A Greek Odyssey 6 - 15 June 2002

Monday 10 June 

After breakfast, we set out to explore the island. We drove into Naoussa first for a cup of coffee, and then our next stop was Parikia where we'd stayed in 1986. The road to the town cut through the middle of the island and was fairly busy. I stayed behind Dad the whole way and we parked near the port. Keith bought himself a hat in one of the shops that lined the port. Dad also checked out some swim shorts that he bought on the way back to the car.

Parikia was busy with lots of ferries arriving and leaving for other islands. There were crowds of people down by the ferry terminal, many with rucksacks on their backs. We bought the Sunday papers and stopped at a bar on the front for a drink. In the distance I could see the hotel we stayed in, the Xenia, which is now the mayor's residence. Michael and Sophie had an ice cream and we set off to explore the maze of narrow back streets. I wanted to find Black Bart's bar where we used to have such a good time, and Mum and Dad tried to find the way to Apollon, the restaurant that Theo owns.

Keith went back to the car so we wandered along stopping to look in the shops and to take photographs. We found the restaurant and went in so Mum and Dad could show me how beautiful it was inside. To our surprise, Theo emerged from a back room and chatted to dad who he remembered from last year. I really don't think he had any memories of us back in 1986 and seemed slightly distracted and worried. He said that business was slow and that the tourists were not coming at the moment. Could this have anything to do with the plane-spotters court case? (A group of twelve British plane-spotters were accused of spying and arrested after photographing military planes).

We returned to the car to find that Keith had been happily watching football at a nearby bar! Setting out from Parikia we drove to Elounda beach which overlooked Anti-Paros, and then on to Alyki which was very pretty. We found another perfect taverna overlooking the beach and spent a pleasant hour eating and drinking in the cool of the shade. The food was delicious.

From Alyki, we drove around the island seeing some fabulous views over to Naxos in the distance. The roads were very quiet and Keith and the children fell asleep. When we got to Lefkes we decided to drive on to Naoussa as I didn't want to wake the children.

They woke up when we arrived back at the hotel so we went onto the beach and played. They had a great time splashing in the water and we met a young couple on their honeymoon who were from the USA. Sophie took an instant liking to the young woman!

In the evening we tried a new bar on the front and Dad's friend, the waiter from the fish restaurant, appeared. Dad was very pleased to see him and the man explained that he'd been working on the ferries so his hours were shorter and he had more time off. I bought the children toys to keep them amused and we decided to return to Le Sud for a second time. We had been told to keep away from the restaurants in the main street and Mum and Dad agreed that they weren't as good as last year.

Le Sud was quiet and as it was windy we decided to sit in the middle of the restaurant again and not right at the back and out of the way. Tonight, it was mostly couples and they were almost all French. The children were very good and well-behaved and Michael enjoyed his potatoes and Tiramisu again. Sophie chose the pork dish and I opted for a vegetarian meal that was delicious.

On the way back to the car I bought a bottle of wine to drink on the terrace as soon as the children were asleep. Mum and Dad came around as well so we had a nice hour of chatting in the peace and quiet!