Journal - Day 13

Day 13 - Naxos, Delos, Mykonos

May 25, 1997

The Ariadne of Naxos was to depart for Delos and Mykonos at 9:30 AM. So, of course, Dad and I were at the dock just after 8:00. Thirteen days and we're still wanting to be there "in lots of time". It was a cooler day today, and the sea was Rough! "Rockin' and Rollin' !" Up and down, up and down. At one point Dad saw the steward coming around - looked like he was taking orders for breakfast - turned out he was handing out "barf bags"!

Delos is a sacred island. No one lives there, and the premise is no one can be born there and no one can die there. We saw lots of ruins, the Temple of Appollo, the Terrace of the Lions, the Theatre of Delos, and numerous cool mosaics. I liked the one of Dionysus Riding A Panther. Then there was Cleopatra's house. My history's not great, but I think she may have lived here with Marc Antony. Don't quote me on that. Matter of fact, I think I just made it up (grin).

Then it was on to Mykonos! This is just the most picturesque place you can imagine! Lots of boats, and of course little white houses with bouganveillia. I LOVED it! But it is definitely a tourist trap - cruise ship haven. At least in the port city. Lots of shops, very expensive. But I got a great deal on some original watercolors by the shopkeepers brother. Just beautiful. houses hanging over the sea

Then walked around some more and took lots of pictures. I had to keep telling myself not to click the shutter any more...Put the Camera Away! But it was just too beautiful, and I wished we had longer here. But I know prices are quite a bit higher, and we are trying to keep our costs down, and I'm just rationalizing why we only have 3 hours in this magnificent little town.

white building Met Dad, and he had just had a gyro for lunch. I was starving, so we tried to find the place, but it's really a labyrinth of little alleyways, and it's easy to get disoriented. Anyway, we found a place selling gyros, so sat down and ordered. Well, I didn't say "hero-in-a-pita", so got the large dinner "portion" with fries and a salad for 4 times the cost of Dad's take-out. Dad did his best to help me finish it, but I won't need dinner now.

Got to the dock early (as usual) but no 'Ariadne'. Began to worry a little when it still wasn't there at 5 to 5:00, but eventually she did arrive. Some big-wig Greek got off a catamaran, police escorts and full entourage...have no idea who he was, but the 'Ariadne' had to wait out in the bay until the catamaran left. (The next day we heard on the news that the President of Turkey was in the Islands trying to smooth out diplomatic relations with Greece, and after our return to Canada we heard that there was some new Peace Treaty being signed. So maybe we saw part of history. Or maybe it was just some old Greek guy)

The sea was so rough this time, that one wave sent something flying out of the snack bar. Never did see what it was, but there was quite a clatter and commotion. We are beginning to ignore these loud outbursts, it seems the Greeks are always yelling about something. And it's usually nothing too important. The boat stopped in Paros on the way back. Dad wasn't convinced it Was Paros, though - it didn't look familiar to him. Turns out it was Nauossa, the fishing port on the Northern tip of Paros, not the regular port that he had been to.

Think we'll stay one more day in Naxos, and then....on to SANTORINI !!

Day 14 -Chora, Naxos

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