A day in Kastro & in Agios Prokopios on Naxos

Today we had planned to stay at home in Naxos Town, but it didn't happen that way. We got a tip about a moorland landscape over by Agios Prokopios, and we didn't want to miss it. But first we walked for a few hours in the old town of Naxos, the part called Kastro.

Kastro is the old part of Naxos Town and it is very impressive in every way.

One of the entrances to Kastro.

There are plenty of narrow alleys in Kastro, and it is easy to get lost.

Imagine how full of life it must have been in Kastro once upon a time.

One of three camouflage cats that we saw in Kastro.

When we got to the fruit market we met Agneta from Sweden. She has been living on Naxos for some time. We had a very nice chat with her. It was Agneta who told us about the moorland-like place at the far end of Agios Prokopios. So we drove there.

Fruit and vegetable market in Naxos old town.

Agios Prokopios was as usual completely deserted, and it was even more ghostly now after the storm that passed by yesterday. Camilla asked if I wanted to drive a short distance, there weren't any cars to crash into anyway. (I'm good at crashing, I can tell you more about that another time.) I said yes and we switched sides. I drove 100 metres back and forth. It went so-so. Camilla banned me from driving 14 years ago. A new ban has now been ordered.

Here I drove a car for the first time in 14 years. It didn't go well. Not at all, actually.

This is how wild and inhospitable the beach in Agios Prokopios can look in the off-season.

Agios Prokopios beach in the off-season in the other direction.

The remains of a sunken ship in the moorland beyond Agios Prokopios.

This rock shark grinned at us in the moorland. Compare with the rock shark in Agia Anna here.

We ate lunch sitting in the car. The weather did not allow lunch at Fotis Taverna, and it was too far to the next open taverna. Bread and water became our lot. For company (although not in the car) we had four crazy surfers. For them, the bad weather was good weather.

We had a simple lunch of bread and water in the car.

The kitesurfers liked the weather.

After lunch we visited Vaggelis at Hotel Agios Prokopios. The hotel has been closed for a long time, but he still has a lot to do. He is fixing and preparing for the next season, just like many other hotel owners do. When we got home we checked the boat schedules and weather for the continued journey.

It was cold and damp in our room this evening.

In the evening, as so often before, we went to To Limanaki, had an ouzo each and watched the modest street life that exists. We are beginning to suspect that we are the only tourists on Naxos right now. Dinner was eaten once again at Metaxi Mas. We are extremely grateful that Metaxi Mas is still open. There are not many places to choose from.

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