Today, we departed Mykonos for the island of Naxos, Greece! Photo #1: Confessions of rookie Greece travelers...we have too much luggage!! Every time we move to a new place, we laugh at ourselves...then cry.

Naxos is the most self-sufficient and fertile island in the Cyclades chain, with a good supply of water, in a region where water is usually inadequate. This has promoted agriculture as the island's top economic means, producing abundant fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy animals.

The ferry ride here was very civilized compared to our experience from Athens to Mykonos. (Photo 2). We brought our own lunch as well as the wine we liked from the butcher shop...yesterday's vintage, bottled in 1.5 Litre plastic bottles, for $6.50 Canadian! It's very nice wine too! Jim and Pete enjoyed having a cigar and a glass of wine during the ferry ride. (Photo 3)

Within an hour and half we arrived in Naxos. We are not staying in Naxos Town, but in Agios Prokopios, a seaside village 6 km south of Naxos Town. All seemed well when we got off the bus at our final destination...with all cursed luggage in hand, until we started asking people for directions to our hotel. We received a variety of answers, ranging from wrong directions to having never heard of it before. In the end we managed to find it, but it was more than 1/2 a kilometer up the hill we had just come down on the bus! Fortunately our 2 donkeys managed to get all the bags up the hill and we checked into our "cozy" room...Jim and Kelley are in the "bedroom" which we are fondly referring to as the closet! We have a lovely rooftop patio (photo 4), and as a bonus we get to use the pool at the neighboring fancy hotel (which we already looked up and noted the cost at $450 Canadian for 2 people, per night!)

Following a relaxing swim and an afternoon of "hobnobbing" with the rich and famous next door, we walked back down the hill for dinner. What a beautiful sunset! (photo 4). We had an amazing dinner at a little seaside restaurant, and we all oohed and awed over our delicious meals. (photo 5). We always know we chose the right restaurant, when the minute we sit down, they bring us a complimentary glass of Ouzo!

On the way home, we stopped to buy a bottle of Kitron, a local lemon-citrus liquor made on Naxos. We sat up on the roof top patio planning to enjoy a glass while gazing into the beautiful night sky....however, the Kitron tasted like lemon pledge. Poor donkeys...they will now have to choke this down over the next few nights.

The last photo is me, doing my favorite thing...Swinging open the shutters this morning, and singing out Bonjour! (but in Greek, I say Kalimera!) Hope you enjoy!

PS: Donkey's thought of the day "why is it that every time we have to move all the luggage, it is uphill?"