naimaanthony founding_member

#1 island In Greece to visit in 2019

Paros

If you have been following along on my many travel adventures you will notice a theme. I am obsessed with tiny islands with perfect beaches in the Mediterranean. I recently posted about our week in magical Kofunisia, a tiny island in Greece. Today I wanted to share another perfect island named Paros, located in the heart of the Cyclades. My family and I took a ferry ( less than two hours ) from Santorini, you can easily take a ferry directly from Athens. Paros, is another best kept secret in Greece, a sleepy fisherman island with breathtaking natural beaches.

We decided to stay in Naousa, a traditional fishing village with one of the most gorgeous ports in Greece.

Naousa Naousa
Fishermen and their haul. Fishermen and their haul.
The husband \x26 son. The husband & son.
Our first meal was at Yemeni Taverna. The food was so delicious. Joe and I had grilled fish and our son Jaden a vegetarian had chickpea stew. Our first meal was at Yemeni Taverna. The food was so delicious. Joe and I had grilled fish and our son Jaden a vegetarian had chickpea stew.

Chickpea Stew. Chickpea Stew.
Jaden was amused by how many glasses of rose his parents drank at meals. Jaden was amused by how many glasses of rose his parents drank at meals.
Naousa at dusk. Naousa at dusk.
Paros at sunset. Paros at sunset.

The first beach we ventured to on the island was Kolymbithres, on the island’s northern coast, its famous for its unusal granite formations.

Kolymbithres Beach. Kolymbithres Beach.
Diving off the rocks at Kolymithres. Diving off the rocks at Kolymithres.

The next beach, we spent an amazing few hours at Santa Maria beach. Its a lively beach with a fun, sexy beach bar that makes killer cocktails.

Santa Maria Beach. Santa Maria Beach.
Beach Club. Beach Club.
Santa Maria Beach. Santa Maria Beach.
Chilling on Santa Maria Beach. Chilling on Santa Maria Beach.
Local kids at Santa Maria Beach. Local kids at Santa Maria Beach.

On our way back to the hotel we stopped at a fabulous taverna by the sea called Siparos.

Siparos Taverna Siparos Taverna
Epic sea views at Siparos. Epic sea views at Siparos.
Delicious food at Siparos. Delicious food at Siparos.
Chargrilled fresh snapper at Siparos. Chargrilled fresh snapper at Siparos.
More rose please and that fish head. More rose please and that fish head.

We heard many amazing thing about a boat tour along the coastline of Paros and Anti Paros (less than one nautical mile from Paros and can be reached also by ferry). The boys and I were so excited. Our captain Dimitri was full of personality and and made the day trip so enjoyable. We also made new friends who also booked the boat tour. The waters of Anti Paros and Paros are so blue, I felt like we were in the Caribbean.

The blue waters of Anti Paros. The blue waters of Anti Paros.
Our awesome Captain Dimitri. Our awesome Captain Dimitri.
Blue waters of Paros. Blue waters of Paros.

My boys just chilling in the Mediterranean. My boys just chilling in the Mediterranean.
Our Captain made food from ingredients he got from his Mom’s garden. Our Captain made food from ingredients he got from his Mom’s garden.
Our Captain Dimitri shows off the food he cooked for everyone. Our Captain Dimitri shows off the food he cooked for everyone.
My boys. My boys.
Our captain Dimitri threw three cans of beer to these ladies hanging on the rocks. Our captain Dimitri threw three cans of beer to these ladies hanging on the rocks.
Coastline of Paros. I swam to that island. Coastline of Paros. I swam to that island.

One of the highlights of my week in Paros, was a very early morning, I left my boys fast asleep in the hotel and rented a car to explore a traditional Greek town called Lefkes. It's deep in the interior, so this meant a 45 minute drive up and down winding narrow roads. I have a fear of driving up and down hills. To accomplish this by myself was testing my limits. It was worth the challenge. To have a true local Greek experience, Lefkes was perfect.

Driving the winding roads of Lefkes. Driving the winding roads of Lefkes.
Lefkes from above. Lefkes from above.
Early morning in Lefkes. Early morning in Lefkes.
The entire village of Lefkes still fast asleep, except this man. The entire village of Lefkes still fast asleep, except this man.
Beautiful architecture of Lefkes. Beautiful architecture of Lefkes.
The ancient Church of Agia Triada. The ancient Church of Agia Triada.
Lefkes Lefkes

Our last night in Paros, we ate sushi at a lovely restaurant called Barbarossa. Then walked around Naousa, hanging with its residents.

Sushi at Barbarossa Sushi at Barbarossa
A perfect end to our week in Paros. My son playing soccer with local kids. A perfect end to our week in Paros. My son playing soccer with local kids.

#travel, #greece, #greekfood, #summervacation, #familyvacation, #mytinyatlas