I rented a nice motor scooter for a week. If you are willing to ride a motor scooter, they are an excellent means of getting around the island. We like to settle our lodging first, unpack, get mentally prepared for the normal challenges of exploring a new town, and then venture out. If you are staying on the north west side of the island try to get lodging that is within walking distance of Parikia. We stayed away from the younger men carrying signs and those that looked a bit unkempt and went for the families or at least what seemed to be parents and children. We were able to secure extremely nice lodging for a very low price. The choices are great – numerous people are walking around with signs in their hands. If you are an independent traveler, chances you won’t have lodging reserved yet and may not have any recommendations. Soon they come into focus and you are able to see many of them holding up signs advertising lodging, restaurants, and transportation.Īs soon as you step off of the ferry you will be surrounded by enterprising young people. They are swarming around the harbor area like ants on an ant hill. When coming close to Parikia in Paros by ferry one can see crowds of people from several miles away. The soils are often white with the buildings mimicking the starkness and bare ground is abundant on the un-populated islands. The Greek islands are a stark contrast to the blue surrounding oceans. We remember beautiful women next to us soaking up the sun.
#PAROS GREEK ISLAND PORTABLE#
Out popped a small portable travel radio for some added enjoyment and we caught the end of an English newscast that said the Onassis clan was sailing in the southern waters of Greece. Every so often we would glance up and make small conversation with fellow travelers. We spent an hour reading some of the tour books about the Greek Islands. We promptly made a beeline for the top deck in order to be in the sun and breath in the fresh salty air of southern Greece. We were on a heavily loaded ferry with many people and lots of cars in the hold. We left the waterfront in Athens in the early morning during what photographers call the “golden hour”. For his money, Dave takes the hydrofoils. Ferries are a bit cheaper than the hydrofoils but also a bit slower. The best times are midday when the ferries arrive and in the evening around sunset when the town becomes more active and young lovers stroll next to the waterfront.įerries and hydrofoils are an ideal way to navigate between Greek islands. However, there are better times than others for this. People watching is a pastime of many of the tourists and locals along the harbor front.
This is an excellent location for enjoying many various activities. Parikia is the heart of the island and is the largest city.
Paros (population about 10,000) is a quintessential Greek island, from the white washed walls with the blue tiled domes, to the barren upper portions of the island, to the crystal clear blue aquamarine waters. Located south of Athens among numerous islands, the two nearest islands are Antiparos and Naxos. With the right balance between space, tourists and infrastrucutre complemented perfectly with beautiful vistas, Paros is one of our dream destinations. The sun always shines with its comforting warmth, the beaches bask in its bright glow and the people are so tan they appear almost golden.