Arriving in Parikia, Paros

Friday May 16 was our first cloudy day in Crete.  We got up very early to catch the Seajet ferry to the island of Paros.  We had an easy 20 minute walk along the waterfront to get to our 8:00 a.m. ferry.  The Champion Jet 3 was a very large catamaran.  It holds up to 1100 passengers and 200 vehicles!  Seajets founded in 1989,  has the largest high-speed ferry fleet in the world and travels to over 50 ports in Greece. 

Last look at the Venetian Fortress in Heraklion as we headed to the ferry just after 7:00 a.m.

Very spacious- we boarded early and the ferry filled up

Motoring through very choppy seas

It was an extremely windy day and we found out later that smaller ferries operating from Paros were cancelled.  We were lucky we were on a large boat.  It was still a relatively smooth trip, with only one slightly turbulent period.  However, due to the windy weather, we were about 40 minutes late arriving in Parikia, Paros.  We landed at 12:50 p.m. instead of 12:10 (not bad, given the winds).  

Parikia is the capital and main port of Paros island.  It is one of the most typical of Cycladic settlements as it is distinguished by its narrow cobbled paths, old churches, small shops and white  and blue houses.  It is on the western side of the island and has 4,500 permanent inhabitants.

The island was successively occupied by Cretans, Minoans, Ionians, Arcadians, Macedonians, Romans, Byzantines and others.   It has been a prosperous island due to its white marbles found in the mountains.

View of Paros from the ferry as we arrived at the port

Champion Jet 3 arriving and folks lining up to board

When we got off the boat, it was cloudy and extremely windy though still warm at 21C.  We both thought we would be blown away.  Luckily, our Airbnb was only about a six minute walk from the ferry terminal.  John, our host, met us outside the building and showed us around.  It is a very nice apartment in a small building.

One view of the bedroom

Bedroom with kitchen to the left

Modern kitchen-bathroom to the left

The bathroom- large shower and washing machine 

We unpacked and then headed out for a late lunch. 

Allan outside our apartment (very small house in reality)

John had recommended a nearby fish restaurant where locals like to eat.  After unpacking, we walked over to Apostolis, a traditional Taverna.  While the place had a lovely patio, it was so windy that no one was eating outside.  We decided to eat inside.  The restaurant is light and airy with great views of the sea.

We shared a tomato and cucumber salad and a plate of calamari.  The bread is served with a delicious olive oil.

 

Allan promoting the restaurant

Delicious calamari

View of the sea

We walked to the beach near the restaurant- deserted due to the wind

We stopped to get a few items at the Supermarket-- loved the signage on the building

Statue in one of the squares--- Paros is known for its pure, white marble

We walked back to the area near the ferry terminal and decided to come in from the wind and have a coffee at Cultivos Coffee.  The staff were very helpful and told us where the inter-city busses were too be found.  Unfortunately, there does not seem to be a tourist office and there are no maps.  Luckily, Paros is small enough that one can just wander through the streets and not get too lost.  

Inside of Cultivos Coffee

Allan googled "best bakeries in Paros" and we found the nearby Ragoussis.  It was huge! As well as being a bakery, Ragoussis also serves big breakfasts and coffee. A lot of people (both locals and tourists) were taking refuge from the wind.

Looking towards the end of the bakery-- they even have a separate baklava section

Cookies galore

We got a slice of spinach pie and some olive oil cookies with cinnamon.

We then decided to wander the narrow streets.  There are many very interesting jewellery stores (Greece is near the top of countries we have visited with wonderful, innovative jewellery).  Beautiful ceramics are also very plentiful on the island.    

Lots of wonderful stores- this store had interesting jewellery and ceramics 

We wandered by two of three fountains  in Parikia constructed in 1777 with Parian (Paros) marble.  They were donated by "the Ruler of Walachia Nikolaos Mavrogenes (1735-1790), born in Marmara, Paros".

First fountain

 

Second Fountain

We'll have to look for the third fountain.

We wandered down one alley and found a stairway to the waterfront.

Alley leading to a staircase down to the water

On the quiet waterfront -- it was a bit calmer at around 6:45 p.m.

View heading back into the main part of town

It turned out that we had made a circle of one part of the town and eventually ended up at the bus station near the ferry terminal where we were able to get a bus schedule for Naoussa, the other small village we will visit on Sunday.  We found a lovely upscale grocery store we were bought some sheep cheese and other treats for our light dinner at the apartment.  It was a tiring day (getting up at 6:00 a.m. is never fun), but it is the only early morning start of the trip.   On Saturday, we plan on more exploration of the village.