Naxos - Agia Prokopios - Collecting Moments

While we had the car yesterday we scoped out the most reputable beaches on Naxos: Agia Prokopios and Agia Anna. They are a 15 minute drive from the Chora. Agia Anna is usually ranked highest, but the two beaches are connected and look the same. Agia Prokopios had more draw for me.

A perfect day in Naxos, at the beach:

Come in!  The water is so inviting.

Agia Prokopios

Wake up when your eyes open.

Walk to Coffee Island. Ask for an extra hot cappuccino. Drink it on your bench along the port.

The benches along the water in the port are a nice place to enjoy the quiet, early morning hours

Eat a freshly baked, flakey pastry (choose your favorite) from Naxos Bakery.

Naxos Bakery, on the corner at the start of the port, is open at 6am, an hour before everything else.

Take the bus 15 minutes to Agia Prokopios (€3.20 R/T).

Walk down five beach clubs to Del Mar Cafe. Get an umbrella and two loungers for €10. Or stay at the place at the bus stop to pay €10-35 per lounger.

 Del Mar Cafe in Agia Prokopios - the umbrellas and lounge chairs are a bargain at only €10 per set.

Order your choice beverage.

Absorb the warmth of the sun.

Greece has some of the bluest waters in the world.

Cooling off in the clearest, bluest water we have ever seen. You can see down to the bottom even though you're too deep to touch it!

Order take-away (or delivery) from the best souvlaki place yet: Lefto's Souvlaki & Kebab.

Lefto's Souvlaki & Kebab in Agia Prokopios is phenomenal!

The pork at Lefto's Souvlaki & Kebab is to die for - either the pita or the kontosouvli from the rotisserie 

Listen to the greatest 80s remix.

Lose track of time.

If you drift off, don't worry, it is not a dream. Paradise is still here when you wake.

If at all possible, repeat, which is our plan so there will be no post tomorrow, our last day on the island. 

We are finding that Naxians have a general exo kardia, or openhearted temperament - more so than any country we have been. A great example of how friendly the locals are in Naxos: a couple of tourists tried to get on the bus without tickets. The driver sent them to the corner market - and waited for them on a busy road!

Inevitably a meal has to be voted your least favorite. Ironically for us it was also the most expensive. Our meal at Doukato in the Chora was just average. The spicy feta was tastily devoured but it went downhill from there. The stuffed calamari, octopus, seafood linguine, chicken penne, and eggplant stuffed with beef were equally unimpressive. The fava purée tasted like thick pea soup. The restaurant fills up so make reservations if you plan to go.

Chris had the stuffed calamari from Doukato in Naxos.  

It looks - but doesn't taste - amazing.

You will want to experience at least one sunset at the Portara.

On our last night in Naxos, the Old Town threw a going-away party for us - another example of Naxian exo kardia!  Coincidentally, it is also July 14th, which is St. Nikodemus Day - the celebration of the protector of Naxos. This celebration happens once a year, and normally the church and the faithful go around the city with the cross to celebrate. (A similar ceremony takes place on 15th August, to celebrate the sleep of "Panagia", it's called "i kimisis tis theotoku" - the sleep of the god mother.)  The celebration in Naxos Town starts around 8:00pm by shutting down the port road to make it pedestrian-only.  Like a carnival, big mylar balloons are for sale, and a man on stilts twists creative balloon figures.  The fanfare includes a big fireworks show at 10pm and from our balcony, we have the best seats in the house!