Excursion to villages and churches in Naxos

Today we headed north straight after breakfast. We started in Apollonas because we wanted to see the big kouros. Again. Needless to say we were the only ones there. All the tavernas were closed in Apollonas so we drove on, and just like yesterday we had a mediocre lunch, which consisted of water and bread.

The large kouros in Apollonas is really impressive. Compare that to me who is 1.80 tall.

From Apollonas we continued along the incredibly beautiful stretch of road to Koronida (one of Naxos' finest villages), Skados and Koronos. In several of the villages we saw that raki was being burned to the max.

Raki distilling in the nice village of Koronida.

When we felt satisfied with our visits to the beautiful villages, we chose to drive to a part of Naxos that was unknown to us. It may seem strange that there are places on Naxos that we have not visited, and we can only agree. We did not regret the little detour, because when we arrived we saw that a new monastery was being built. There was already an older monastery there called Panagia Argokoiliotisa church. The new monastery was a gigantic three-story building. In the middle of nowhere. So strange, we thought.

Monastery Panagia Argokoiliotisa in northern Naxos was being expanded, and by a lot!

In the area around the monastery there were several buildings and a few smaller churches and chapels. We went into one of the old churches that had a lot of interesting things to offer. Among other things, there was a scary staircase that led up through a cave. We went up there.

The small "church” with the staircase outside Monastery Panagia Argokoiliotisa.

We were curious about these stairs in the church cave. It could have ended badly.

It was only afterwards that we realized that it was a stupid thing to do. We had no idea where the stairs in the cave led. There was no one nearby and our mobile phones had no coverage. What if one of us, or even both of us, had fallen down those stairs. What would have happened then? Well, we will never know, fortunately.

The scary stairs that we found in one of the churches. We survived!

On the way home we drove via the olive press in Moni where our olives are pressed into olive oil. The landscape around there is fabulously beautiful. Especially now that autumn seems to have got the time wrong, and think that it is spring. We also stopped at Panagia Damniotissa, which is one of the oldest churches on Naxos. In the area around the church of Panagia Damniotissa there are many olive groves, and it is so beautiful.

Panagia Damniotissa is one of Naxos’ oldest churches.

Olive grove by the church of Panagia Damiotissa. Hard to believe it’s autumn. Looks more like spring.

Ancient olive trees grow in the olive groves outside the church of Panagia Damiotissa.

When we got home we relaxed, me in front of the computer and Camilla in front of a bowl of yoghurt with fruit. The last washing machine (yes, we have access to a washing machine) has been started. The humid weather meant that we had to hang the laundry in the room. Soon we will go on. Athens is waiting for us. Then there are only two islands left before we face reality again.

We have access to a washing machine but not a dryer. It works well this way too.

When we went out in the evening to have the customary ouzo on the harbour esplanade, we very reluctantly went to Zas Travel to buy boat tickets. It felt really sad to leave Naxos soon. But I got some comfort when I found the latest issue of UNCUT at Zoom in Naxos Town.

It was with sadness in our hearts that we bought boat tickets to Piraeus.

I was a little happier when I found a new issue of UNCUT.

When we had secured both boat tickets and UNCUT, we drank the penultimate ouzo on the harbour esplanade, and had the penultimate dinner at Metaxi Mas. Tomorrow we will take a last barefoot walk along Plaka beach before returning the car.

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