We finally arrived at Parikia, which is the capital and main port of the Island of Paros. Although it was off-season Paros was still quite busy and while walking off the ferry and to the bus station it never fails the number of hotel and rooms to let owners who hoard around screaming at the passengers who just disembarked "NEED ROOM, I GIVE YOU GOOD PRICE!" Makes me laugh every time.
In the 6+ years of coming to Greece I have been to Paros about 5 times. This is the only place in the country that I have revisited, and will continue to do so. The purpose of this particular trip was to visit with our friends (who opened a new restaurant on the island) and to spend time with our 2 year old Goddaughter.
Paros is located in the heart of the Cyclades. Although probably not as well know as other Cycladic Islands such as Santorini and Mykonos it is still very popular and touristy.The crystal clear waters, the traditional villages with the white cubic houses in narrowed alleys, lovely chapels, and a decent nightlife are obvious reasons for its popularity.
We were staying in a little village called Aliki. Aliki is a peaceful coastal village about a 20 minute bus ride from the main Port. If you are looking for something more cosmopolitan this village is not for you, but if good restaurants, great beach, and friendly faces are your thing Aliki is the perfect base for a vacation on Paros.
We really didn't have any plans for the next couple of days. We usually rent a scooter when coming to Paros, but since we have been here so many times before, there was really nothing left to explore. We had about an hour before our bus departed so I walked across the street to a local travel agency, just to browse, however something quickly grabbed my attention. The travel agency was advertising a day trip cruise to the islands of Delos and Mykonos. Two islands neither my husband nor I have ever been. I grabbed the brochure and walked across the street to the bus station where my husband was waiting and asked if we could do the day trip. He wasn't exactly excited about it, but by the end of the night the trip was booked.
We finally made it to the Aliki, and went straight to our small hotel, checked in, and headed straight to our friends new restaurant (Thalassa mou), where we spent the rest of the day eating, drinking, and just catching up with old friends.
The next morning we woke up early again to catch the bus back to Parikia to get another bus to Naoussa where we were catching the boat to Delos and Mykonos. Naoussa is the most beautiful village in Paros and some even say in the Cyclades. This picturesque fishing village has manage to keep its authenticity, character, and charm with its whitewashed and flowered little houses, churches, and chapels, surrounded by narrow cobblestone streets, colorful fishing boats, and even a Venetian castle. One of my favorite things is to sit on the edge of the water and have a glass of wine. There are many taverns and ouzeries (places to drink ouzo) around the village.
We boarded our boat and decided to sit upstairs to take in the scenery and get some fresh air. It was extremely windy which made for a wild ride. The waves were crazy, and even some crashed up and over the boat, soaking some patrons, while making just about everyone else reach for a barf bag. My husband and I just laughed and played it off like a rough ride at an amusement park, changing seats often hoping not to get soaked.
I really didn't know what to expect with the Island of Delos. the only thing that I knew about this place was that no people lived here. I thought it was going to be a small archaeological site no bigger than the Parthenon. But as we pulled into the small dock, I could tell that I was very wrong about this magical gem.
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