Naxos

 After 4 nights on the island of Milos, we traveled by Seajet (high speed ferry) to the island of Naxos. The Seajets are quick and efficient, but people tend to get sick on them.  Thankfully none of the 6 of us got sick although Abbie felt a bit nauseous. Arriving on Naxos, we got our rental vehicle and walked over to the Portara (all that remains of a temple to Apollo).  It is an iconic landmark on the island of Naxos dating back to the 6th century BC.

After visiting the Portara near Naxos Town we headed south to a more remote part of the island.  We stayed at the most unique Airbnb we have ever stayed at.  We nicknamed it our "Greek Grandma's" house.  The owner was the sweetest Greek lady who did not speak any English.  We communicated through whatsapp and airbnb translations.  She welcomed us to her house with freshly baked bread, homemade cheese, fresh milk, cereals, juices, and pears from her trees.  We truly experienced Greek hospitality. While we did have to cram into the 2 bedroom 1 bath house, it was worth it for the authentic experience.  Being in a more remote part of the island meant that this house was one of the most affordable airbnbs that would hold the 6 of us.  What it lacked in size, it made up for with views.  We were right on the ocean!

For our first full day on Naxos, we drove back towards the more populated part of the island to visit Agios Prokopios beach.  It is known to be one of the most beautiful beaches on the island.  It did not disappoint.  The water was gorgeous.  This beach is nice because it is sheltered from the brunt of the north winds.  However, like most of the Aegean, the water was pretty cold.

After some time on the beach and a picnic lunch (again we mostly did picnic lunches in Greece and went out for dinners) we headed back to our airbnb for a break.  Late afternoon, we ventured out to the village of Chalki for dinner.  It was probably the most charming village we visited on both Milos and Naxos.  It was full of quaint, cobblestone streets, whitewashed buildings, and colorful doors and shutters.  We enjoyed a very nice meal here as well. We continued to order everything family style which was a way to keep the cost down.

We began our 2nd full day on Naxos driving to the mountain village of Apiranthos. We walked through the village and did a hike to a little chapel on top of the mountain.  It  was the perfect hike for our family.  It was challenging enough to not be boring, but it wasn't too hard for the younger two.  HERE is the link to the exact hike on alltrails for those who like such details!  The wind was super strong on top of the mountain, but the views were great.  The highlight for all the kids was ringing the chapel bell!

After the hike and a picnic, we headed back to the airbnb.  We visited Agiassos beach which was half a mile from our house.  I loved the ruggedness of this beach and the shallow seabed.  The water also felt a bit warmer due to how shallow it was.  This was our last time at the beach for the remainder of our trip.  I soaked it in.