Driving Around Naxos

We rented a car on our last full day on Naxos to explore outside of Chora. Our first stop was the Eggares Olive Oil Museum. It was interesting and informative. The samples were delicious. I got us a little lost getting to our next stop, which meant some crazy little roads. We finally did get back on track and made it to Melanes, one of the most ancient villages on Naxos built in the amphitheater style. We know what that means, more stairs. It was a beautiful spot, and the views were incredible. We met a really nice person who moved to Melanes from Stirling Scotland. He loved living there. Close by was the Kalamitsia Monastary. It was built in 1673 by Jesuit monks on the site of an ancient venetian mansion and was used as a summer retreat. It's in ruins but still beautiful and very remote. We were the only people there until another group of 4 joined us. They had visited many times and showed us how to get on the roof and into the basement. Our drive took us up and over mountains famous for marble quarries. It was so impressive to see how they have accessed this beautiful stone. The roads were treacherous, but Randy did an amazing job. We stopped for a late lunch and a little exploring in Chalki. It is a picturesque village that once was the capital and trade center of the island. Our day seemed to fly by, and when we made it to Demeters Sanctuary, it was closed for the day. After returning the rental car, we stopped to see the owner of the restaurant who collects motorcycles. Randy and Mike had a tour, and Lori and I had a cold drink and snack. We really enjoyed visiting Naxos.Read more