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Stood in a large crowd to get on the Blue Star Naxos Ferry; it's nicer than the first two GA Ferries I took. Only 2 hrs. north from Santorini to Naxos; it's a fairly big island. Docked & was greeted by aggressive hotel/studio/pension reps. trying to get people into their places. Fortunately my ride for the Hotel Soula was there; I transported over w/ a family from Sweeden. Again, you don't get much for $13-3 bunk beds with enough extra room for a 4th & there would be no where to move, so small. And not only is it also a phone booth size shower, but there's no curtain! What are these people thinking? Bunked with 2 other pairs from Sweeden. For those interested-there are 9 million Sweedes; their president is Frederick something & their monetary unit is the Crown. I dropped my bag as there was not much to do in that small, crowded room & as per usual, walked the tourist area, in this case, the waterfront, just blocks away. Up the hill from there, is a center square but otherwise more the same-cafes, restaurants, scooter rentals, souvenirs & in this case, a very popular Waffle House. Not
the kind we're used to w/ the yellow sign; these looked GOOD. I might break down & get me one! Instead, I opted for Greek salad & a Heineken. Then, like a good boy, I called my mother! Eventually made it to hot, stuffy bed.
Day 2
A good day in Naxos.
Decided to rent a scooter, but since I don't have a motorcycle license, I had to go with the ATV. It was great fun; I've never ridden one. I took it a few miles out of town to Plaka, the nude beach. But from there I went about 30 Kilometers (20 miles) up into the hills to Aperanthos (the area is known for it's marble quarry; although I never saw it). I started on some back roads (bumpy, cobblestoney, windy...) where I passed some small cute churches & even a guy riding a donkey side-saddle down the street. Eventually out to more main roads & through some small hamlets (just as Bill Bryson would describe it for those of you in the know!). Passed through lots of potato fields & supposedly olive groves; although I couldn't tell where those were. Walked around the quant village of
my destination & had the turkey & cheese crepe alfesco. I must say the pictures look quintessential, but I was thinking some of these people seem like they have a meager existence.
Back down the way I came to Plaka, this time I walked the beach, found a chair (3 Euros) & did beach things-sunscreen, apple, read, dip in water, nap... it was a nice beach-aqua bluer water than I've seen. Very relaxing. Was there from about 430-7. Sun sets at 8:40 & scooter needed to be back by 10; stopped by the grocery store for essentials-granola bars, crackers, water. Back for an evening chicken souvlaki (1.70 Euro; that's cheap!). I figured out the difference-souvlaki starts on a kebab & ends up in a pita; whereas, gyro starts on the cone rotisserie & ends up in a pita. Back to the room ; the Sweedes all left & in came 2 brothers from Missouri. Off to the internet cafe & this entry. Late night-I broke down & had the waffle with chocolate ice cream; it was good.
Day 3
Per usual, checked out, stored my bag. Walked up to the Kastro, a Venetion castle at the top of
Naxos Town. A little more internet time; it's air conditioned & it's hot out. Ferry leaves at 630; 45 minutes to Paros.
Some side notes:
-Was thinking at the grocery store; forgot to mention in Ireland they charge you for the plastic bags. Maybe they should do that in America & people would be a lot more conservative.
-It seems it is common place that you bag your own groceries in Europe.
-Credit cards are not as common; many times they have to go to one central spot to run the card.
-Naxos is known for its Citron; a liquor only found here; apparently no where else in the world. I tasted it; it was ok, but I wouldn't have it again.
-I also tried Mextaca because I've seen it everywhere in Greece; it's a brandy. Not the greatest.
-Graviera(sp?) is a local cheese; it was very good.
-Restaurant trickery--I enjoyed my salad the other night & the bread was a nice accompanyment (so I thought), but unlike in the U.S., they charge you when you eat it.
Part 2--I had a baklava like treat, very yummy. The man asked for here or take away, so I thought
I'd sit & eat it. Of course the advertised price is for take away; they charge more for sitting there & eating.
-The waterfront is very lively; cruise ships dock at night & people flood the waterfront tavernas (restaurants); also other private boats both big & small; definitely seen some nice big boats. Being in land-locked Colorado, I don't think about boating over for dinner but these people do. There are some bars & nightclubs & it's pretty lively.
If you're island hopping beyond Greece's 4 best known islands (Mykonos, Santorini, Rhodes, Crete), I would recommend Naxos for a couple of nights. Plaka beach & dinner along the waterfront would be nice times.
Once again, many pictues; enjoy what you will.
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Davida
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Travel Finds (and woes)
It's sometimes frustrating and yet amazing what we find when we are in foreign lands. Paying for beach chairs, paying for grocery bags, paying for a salad that they plop down on your table---thinking it's part of the meal (and I mean, come on...who wouldn't assume it is to be eaten---that's how they get you...). I've gotten somewhat saavy to these things in Israel, but even the last time I got slammed with a large unexpected layout of cash. My daughter Shauna made an appt for my hair to get done at this really exclusive place that we'd been to before together---they do Do a spectacular job. Anyways, when she called and said what I wanted they quoted her a price of 175. So, I quickly did the math of each shekel being about 1/4 of a dollar and figured, ah...what the heck, about forty bucks to do my hair and then about a five buck tip. BUT, since it was Shauna calling, they quoted for her the price in dollars---and she was not aware of this fact. I paid by credit card, smiled and we left. Yet, my hair did look amazing, the best it ever has! I figured it was too late to freak out about, and learned a new lesson...always ask, shekels or dollars. Sounds like you are doing well, albeit seeing many of the same types of sites yet in different locales. Have you thought about getting a Eurail pass to maybe visit other areas? I know that summer specials are pretty cheap, or at least they were a while back. Personally I tend to get bored and want to see as much as I can---and I dream for a day that I can finally find the time to backpack through Europe with my shoestring budget. Hope you are having fun, and glad you went for the waffles...I mean, as long as you were there, why not, right? Life's too short not to have waffles in Greece (or grease for that matter). I have also started my blog on this site, still in it's infancy stages as I have not yet made my trip. I am leaving next week and cannot wait to see my daughter. If you want to start seeing it after next Thursday (19th), my blog name is "wanderingjew", figures, right? Have fun, stay safe! ---Davida