Rita called on April 18th, freaking out because she thought I was catching the ferry back to Piraeus and then back to Naxos. I told her that no, I was just catching the ferry from Paros directly to Naxos. Regardless, it set me on edge, so this morning I was up at 7:30am and packed and ready to leave by 8:30am.
I had a leisurely breakfast, then relaxed on my balcony for a while. At 10:00am, I met the hotel's owner Nikos in reception and he drove me to Parikia (the port) to catch the ferry. He dropped me at the port at 10:45am, just as the Blue Star Paros was loading ... I felt a bit of panic, then realized it was destined for Piraeus. I was catching the Blue Star Delos to Naxos at 11:55am. So, I sat myself down on the cement seats in the passenger pen and waited.
The trip to Naxos was quick, just under an hour. I got off the ship with no problem, then walked the 1km along the harbour to Hotel Aegeon, which is located close to Agios Georgios Beach. I knew the walk to the hotel would be difficult but I was disappointed with how much I struggled. Perhaps it was the heat. The sun was really beating down by then and there was no breeze.
The door to the hotel was locked but there was a sign asking guests to check in at reception at Hotel Iliovasilema next door. The woman at the desk was not very welcoming - what's your name, follow me, here's your room. I read the Google reviews of the hotel later that day and she has quite a reputation for being rude, so I was glad she was just mostly uncommunicative.
The room itself is old but clean. My balcony overlooks a side street but the street is relatively quiet. It is nicely shaded in the morning and late afternoon, which means it's actually useable.
The first order of business was to get some groceries. I had asked the woman at the desk about the nearest supermarket and she recommended the one up the hill, so that's where I went. I got water, yoghurt, bread, cheese, sliced turkey, apples, oranges, and snacks.
The second order of business was to eat lunch. Google Maps was not very helpful - the first two restaurants that I sought out were supposed to be open, but were still clearly closed for the winter. I ended up at Chocolat Cafe Creperie where I did not have a crepe. Instead, I had a hamburger. It was good, except they used a gluten free bun, which fell apart under the weight of of the burger, tomato, onions, and sauce.
Back at the hotel, the third order of business was to swim in the pool. It looked absolutely lovely, and it was a treat to swim in. It was cold, but not as cold as the pool at the Paros Philoxenia Hotel, and it was clean. I had it all to myself and swam laps for at least an hour. I say "swam laps" but what that means is that I did my modified breast stroke one direction, then floated on my back and used my arms to "scull" the other direction.
At the pool I met two woman who I could hear were speaking English. I stopped to say hello. It turns out that Cindy lives in Victoria (View Royal), and her sister Sandy lives in up island in Qualicum Beach! What are the odds of meeting locals in Naxos?
The pool:
The rooftop veranda which may or may not be private:
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