Fish:  Yesterday when swimming at Aliki, I saw my first brightly colored fish.  Usually they are pale almost transparent, but interesting designs on them.  Also some are quite large.  Well, yesterday I got braver and went with my snorkel over some rocks.  There it was...lime green, peacock blue and rust!!!!  Beautiful markings....he was quite big about 10 inches long.  He was chasing the other fish from the area and then would rub his side fins on the rocks and other stuff that grows there.  (looks like flowery mushrooms).  I think he was marking his territory or maybe it was a she....I don't know about fish life!  Anyway, it was amazing and I followed it quite awhile.  Later on a school of large normal fish came through. They cast shadows that made it look like twice as many!  Tiny fish come close to the shore at ankle height - Dad said to be careful of the black spiny things (they live on rocks)  as they leave their stingers in you, thankfully they seem to stay in bunches in deeper water  and I do not like to swim near them. Last night we went to a new beach called Parosporos...for a quick swim....beautifully sandy far out and far wide!!!  No fear of black spiny things there!  Warmer currents are now starting to appear....bath tub warm!

People watching is amazingly fun....wow, so many types ranging from the good, the bad and the ugly. From all classes, from all religions, from all cultures. An amazing amount of very young looking backpackers....I wonder if their mothers know where they are? in fact almost everyone looks young and beautiful! (especially on the beaches). When we first started out in Crete in early May, a lot of tourists appeared to be our age....so I did not look or feel out of place on the beaches.....But when it gets into full swing...well the beautiful young topless, and body perfect nudes will send me into spasms of realizing I am indeed old even if I think young! Oh well....as I keep reminding myself over and over....I had my hay day! And still am!

Food vs. Cooking.....Obviously eating out is more versatile, but unfortunately not as economical - not even in Greece!  The restaurants here have different levels of eating...same as anywhere.   We enjoy eating a quick bite at the outside cafes.  They can come in a variety of price ranges.....also the tavernas which have the ouzo and other drinks plus really good food.  Almost all restaurants are outside, even when you go inside and eat between 4 walls, just look up and the ceiling is missing!!  Usually it is covered with vines of flowers, or grapes, or rush mats, and often you can see the stars at night!  It can be on the sea literally on the beach, or just about anywhere.  One interesting aspect is that you are encouraged to go into the kitchen to see the food prepared...in fact, they often insist you go look!  Looking sells....it is hard not to drool over the pots cooking away.  Tavernas usually have a good variety to choose from, but it would be cooked by the owner's wife in the kitchen. (not a chef, or even a hired cook...more home cooked). 

These are some of the foods we seem to eat:  gyros or souvlaki's in pitta, (pork or chicken); greek salads (cucumber, tomato, green peppers, olives, feta cheese with olive oil and vinegar;  tost (toasted sandwiches made with baguettes - squished down pretty flat with just about anything in it....usually ham, tomato, etc.);  omelettes;  moussaka;  grilled squid (which Michael likes); some other fish dinners which I can't think of the names of.  These are the cheaper foods.  Oh yes, a starter that I love, and have tried to make is made from gigantic white beans in a tomato sauce, and sometimes some sausage tucked in.  The added spices make it a truly !)wonderful meal even in itself.  And we also like the dolmatha's (stuffed vine leaves.) 

Michael & Karin Shepherd                                 Email:  paroshep@otenet.gr

Telephone:  +30-2840-91042                           Location Map available by email

Post:  P. O. Box 41    Paros, Greece  84400

All these comments are taken from  emails home to our son and other friends

We, Michael and Karin , moved to Ireland in 1996 from Portland, Oregon after raising our family, selling our home and closing down a real estate business.  After 5 years of operating a Mom & Pop general store in a small West Cork tourist village, Ballydehob, we moved on to other endeavours, all of which are still evolving.

If you are interested in knowing more, please ask.  If you want a Greek island holiday with no questions asked, we can indulge that as well.

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Paros has their own local wine that is reasonably good.  Both red and white.  We drink it more at home than in a restaurant.  Of course we drink ouzo.  And the cold coffees, Frappe.  Everyone and I mean everyone carries around water to drink....because the sun is relentless, and you sweat a lot, leaving you dying of thirst.  It is probably the no. 1 best seller!!  We have found no difference in the taste vs. price.  All water is cheap....a 500 ml bottle in Ireland costs 65 pence, here it costs the equivalent of 28 pence!  Our 6 packs are water, not beer!  Michael drinks Amstel beer because it is reasonably priced.  I have found a recipe for lemonade that is very good and the lemons here are cheap. Oh yes, we bought a big bottle of ouzo.  Dad figured out each glass (normal restaurant serving size) costs us 17 - 20 pence each serving (15 - 18 cents USD)!!!  It is about 1.20 Punts in the restaurants...still making it a nice affordable daily drink!!!