Category: Naxos (page 9 of 12)

Warming up with some Naxos beach memories

Share

Agios Prokopios beach Naxos

Looking across the brilliant turquoise sea as waves softly break against the sand at Agios Prokopios beach on Naxos

 

Feeling the chill: Clouds. Wind. Rain. That pretty much sums up the dreary, depressing weather we’ve been experiencing here in Toronto since late October, when Hurricane Sandy started moving out of the Caribbean on its way to wallop the USA’s eastern seaboard. We were supposed to see a mix of sun and clouds on Sunday, Monday and again today, but the sunshine didn’t last for more than a few minutes. So you can imagine how envious I felt this morning when a friend in Athens bragged about being on her way to the beach because it was a balmy 29 degrees (Celsius).

At the time, I was sorting through photos from our visits to Naxos in 2005 and 2006, looking at pictures of some of the island’s beautiful beaches. Just out of curiosity, I checked the weather for Naxos. The island wasn’t getting the same blast of heat as Athens, but the temperature was still a summery 24 C.  Meanwhile, we were shivering with a high of only 2 C.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Pages: 1 2

Greece holiday pic of the day

Share

plant on a windowsill in Naxos Town

A succulent plant decorates a rustic window frame at a house in Naxos Town

 

 

Greece holiday pic of the day

Share

Naxos mountains

Mountains on the south coast of Naxos, viewed from the Express Skopelitis ferry

 

 

Greece holiday pic of the day

Share

 Naxos Town

Hotels and houses above the coast in the Grotta area of Naxos Town on Naxos

 

Chasing butterflies

Share

butterfly in Naxos Greece

A butterfly rests near Agia Anna beach on Naxos island. This particular species has the hallmark characteristics of a Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

 

Winging it: Back in late April, when southern Ontario experienced an irruption of Red Admiral butterflies, I recalled the time our island bus tour on Paros skipped a scheduled stop at the famous Valley of Butterflies — because there were none to be seen.

That was back in mid-June 2005. We had signed up for a day-long Orbit Travel excursion that would take us to places right around the island, including an afternoon visit to Petaloúdes, the butterfly valley 6 km from the port town of Parikia. I’d read about the Valley in my Greece travel guidebooks; they described Petaloúdes as a Paros must-see attraction during summer months simply because of the staggering numbers of Jersey tiger moths that would swarm the area. We had been impressed with the Butterfly Conservatory near Niagara Falls, so we thought it would be neat to see an entire valley teaming with tiger moths.

Unfortunately, it was not meant to be.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Pages: 1 2

Greece holiday pic of the day

Share

Stelida beach on Naxos

A woman strolls down a dirt road to Stelida beach on Naxos

 

Visiting Delos: How to get there

Share

Google map showing Rinia Delos and Mykonos

This Google map image shows Delos island’s location between Mykonos, right, and Rinia, left. Mykonos offers the closest and most convenient access to Delos, with ferry service from the Mykonos Town harbour

 

[Editor’s Note: Please see my Visiting Delos in 2016 post for current Delos information, including new ferry ticket prices and new fees for admission to the Delos archaeological site.]

 

Getting there from Mykonos: It’s relatively easy to reach Delos from Mykonos, which just happens to be the closest populated island.

Every day except Monday, when Delos is closed to the public, excursion boats depart the Mykonos Town harbour in the morning, and return in the early to mid-afternoon. Three different boats — the Delos Express, the Margarita and the Orca — offer round trips that typically depart at 9, 10 and 11 a.m., and return from Delos at 12:15,  1:30 and 3 p.m. I say “typically,” because the service depends upon both the season and demand. In May 2011, for instance, boats departed Mykonos only at 9 and 10, and returned at 12:15 and 3. In extremely windy or stormy weather, the boats might be cancelled altogether. You don’t have to return on the same boat that took you to Delos; you’re free to select whichever returning boat you prefer.

 

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

Pages: 1 2

Fotis Taverna at Agios Prokopios beach on Naxos

Share

Fotis Taverna at Agios Prokopios Naxos

Fotis Taverna sits beside a sharp bend in the road between Agios Prokopios beach and Agia Anna beach on the west coast of Naxos …

 

Fotis Taverna at Agios Prokopios Naxos

… and has three tree-shaded tables offering beach and sunset views just across the road — our favourite spot for drinks and dining

PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 2 FOR TEXT AND MORE PHOTOS

Pages: 1 2

Older posts Newer posts