We arrived by ferry around lunch time in the main port town on Chora, Naxos (Greek Island). I had assumed the ferry would be rubbish
having only really dealt with the ole Interislander, but boy was I wrong… escalators on and off and a cosy sitting area
where we pitched up in with a window view.
After an early start and an oily spinach croissant and coffee on the
ferry it was time for a decent lunch and a scout around the township.
Lots of eateries, and nik-nak shops, we walked along the port and to the nearest gold sandy beach for a quick look. Then back through the shopping area and
the Naxos Castle overlooking the town centre. The castle had lots of narrow winding
footpaths. The architecture was typically of buildings with flat roofs, curved corners, with white walls and vivid blue doors and window frames. There
was literally a cat sitting/sleeping around each corner; in terracotta pots, on
windowsills and lounging around on the stairs.
They were all well fed and clearly all domesticated.
Walkway to the castle
Blue doors and archways
Castle tower stone wall
Catching some rays
Seaview over Chora main town in Naxos
A ginger one
Hundreds of cats.
The best beaches on Naxos are 10-15km out of town. On the second day we hired a small car to
explore around ourselves. Also to practice driving on the right hand side of the
road, in a left hand drive car! The signage over here is woeful and getting out
of town was a bit of a mission.
Once out
of town we headed for one of the most famous beaches called “Plaka”. The beach has stunning white sands and blue
azure waters. It was a hot sunny day - but also windy as buggery and the water was freezing!
Our "fun car" rental.
Tiki-ed onto the next beach, travelled
through a small settlement called Tipodes with the narrowest of streets. For a few moments I was sure the car was going to get wedged and stuck,
precision driving and a few over-revved hillstarts got us through the town and
out onto a main road again.
Tripodes - narrow winding, steep streets. Some sketchy driving.
We pitched up for lunch on the beach in
Mikiri Vigia. Contemplated a token swim but the water was ridiculously cold
so had a sleep on the beach instead. We rounded out the afternoon
with a drive through the centre of the island, to some of the older towns.
Mikiri Vigia beach
Stones walls and churches everywhere
Katherine mastering the left hand drive.
The beard of Zeus leaning into the howling gale. Temple of Apollo also in background.
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