Paros & Naxos
The Panorama dropped her anchor in the late evening of the 19th, allowing for a restful night of sleep with just a hint of movement as a gentle wind rocked our floating home on her anchor. We awoke in a beautiful cove located at the northwest end of Naoussa Bay on the north end of Paros Island. After breakfast, our relaxed morning activities unfolded in perfect sunny warm weather. Our options were kayaking, swimming and an interpretive hike to a local lighthouse for our morning on Paros Island.
Kayakers and swimmers were taken to a large and sandy beach while hikers used a smaller beach as the drop-off and starting point for their hike. Heading up the slope that faced the beach, hikers walked through the arid but rich botanical environment that is characteristic of many of the Cycladic Islands. The plants are exposed to strong wind, intense sun and little rain. Adaptive mechanisms abound, so that these diverse and colorful plants of the islands of Greece survive each year’s weather conditions.
We were hiking in the first warm days of summer. The remaining flowering plants were the toughest customers, using stunted size, spiny cushion shape, volatile oils and reflective colors to grow, flower, produce seed, and then go dormant for the remaining very hot summer days.
Reaching the first rise in our hike brought us to our first view of the Korakas Lighthouse and our destination for today’s hike. As our group approached the lighthouse a young Greek man passed our group heading for the lighthouse. As we arrived the lighthouse keeper, a Greek Naval officer, invited us to come in and hear about the history of this particular lighthouse. It was constructed in 1887. In 1970 the lighthouse was expanded to its present size. The light, today, is powered by electricity and batteries, a change completed in the 1980’s, from the former use of oil. Water used in the lighthouse is collected from rain and stored in a tank under the lighthouse. The original pump was still in place as well as Paros marble used for the original steps leading up the tower to the light. All too soon it was time to leave our very friendly host and return to the beach for a quick swim before returning to the Panorama and lunch.
Once all guests, kayaks, and our Zodiac were secured, the Panorama headed out into a fast developing SW wind. As lunch was finishing we all could hear the sound of the sails being raised, and just to add to wonderful sailing conditions the engines were shut down and the sails of the Panorama dipped ever so slightly as she caught the breeze and began a lovely relaxed afternoon of travel by sail on the Mediterranean, just as has been done for thousands of years.
In the later afternoon, engines were started, sails dropped and we began our approach to the island of Naxos. Once our Med. mooring or stern landing was complete in the harbor we were invited to take a walking tour of the harbor and the old Kastro of Naxos town. During the next two hours we wandered through the narrow alleys, passageways and winding streets that all led up to the medieval Venetian castle that sits at the top of the hill, overlooking the harbor. Once at the castle, we all had an opportunity to wander down the same narrow streets to the beachfront where great ice cream, a cold drink in a taverna or a stop in one of the many interesting local shops all were possible choices for a relaxing early evening.
The sun was moving rapidly towards sunset and one of the most beautiful ways to spend that last light of day in Naxos town was to make the short walk to the large marble “Portara” or doorway that stands at one end of the harbor entrance. This doorway from an ancient temple to honor Apollo has remained standing since its construction. Standing in a particular spot one could watch the sun set through the doorway to a temple that once honored the God of light. All around the site of the Portara there were Greeks and tourists, watching the light at the end of the day, just as one could imagine people have done for countless generations.
