A trip to Paros

Whilst in Naxos we had planned to do a trip to Amorgos, following the recommendations of some friends from Alonissos. We haven't managed to make that particular trip this time but we have nipped over to the island of Paros for a couple of days.  Being smaller than Naxos we had assumed it would be the more backward sleepy cousin of Naxos, wrong! It appears to appeal to the younger crowd (some of whom were staying at our accommodation and came in at 4am!!). The main town of Parikia is fairly sprawling and doesn't have the same feel as Naxos and it's beach doesn't even come close to that of Naxos town!
Unfortunately although we had checked the weather forecast for the following few days, once we had booked both the ferry and the accommodation, suddenly it turned from sunny with a few clouds, to rain with possible thunderstorms...hey ho! Within seconds of our arrival the heavens opened and we got a thorough soaking on our way to find our room. Not a good start. It did stop after a couple of hours so we ventured out to explore. The following day was much brighter so we headed to the town of Naoussa, said to be one of the prettiest in the Cyclades.
It was a beautiful village with picturesque harbours and wide meandering streets. Obviously we just had to stop for a spot of lunch at one of the waterfront tavernas....lovely!

Naoussa harbour

lunch!

We had a thoroughly enjoyable time in Paros, exploring little back streets and trying to spot the differences between the two islands.  The streets are much wider in Paros and the churches even had green domes rather than the traditional blue.

Naoussa church

After a hard day of exploring, eating and drinking it was time to head back to Parikia for the evening before catching the ferry back to Naxos for the remainder of our time in the Cyclades.