Good Morning!

Now that my hotels are booked, the next step is figuring out where
I'll need/want a car.

o should pre-book so I have it to go from ferry to accommodation) on Naxos and Santorini?

o will I even need a car for the whole stay? Maybe just a few days?

Naxos: 4 days - @ St. George Beach. The only place on my list to see is Chalki (unless there's a "don't miss this!" I should know about)!

Santorini: Staying in Oia - technically 4 days @ hotel, but since flight to Rhodes doesn't leave until 7PM, it's actually
5 days. I would like to explore the island, for sure going to Akrotiri.

Rhodes: One week - staying in Old Town. On my list - Lindos and Moni Filerimou; a ferry trip to Marmaris Turkey, but that will be a cab from the hotel to the pier to catch the ferry.

Thank you in advance for your help and suggestions!

Melodie

What do you expect to see at Akrotiri? Are you aware that the archaelogical site is closed to the public and probably will be for some time?

Hi Cheryl,

I was aware that the site's closed, but hoped it would re-open by September, if not, oh well, I'm sure I'll be seeing enough ruins!

Melodie

On Naxos you will not need a car to get to St George Beach from the ferry dock. We always walk from the ferry to our hotel simply because we love to stroll through the waterfront area and soak up the ambiance.
It is about three quarters of a kilometer.
There is a good chance your hotel miay pick you up many do. A taxi ride will be about 10 minutes.
Once you are on Naxos you will probably want to rent a car to get out the mountain villages and the west coast beaches. There is little need to book in advance. There are lots of rental agencies in Naxos town. Check out a couple of them and then arrange to rent a car the next day.
When you have the car also consider visiting Apiranthos high up in the mountains. Teh streets are paved with marble slabs. You may also want to visit Demeters Temple. This is an ancient site that had a temple and at least two churches. The archaeologists found that most of the ruins were still intact and have reconstructed portions of the temple and the subsequent churches. This site is well worth a visit.
There is a Kourus from the 6th century BC still lying in the quarry and there is a very impressive active marble quarry all within an easy circle tour on a days drive.

Here are our pictures
http://travel.webshots.com/album/552...YxVYT?start=60


I also have different directions to Taverna to Kastro.
If you enter the Kastro by the gate outside the Venetian museum simply walk straight for about 100 meters. you will come to the old main gate with its arched ceiling. Turn right here (downhill) The passage will curve to the left and after about 50 meters you will pass through an arch with a couple of small shops. You will walk directly into Taverna to Kastro.
I realize that it appears to be a bit complex to get to this location but the old town was designed in the 1500's when twisty streets were an asset during a pirate attack. Today it remains confusing to tourists too.

Thank you Stanbr!

Once again, you're a font of info!

I will have to see Demeters Temple, and hope there's a sign, as one of my friend's last name is Demeter!

I will take your advice about the cars and check them out while in town; email the resort shortly before departure and see if they do pick up at the ferry...if not, easy to grab a cab.

I've seen your pictures previously, and they're wonderful - they were probably the inspiration for me GOING to Naxos!

Thanks for the directions to Kastro - twisty streets or no, I'd still be confused - I'm "directionally impaired" (except in any airport in the world, where, for some reason I can find everything). But my husband will be with me and a friend's joining us from the UK - they'll find it!

Thank you again,

Melodie

We rented a car on Santorini and also on Naxos. We had the hotel arrange it when we were ready. No need to prebook. The hotel will, no doubt, call their friends but through them you have a little leverage that you won't have on your on.

Be sure to take your camera. Santorini is famous for the sunsets but don't overlook those on Naxos which are even better.

Wizmatilda I have gone through our pictures and I simply cannot find any of Demeters Temple. It was an archelogical restoration site for many yrears and we visited it for the first time in 1996 and had to crawl through a hole in the fence to get into the site. Today it has a marble walled walkway up to the site and last time we were there it was still free. There is a small museum on the site where they highlight the discovery of the ruined temple and the realization that at least 50% of the original materal was still there. This led to the decision to rebuild. The museaum may be open but it is a bit sporadic with no regualr times.
Naxos is pretty low key and you will not find much in the way of directions to Demeters Temple It is near Sangri. Follow the signs to Kato Sangri or Ano Sangri and you will pick up the road signs to Demeters Temple. It is way out in the country on a hill in the middle of a peacfull valley.
Sorry about not finding the pictures.

Matilda, just have the rental car guy mark on the map he gives you just where the Temple of Demeter is. Here is a map that indicates the area, but you'll get a more detailed map when you rent.
http://www.thesaurus.gr/map_of_naxos_island.htm

And while you're at it, have him mark:

* Panagia. Drossiana--teeeny church, oldest in the Islands (400 Ad?) no bigger than your livingroom...

* The Kouros in the orchard in the Melanes valley area...

* The Pyrgos (tower) in Chalki; also the Victorian era Kitron distillery

* Location of Marble Quarries (and if he knows, the Marble Cutting factory, it's right beside the road near Melanes).

-- DO go to APiranthos...and stop in Filoti and have a drink underneath the huge plantana trees in the small town square...

I have a dozen pix of Temple of Demeter but don't have a Webshots site like stanbr to show them off

Not good news on Akrotiri, I'm afraid - they haven't even started rebuilding the collapsed roof yet, so no chance of it being open in September.

http://www.ekathimerini.com/4dcgi/_w.../05/2008_96842

Stanbr,

Thank you for checking on Demeter Temple -- too bad you can't find your pictures, that's not good!

Thanks for the map - we'll find it!

Jan -- regarding this teeny church "no bigger than your livingroom" - how do you know how big my living room is?! Have you been peeping in the window again?!!!

Thanks everyone!

Melodie

I should have said MY livingroom ... and it barely holds a couch and 2 chairs.

Jan...

hahahhaha... I thought for a moment you were a STALKER peeking in my windows!

Best,

Melodie

Wizmatilda
I have been looking all over for our pictures of Demeters Temple.
We have been visiting it since it was an active dig in the 1990's and I have many pictures but I could only find two which I have added to my Naxos album. They are pictures 32 and 33. It was in reconstruction back when these pictures were taken however this gives you an idea.

http://travel.webshots.com/album/552001505EYxVYT

Hi Stanbr!

Wow, now that you've torn your whole house apart looking for those two pictures, I wonder what else you found in the process!

Thanks very much for posting those. (but is it "Demitra's" or Demeter's? Or are both correct?

Melodie

Since we moved two years ago all our pictures have been in boxes and we have not looked at them.
We found lots of pictures of trips when the kids were young. And we have decided to get rid of old albums and just store the pictures in a divided box where we can find them when we want them. Your post has done some good at my house.

Hey Stanbr,

I'm happy to be of help getting you organized!

It's probably good that you're getting rid of those old albums anyway, as if they're not on acid free paper (and if they're old, they're probably not) and/or if you have the plastic film w/PVC in it, that will cause the picturs to deteriorate over time.

Melodie