You stir from your comfortable sleep in time to see rosy fingered dawn brighten the mountains above Naoussa. You make your coffee and slip out to the westward facing private patio. You take a seat at the table and watch as the gentle breeze makes the sheer exterior curtains dance and billow.
It’s 7am as the farmer approaches his eager chickens with their breakfast about 100 yards away. His five or so goats wait patiently for their turn in the next paddock. You can hear as he whispers to the goats and they fall in line to follow him to some unseen location.
You blow on your coffee and you can hear the wind in the nearby olive orchard. You wonder when the farmer will come for the olives. Is it a single moment in time or a constant shedding of the ancient morsels? You have time to think of what the day will bring or what you will bring to it. You are in Greece, on Paros, lost in your thoughts, far from the madding crowd but only a short walk to tavernas or beaches.
If you choose to rent a car or anything with a motor, make sure you have an international drivers license. Don’t ask. Just get it. $2000 fee to not have one although no one can ever remember a police officer handing out such a ticket.
We had so much help from our hosts that it was absolutely crucial to our overall experience on Paros. You will get suggestions that would take weeks to explore in full. One must, the boat trip to Antiparos snorkel sites. All day and the best value you could imagine. You will share the day with other amazing people pursuing life goals and a crew that will work to give you more than you deserve. Just enjoy.