Paros Island
After the cosmopolitan island of Myconos, we woke in the morning in the tranquil bay of St. John in Paros. It was a clear bright morning, and the blue waters were smooth and inviting. After breakfast, we took our Zodiacs to the coast, and started a wonderful hike towards the lighthouse, led by our naturalist Sharon. Fortunately, due to late spring, there were many blooming wildflowers and seasonal herbs. Sharon showed us many insects, butterflies, and lizards! Then we had the opportunity to experience swimming and kayaking at our own private beach.
Before lunch, our guides Effie and Stella gave us a summary of the history of the Aegean islands and an introduction to the Greek language. During lunch, Panorama repositioned closer to Naoussa town, and we started our afternoon tour. The little fishing harbor was quiet, and the only activity was at the local tavernas, where the Greeks were enjoying sun-dried octopus with a glass (or two!) of ouzo. The narrow streets of the town offered us the shade we were looking for just before we boarded our bus. We had the opportunity to drive toward the old medieval capital called Lefkes. The Byzantine path led us to a beautiful square, an ideal spot to have a cup of Greek coffee and a piece of walnut pie, which was just out of Mrs. Maria’s oven!
Just a little outside the village, we found an olive grove that was different that those we have seen so far. The locals claim that some of the olive trees are older than 500 years old, and the huge trunks could prove it. Of course, a visit in Paros is never complete without seeing the ancient marble quarries. The quality of Parian marble is considered to be second after Pentelic marble, but the first among the islands. The most popular example of sculpture made of Parian marble is the masterpiece “Venus de Milo” that is kept today at the Louvre Museum. Many of us had a little souvenir from the area, and collected marble chips hoping that each was a leftover from ancient statues that were never finished, at Agorakritos’ workshop!
The end of our tour was at Paroikia town, the capital of Paros Island. While we were entering the famous Ekatontapyliani Church, we realized from the fancy decorations that a christening was in process. We discovered how important this ceremony is for Greek families, as new members are initiated into the world of Christianity. With the sound of melodic chanting, and a large number of photos of the twin boys who were being baptized, we headed back to the Panorama.
In the early evening, Sharon completed our passion for photography by sharing her knowledge and experience. A slideshow reminded us of the places we visited so far, and prepared us for our next port of call, Amorgos! In the night, we had a typical “volta,” strolling through the alleys, looking at the locals, shopping or simply sipping our drinks under the beautiful moon.
