow winding streets (aka donkey trails) were like a maze that wound up to the top and back down again through the old town. This is one of the best surviving examples of a castro in the Cyclades.
After dinner we enjoyed a traditional dance performance by a local dance group. They managed to get most of us on our feet by the end of the evening. With cries of “opa!” we joined them in their celebration. Once into the rhythm of dancing, some of the younger members of our group continued with the dancing theme, practicing the electric slide and other more modern dances. As has been the case on so many other days in Greece, the past and the present have intertwined in a way that makes our visit that much more enjoyable.
