I've been thinking today that, every journey, is a little life.A miniature of life.Moments and emotions that we live, people we meet, places we see, tastes we try, pictures and colours that we see. And probably, just because we live all these compressed within a few days and with the company of our beloved ones, they are engraved forever deep in our soul.
This, is unique and precious.It's a blessing and an amazing memory that follows us for the rest of our lives.
And so it should be for all of us.
I must say that I feel lucky and privilleged to have experienced thousands of such moments in my life.
One of the finest trips I've ever made, was in Paros island.
An impulsive decision, excellent companionship and here we go, sailing to Paros!
Paros in Greece, is among the most popular islands of Cyclades. Located in the heart of the AegeanSea, the island is ideal for young people, romantic couples and families, too.
The Parian traditional villages, particularly Naoussa,
Parikia and Lefkes, are perfect samples of Cycladic architecture, with
whitewashed sugar houses, paved streets and blue-domed churches.
Páros has a bit of everything you’d expect from an island in
the Cyclades archipelago – whitewashed villages, blue-domed churches, blonde-sand
beaches, fishing harbours overlooked by taverna tables, plus lively bars and
cafés.
From the ring road the views out to sea over dozens of
surrounding islands are unbeatable.
Wander through beautiful traditional villages like Náoussa,
a colourful village, where the ruins of a Venetian fortress stand at the
entrance to its small harbour.
Léfkes is located at the highest point of Páros and enjoys
stunning views of the island. The village is set up in the mountains and is
surrounded by a rich green landscape. It has very well preserved Cycladic and
neoclassical buildings, beautiful squares and narrow marble alleys.
The Museum of Aegean Folk Culture at Léfkes offers a tour of
the culture of the Archipelago; discover the Aegean world through its exhibits,
which include pieces related to the architecture, traditional trades and
geology of the islands.
Márpissa, founded in the 15th century, is a traditional
village with a distinctive medieval character. It is located on a hill, a few
kilometres away from the famous beaches of Loyarás and Písso Livádi.
You can also visit the impressive Monastery of Ayios
Antonios (17th century) on the hill of Kéfalos, where the ruins of a 15th
century Venetian castle stand, and enjoy a wonderful view of the sea.
Petaloúdes is an area of stunning beauty near the village of
Psychopiana. The habitat is rich in vegetation and running water, with tall
plane trees, laurels, wild olive trees, and carob trees covered in ivy that
play host to the butterfly species.
Where and how to find a good restaurant?
There must be hundreds of restaurants and taverns on Paros.
Some are great, of course, and some aren’t. But how do you recognize a good
restaurant before getting disappointed? If you have the possibility, ask
someone. We,Greek people are usually very fussy about going to good restaurants
and being served fresh food, so we will know. Ask other tourists; surely they
will have had some good food somewhere. Preferably, choose restaurants that
look clean and tidy, but not necessarily all fancy. Sometimes very simple
places have the best food. If you see many people sitting somewhere, especially
Greeks, it is most likely to be a good restaurant. (However, this rule applies
at Greek eating times - Greeks for example don't usually go out for dinner
before 10 pm!)
What to eat ( yammi!)
When the sea meets the earth and the sun generously spreads
its grace in winter and summer, taste takes on a new dimension. Saltiness,
aroma, sweetness flavors that fill the senses and soar when skillfully combined.
People invested in all they were given, despite the dry,
windblown soil of the Cyclades. They invested in low, special crops, with high
tolerance to the sun and heat, which compensated them... tremendously.
Eggplant, zucchini, wild greens, green bean and broad bean varieties that
thrive and produce delicious and well-known vegetables.
Parian cuisine
Parian cuisine features recipes from the Cyclades. A center
of both culture and taste, it comprises oily foods, baked and boiled legumes,
many different kinds of "balls" prepared with herbs grown on the
island: tomato balls, chickpea balls, zucchini balls, potato balls! Xerotigana
(fried dough strips) and pancakes, both sweet and savory.
Meat cooked in a pot or in the oven, festive, stuffed lamb
or wonderful combination entrées (vegetables and meat), open and covered pies
and, naturally, fish and seafood.
Fish is cooked in a variety of ways. In addition to tasty
kakavies (soup), they are grilled, fried, and cooked with vegetables, greens
and legumes! Local fish include: gouna (sun dried, salted fish), salatouri (ray
salad with a lemon & oil sauce and fresh herbs), mackerel and grilled
octopus. And the karavoles (giant snails) have evolved from a humble dish into
a gourmet delicacy. Whether boiled with garlic, boubouristi (lightly fried) or
stifado (in an onion stew), they are a taste challenge that cannot be ignored.
The dietary habits of Paros are based on the Mediterranean
diet. Fruits and vegetables, fish, olive oil, wine, spirits (souma) and dairy
products. Fresh xinomyzitha (soft creamy cheese), oil cheese, excellent
Gruyère, kefalotiri (salty cheese), bagged cheeses and kopanisti (sharp soft
cheese). These cheeses are delightful when served with small koroneikes olives
and the renowned rusks of Paros - the ideal companions for souma!
The island also produces aromatic honey, aromatic herbs
(oregano, sage, thyme) and capers, while local meats are incomparable in taste
and quality. The "meats" of the sea are delicious.
Greek habits:
In Greece we don’t usually order individual dishes except
for the main meal. We order a sufficient amount of starters and share them to
have a variety. This usually leads to over-eating, as the starters are so
delicious that one is more or less full by the time the main meal comes... ;-)
The only problem is that if you are a foreigner you usually
read the menu and don’t know half the stuff, so you don’t know what to choose!
(It would be even worse if you knew what you were missing...)
Tips: Don’t just stick to the menu if you are in a
restaurant. We don’t read menus much; instead we usually ask the chef what is
on the menu or go directly into the kitchen to choose. This still happens, so
don’t be surprised, but rather flattered, if you are asked into the kitchen! Be
open-minded and do so! Sometimes things are not even written on the menu. Ask
the waiter or chef for recommendations
Ask for the meal-of-the-day recommendation, which will
definitely be fresh.
What about beaches?
The beaches are famous for the exotic water and the golden
sand. The beaches on the south eastern side, such as Golden Beach and New
Golden Beach, are particularly popular for windsurfing. A nice day trip from
the island is the small island of Antiparos, with the crystal beaches and the
relaxing atmosphere.
Meet the villages and, don't forget to try a Mojito!
Sun-drenched beaches, like Chrissí Aktí, Santa Maria and
Poúnda, welcome sun-loving visitors who want to enjoy the crystal clear sea,
the sun or even their favourite water sports! Every year Chrissí Aktí is the
venue for the Windsurfing World Championship. On the sea bed at Alykí beach, to
the southwest, you can explore the ruins of an ancient town!
Enjoy the unusual natural landscape with impressive white rock formations on
Kolymbíthres beach.
The beach of Kalóyeros, surrounded by red and green clay
rocks offers a really effective spa for free! Cover your body with clay and let
it dry in the sun; after a while rinse yourself in the sea and your body will
feel softer than ever!
I could go on and on, writting about this island!
Unrivalled natural beauty, beaches with crystal clear
waters, unrivalled Byzantine footpaths connecting traditional villages and
breathtaking landscapes make Páros, located at the heart of the Cyclades, one
of the best loved holiday destinations in Greece.
Quote of this post: You must visit Paros!
