The 'Hora' (main town) of Paros Island was the very tranquil Parikia, where we met Melanie & Ken with baby Fritzie, just finished updating the German pilot. The young Optimists sailors in the bay took us back to Fay's training with Eddie et al at Restonguet!
On the north of Paros is Naoussa, arguably the most picturesque fishing village in the Cyclades: Again almost deserted, but clearly a GREAT place in the summer to bar-hop!
We found the largest island, Naxos (just to the east of Paros) much more populated and 'real'...
... e.g. nothing like a well-thrashed, fresh octopus to get the local customers into the sea front tavernas!
We took a tour of the exquisite interior of Naxos island, with stupendous views all around.
The Naxian marble is everywhere; literally oozing out of the ground. This unfortunate, larger than life (male nude) Kouros's leg broke in the closing stages of its carving about 2500 years ago. Oh bugger!
Mount Zeus is the highest of the Cylclades at just over 1000m...
...with great, 360 degrees views to reward the climb.
The placing of these tiny chapels on the most inaccessible positions is typical ... and breathtakingly beautiful.
The temple of Dimitras was built in the southern plane c. 530BC, to accept offerings as thanks to the fertility of the Naxian soil; which still remains today.
We'd holed up in Naxos town marina deliberately to be safe from the impeding gales, which finally came...
With the sea boiling to windward from the force 8+ winds (we saw 43 knots at the masthead) the port-bound fishermen made repairs around us in the spray.
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