Naxos- A slice of village Greek life.

I left Santorni at bout 3pm on a HUGE boat with escalators and all enroute to Naxos for a taste of Greek life..not Greek commercialism. I found just that in Naxos. When I got off the boat, I was greeted once again by a group of folk shouting "rooms"...one lady even chased me down but I already had a place..Despina's Rooms. After finding my way through the narrow streets of the old quarters, I found Despina's Rooms. Despina..a Greek Grandma greeted me...shook my hand and then held my hand and led me to my room. It was very cute..Greek Grandma that is. The room was plain but comfy..heck I just needed a bed so it was fine. Later that night..as I wondered into the tourism office..I met Dimitreus..a older man on his late 50's who offered to take me around the next day to show me the agriculture of Naxos..I accepted.

The next morning, Dimitreus met me at the Zas travel office around 9ish. We got into his car as he pointed out every area we can see in sight. We drove through mountains and curvy roads. Everytime he saw a flower..he'd tell me what kind it was. Everytime we saw a fig tree..and let me tell you..there are more than one type of fig tree...he'd stop..pick a few and have me taste it. We stopped at tomato farms...potato farms..pomegranate trees...olive trees..you name it..we stopped and smelled..touched..tasted! I got a sense of Greek village farming life! I can tell that Dimitreus loves his island- Naxos as he told me stories of other visitors he had shown around. A man in his late 50's..married late..wanted to marry and American woman at first but found that their mentalities didn't match his- they were too independent he says. He then wanted to find a German woman but ended up with a Greek. He told me his views on religion..character..he talked life. Coming to Naxos, I thought I was just going to walk the harbor a bit..get some beach time..get lost in a few narrow roads but I left learning a lot more than that. More than the tourist view of Naxos!

Naxos- a taste of genuine village Greek life..and then some..

I spent the rest of the afternoon at a protected cove with a few other travelers getting some sun. The protected cove was the only spot that didn't have the high winds attacking! I finished the Kite Runner...wow!

Next stop..Mykonos..if my ferry makes it..due to the wind..