Seven today!
Well our stay on Naxos is drawing to a close. It is a beautiful island, with its own underground water, so it is fruitful. It seems hard to imagine we only arrived yesterday after our ferry from Raffina. It was
a long trip,but the time passed quickly. We had comfortable seats, and mine was near the window! On deck was good...windy and sunny. We went up to see the boat dock at Timos and the more touristy Mykonos. And then we actually watched the Queen's funeral procession
on Greek TV on board! No sound, and we didn't see the service, but we did watch the whole procession, and we're glad to do so. When we arrived at the hotel other Brits were huddled round a TV set watching the procession to Windsor.
A
few of us were unable to stay in the main hotel, not ideal, but I moved back today and it is much nicer. We went down to the beach, and Rob and I swam in the sea. It was warm! Then we went for an explore of the coastal area and ended up having a lovely drink
on a sofa facing out to sea.
We had a guided walk in the old town early in the evening, archways, stonemsteps, churches, museums all above the port, and then we walked down through beautiful boutiques selling clothes, jewellery and
the local spirit made from the leaves of a fruit which is like a lemon, but much bigger.
We had a meal in the port area, but service was incredibly slow, and after yet another early start, we were flagging badly as we waited. But the
fresh sardines were brilliant as was the salad I ordered, ....but portions are huge. Definitely not having two courses tomorrow!
Another early start....and I packed my suitcase and left it, hoping it would be transferred.
Today we had aour first walk. Dry, dusty and stony, but through wonderful olive groves, passing bushes of oregano and pistachio, eating a fresh fig from a tree as well as some overhanging grapes. There is Heather, and pretty little autumn Crocuses. We have
an interesting group.Apart from us (5), we hav a single lady from Australia, a couple of sisters from French speaking Canada, a couple from Calgary, an Brit and an American who live in Grenoble, a couple of Women from the U.K. but the one we have spoken
to lives in France and has a daughter in Hong Kong and a son in Chicago. Her friend didn't come on the walk and hasn't eaten with us yet, so we barely know her!! There is also a mother and her 21 year old daughter celebrating Emillia's birthday.
I love the walk, the aromatic herbs, the little wayside churches with faded icons on the walls, the centuries old cemeterie, and the far reaching views over the Rocky hillsides to the sea beyond.
we come down to a village
at lunch time and get to eat our picnics in a lovely shaded hotel garden. After this we climb higher so we can get a good view of the marble quarries and get to see some marble statues created in the time of the ancient Greeks.
Afternoon was a swim
in the pool, a crossword, and then another wander through the old town. I went on my own but met up with Linda and Simon. We managed to go into an amazing antique shop held up by classical pillars. I bought a present for Jane.Unusual golden straw made into
jewellery and wrapped artistically with thin gold wire! Ingenious!
A glass of wine preceded our meal tonight, which was much better and as usual the group was sociable.