Back to the Big Aegean Surprise: NAXOS

 

Jeff—Saturday

It's been a busy week for us on Mykonos.  All those people to whom over the years I said, "Hey, when you're in the neighborhood, feel free to stop by and say hello" -- and actually believed I meant it -- decided to show up during the same week!  So many of them landed this week off cruise ships, that I thought we must have won some sort of BINGO game for the number of boats hitting the island bearing friends of ours.  

 

Humor aside, we were happy to see then, and saddened when some couldn't make it into port because of the weather. But as of today that's all in the past, for now the sandal's on the other foot as we pack up to depart Mykonos in response to the generous invitation of great friends to stay with them on Naxos.  

 

At least I think they invited us.

 

We love Naxos, the largest and possibly greenest of the Cycladic islands, and neighbor to Mykonos. It’s like going back in time…starting with today and marching back through decades into centuries until ending up somewhere six or seven millennia B.C.E. when Naxos launched the Cycladic period. It’s had a storied history, one that inspired me to place my eleventh Chief Inspector Andreas Kaldis book there--A Deadly Twist. And which inspires me to reprise a brief taste, through story and accompanying photographs, of the sorts of surprises this fabulous island has to offer.  All photographs are by Photobomber a/k/a Barbara the Benevolent.

So, without further delay, here’s just the briefest glimpse of the enchanting island of Naxos as it looked four years ago--which as many will tell you, can be a millennia in the Cyclades these days:

Imagine yourself following this road

You find this deserted undeveloped beach

You see this structure off in the distance

Curiosity sends you off exploring

It becomes more and more interesting

What can it possibly be?

Better still, what was it?

Not Stonehenge...perhaps ConcreteHedge?

Stepping inside and looking back at the spectacular view,

You wonder what harm can befall you exploring.

Perhaps it's time to rethink that conclusion.

And who's this?

Aha, uplifting thoughts.

A bit of a different perspective

I'm beginning to think getting out there's not such a bad idea.

Definitely not a bad idea.

Though this means of escaped does cause one to pause.

Ahh, free at last!

But what's this?

And this.

At last, a friendly face.

Can't say the same thing about these birds.

What happened to friendly face?

An interesting lady

Alfred E. Neuman's sister?

An editorial?

What is this place. I better go find out.

But first a stop at the beach.

And then a bite to eat.

The path up to our hotel....the other path looked more welcoming

A killer view back toward town....so to speak.

On a journey to the Naxos Archaeological Museum at the top of the Old Town Kastro or castle.

Self Portrait by Photobomber.

On her way to the top.

Through the streets.

More streets.

The old castle walls (Venetian)

The Catholic Cathedral and Duchy Palace

The rear of the Museum

One of its treasures, some as old as 5th Millennium BCE

Just a cool shot of the Museum

Naxos harbor at sunset.

It's still setting.

A mountain vista

A broader mountain vista

A mountain vista with sea on the side.

A valley village.

Example of the fertile land in action.

Access to the islet housing the symbol of Naxos.

Here it is, The Portara.

  

The Portara panorama

Hard not to miss this place.

Kalo Mina,

 

—Jeff