travelerjan

Hi Again, Rtwin - re travel:
FOr Blue Star Ferry 7:25 AM Sept 28, buy ticket beforehand any agency near hotel so you won't have to rush to ticket kiosk as they're pulling up the gangplank! Metro from Central Athens (€1.5??) starts around 6 AM, takes a little more than 30 minutes, Terminal building is directly across from the Gate to blue star -- you cross street via escalator up to a pedestrian bridge overstret. On Metro and Crossing crowd WATCH YOUR POSSESSIONS! (no valuables in ANY pockets; in money belt or neck-pouch -- my choice -- or in daybag with hand on zipper). Greece has about the lowest petty-crime rate in all of Europe, but the "hot spots" are MEtros used by tourists unused to public transit (not big-city transit vets like u & me).

Even tho you may buy "reserved-economy" (otherwise known as "aircraft seating"), which gives you indoor lean-back upholstered seating, you probably will want to spend part of the time sunning on a back deck ,in the plastic garden chairs used also by the plain-vanilla Economy Ticket-holders (€4 cheaper)... and those are first-come first-served. Therefore, a strategy is helpful, to snag a couple of well-positioned deck chairs.

When the line of passengers rushes up the ferry ramp, you're directed to leave Biggie Bags on a steel rack (perfectly safe; you take with you daybags with $$, papers, phones, laptops). Leave your husband to do this while you scamper up the steps to grab 2 good seats; he can find you there. An arrival Note: when they announce Naxos, it's well to head down & retrieve your bag before the ramp opens. You'll miss part of the view, but the ferry doesn't stay long... it has places to go! On your Next blue Star "leg", Naxos to Santorini, you can linger on deck a bit longer, because Santorini is the terminus & ferry won't take off while you're still picking up a bag.

travelerjan

To Heimdall -- I wish I had as much time to spend in Greece as you do ... my longest stay, as usual, is about 5 days in Naxos. Thank you for the detailed info on Paros busses. However, I'm guessing that further visits there will be day visits from Antiparos -- and it's all your fault! Your many descriptions of Antiparos lured me, and I fell totally in love with it, beaches, town, ambience etc. Thus, if I'm lucky enough to visit Greece again (many obstacles, mainly fatigue-related), I"ll be in Antiparos instead ...and many thanks again for steering me there.

Heimdall

Rtwin80days, sorry to hijack your thread, but if you manage to get to Paros it's easy to get from there to Antiparos to see what travelerjan and I are talking about.

To travelerjan — health is an issue for me too, so I'm not sure how many times I will be going back to Greece either. I'm happy you enjoy Antiparos so much, and as you get to know people who live on the island it will grow on you even more.

July and August are very busy on Antiparos — In July it becomes "little Norway", and in August it is so overrun with Italians and Greeks that it's difficult to move on the pedestrian main street in the evenings (a bit like Oia on Santorini when the cruise ship passengers are there).

June and early September are just about perfect on Antiparos — not at all crowded, but just enough people to make it lively. I hope you've had a chance to see the sunset at the western edge of town. When the archaeological site at Despotiko becomes an open museum in a few years time, that will attract more people to Antiparos. The new airport on Paros will also bring more people to Antiparos, so I'm afraid our little paradise is in danger of being spoiled.

Lastly, Jan, if you haven't seen the Antiparos Photo Gallery on Facebook, have a look for it. It's a public group with brilliant photography, contributions from both residents and visitors who think of Antiparos as their second home.

travelerjan

Thanks for the Facebook tip, Heimdall, will follow up ... And yes, June was when I saw Antiparos & fell in love .... I followed the long walkway as it led to the Western Bay, with many stops along the way, to chat with the house owners who were out painting the lines between their flagstones. Got to the shore for a Ravishing Sunset,and then puzzled as to why there were so few houses on this glorious view. A local filled me in, that this spot takes the brunt of the NW Winds, and when they're blowing strong a person cant even stand upright (same reason the beautiful NW coast of Naxos, cliffs going down to the sea, is almost uninhabited).. Oh and the central "fort" area is amazing ... and the ?town square? is totally nontouristed in Spring, with kafenios filled with old mustachio'd guys. loved every minute.

Heimdall

Jan, the square gets busy after midnight when the little nightclubs begin to open. You may have seen their signs: Doors, Remember Bar, etc. There is a famous story of Thanasis, owner of Doors, having served Bruce Springsteen at the bar without recognising him. During the day, as you wrote, the square is very quiet except for the elderly men playing cards at the kafenion.

Another tip, especially if you enjoy a bit of nostalgia, is Antiparos: The Golden Years, by Per Martins, available in iBooks. "The Golden Years" refers to the 70s and 80s when many of the regular visitors started coming to Antiparos. It's a veritable treasure trove, with photos of people, some gone and some still around, as they appeared 30 or 40 years ago.

travelerjan

Thanks again Heimdall.

yiassas

Just an update to the instructions of getting to the ferry in Piraeus, the green line metro (elektrikos) is €1.40 & when yo exit through the side entrance you go around the closed off building site & cross the road to the docks. There are traffic lights & plenty of time to cross safely. The pedestrian bridge has been closed for over 2 years

travelerjan

Thanks Yiassas -- I used the bridge in 2014, not in 2015, didn't go this year; Sorry for misinformation -- thanks for update .. and BTW, hope all's going well for you in Athens. I still think fondly of that rowdy dinner in Petalida. TJ

rtwin80days

Wow what a wealth of information from each of you, thanks a lot.

I have been reading up about antiparos as well and that was one of the reasons I was leaning towards staying in Paros instead of Naxos. Technically I can still go there via Paros but I don't know how much I can get done in 4.5 days in Naxos. I don't want to run around all the time. Will discuss with husband and decide how much to run around; seeing him so so so busy and stressed at work makes me feel he deserves to lounge at a resort with a lemonade in his hand or whatever.

I can't believe this trip came together so fast, after France trip getting canned. Tick tock Friday evening is not too far. I have so much left to do. All specific queries to be posted tomo. Thanks again fodorites.

Heimdall

Hi again rtwin80days,

Naxos has lots of fans on this forum, and as you probably realised I love Antiparos. When I can be prised away from my favourite island I enjoy going to Naxos.

You certainly can visit Paros on a day trip, and there are Blue Star ferries between the two both in the morning and late evening, taking about an hour each way. That makes for a long day, but at least the fare on Blue Star is cheaper than the high speed ferries.

If you decide on a day trip to Paros it would be best to hire a car in Parikia. Then you can drive around the island free of the bus schedules, and visit Lefkes, Naoussa, and other interesting places. You still have time to get an International Driver's Permit (IDP) from AAA, assuming you don't have an EU license.

You aren't allowed to take a rental car on most ferries, but the one from Paros to Antiparos is an exception. You drive to the little port of Pounta, and take the 7 minute crossing on a landing craft ferry to Antiparos. Drivers are assisted by the crew to back the car onto the ferry, and it costs about €6 each way for the car and another euro or so (as I recall €1.20) for each passenger.

Antiparos will be very quiet by the time you are there, but a car will allow you to explore the southern end of the island where few day trippers go. Antiparos Town, where you get off the ferry, is interesting itself, and most of the shops and cafes will be open until the beginning of October. The southern end of the island has a famous stalactite cave, beautiful beaches, and lots of villas where the "A listers" stay in the summer.

If all you want to do is relax you can stay on Naxos. There is lots to see and do there.

mariha2912

"Athens - 24-25-26-27 Sep (2 days local sightseeing and 2 days visit to Meteora and Delphi hopefully on our own and not package tour)"

If you do not plan to drive, I find Delphi/Meteora nearly impossible only in two days on public transport, unless you plan to use a private transport service?

rtwin80days

Heimdall, thanks again for such relevant and detailed info.

Mariha1912, we were in contact with a taxi service for their quotes (too expensive) and compare with car rentals (which we want to avoid) and package tours (which don't seem to let you have much time at either of the places). Alas, we had decided to take a tour in the end because it's easy to go to Delphi via KTEL buses but Meteora connectivity is difficult.

rtwin80days

Sorry it's mariha2912. Typo.

Another bad news: we can't go! We are not going! Husband's leave got cancelled owing to urgent work reasons. I seem to have no time to react as I am trying to cancel 10 bookings of different kinds. Flights, travel insurance, hotels (which by now have not remained cancellable), tour, etc.

Heimdall

Oh No! Maybe next year.

rtwin80days

Lost most money on the flights from US (despite being refundable flights, the cancellation fees took most of the price paid), hotels, etc. Luckily I hadn't deposited money for Delphi-Meteora tour as I wasn't keen on a package tour...oh well, teaches me well because I chose a cheaper travel insurance plan which did not include trip cancellation for work reasons!

mariha2912

For me this would be an opportunity for a solo trip : )

rtwin80days

Mariha2912, that's a nice way of looking at it. We are in discussions to reschedule the trip to next month. Now I'm just bewildered whether the weather is going to be conducive for our trip, anywhere in Europe. Am sure we can find cities where we want to go + decent weather (decent daylight hours, low rain, not too cold, etc) for a trip exactly a month later.

travelerjan

For November ... um, it's a challenge. Best to look at places -- Paris, Berlin, Rome -- where there are lots of indoor attractions if weather is rainy or cold.

rtwin80days

Considering weather, timings of attractions, ferry and flights schedules, restaurants and local businesses being open, etc, would my Greek itinerary (Athen + Delphi, Meteora > Naxos > Santorini > Athens) work for 22 Oct morning land in Athens, fly out of Athens on 6 Nov morning? Trying to see if these dates work for Europe trip.

Heimdall

Regarding Naxos and Santorini, suggest you fly to Santorini first, then take the Blue Star ferry to Naxos. Flights to Santorini take 50 minutes, while the ferry is 7½ hours. Santorini has flights with regional jets, while Naxos has only small 30+ passenger turboprops. From Naxos back to Athens you have the choice of a 5 hour ferry or (if seats are available) the turboprop flight.

Weather should still be good, and sea water still warm from the summer. Archaeological sites are open all year round, and most shops, restaurants, etc on Santorini will still be open. Naxos has a shorter season, but enough will still be open for you to enjoy.

While the islands are seasonal, that's not so much a factor on the mainland. Everything will be open, but tourist crowds gone. October 28th is Ochi Day, a public holiday when some places may be closed or operating at reduced hours, Mariha2912 is actually from Delphi, so she can help you there.