The trip started on the Blue Star Naxos ferry which stops in Paros, Naxos and Santorini. It is a fairly comfortable ship and you can buy tickets with numbered seats which cost more or take your chances finding a seat on one of the outside decks or cafes. We chose numbered seats for the six hour trip even though I spent a fair bit of time outside. I get sea sick (did I mention that) and do better in the fresh air.
The trip was fairly uneventful and the pre ordered taxi was waiting for us at the port when we arrived. Lesson number one in Greece, never ever trust a hotel website to tell you t he truth ever. That's a lesson I've learned from two experiences in the Greek Islands. During last year's trip to Paros we booked a hotel that promised the beach to be just a 15 minute walk. That turned out to be a total fabrication and the truth was it was actually a half hour hike down the side of a mountain. That particular hotel's only saving grace was that the manager and owners were incredibly friendly and kind in other aspects and the price was right. I would definitely go back there and recommend it to friends.
The experience at the Lianos Village was not quite so good. Now this property is a 4.5 star hotel and for the price we paid we were expecting a little more. The property itself is gorgeous, the sea view and sunset stunning, but only if you overlook the stagnant pool of water between the hotel and the sea and if the wind is blowing in the wrong direction, the smell. The brochure promised a 5 minute walk to the sea which in reality was half an hour for a healthy person. Very creative photography was used to give the impression that the beach was close by.
For me, I didn't attempt it because going was downhill and I would have managed it but coming back was too daunting, all steep uphill. The rooms also looked much nicer on the website than what we actually had and the beds were hard as rocks. All of this stuff would have been ignored on my part if the staff had just been a little friendlier. Not one person smiled, not one person had a friendly word and the day manager in particular has no business working in the hotel industry. Coming in and out of the hotel she would look up at us and not utter a single word. She was snarky and downright rude when I inquired about the promised free WiFi on the entire property. It was in fact only available in the lobby. You need to rent a car to get anywhere from this property. We did that and spent much time on the wonderful beaches of Agios Prokopios instead of the smelly one by the hotel.
Okay, all of that aside Naxos is a pretty island. Different from all the islands I have visited thus far. There are many similarities and many differences. One village in particular was very pretty and I'm told more of the Cretan style than Cyclades. Actually the inhabitants are descendants of refugees who fled Crete to escape Turkish repression.
The village of Apiranthos is built on the slopes of Fanari Mountain.
I walked up those stairs...
I could have used a ride...
That would be it for today. I need to rest a little. What I haven't shared is that I'm not in really good shape on this trip. I have had what I thought was travelers diarrhea since my arrival here a month ago. I've tried the usual remedy Imodium and some not so usual like yeast bacteria pill and antibiotic aimed specifically at the bowels but nothing seems to work. It's not only annoying but tiring me out. I am taking some electrolyte supplements. Going to a doctor here is not in the cards. I suspect that this is all connected to the possible gall stone that may or may not be stuck in the bile duct. I read somewhere that a blockage in the duct slows down the production of bile and can cause my problem. I only have three weeks to go before I get home and back to my family doctor. Of course if my skin or eyes turn yellow I would definitely seek treatment although I don't know what else can be done that isn't invasive...
Sunset...
Later...
Labels: Travels 2011
