After Milos captured our hearts, we took the short ferry ride over to the neighbor island of Paros to see if we could recreate the magic. As soon as we made shore, we knew Paros would be special. Almost immediately, I caught sight of my first blue dome. Something I’d dreamed of seeing after years of photos, books, and quiet imaginings of Greece. It was a small powerful moment.
After chatting with a few locals near the port, we secured our rental cars and found our condo in Naousa. A quick lunch helped reset us, and then we spent the afternoon wandering through the ruins of the Venetian Castle. Tiny crabs scurried through the water below us, sailboats bobbed nearby, and octopus hung drying on lines.
Beach time felt like the obvious next step. We chose Golden Beach, known for sun and sport, and it quickly proved worthy of its name. The light hit the sand just right, giving it a warm golden glow. We rented an umbrella, ordered drinks straight to our chairs, and settled in. Adam gave windsurfing a try and quickly learned it’s much harder than it looks. Jill and I did what we do best, combing the beach for rocks and collecting more treasures than our pockets could hold. The kids braved the cold water staying in until their little teeth were chattering. As the sun began to sink, we headed inland to find dinner. We stopped at a quiet spot in the countryside with incredible food and front row seats to the sunset.
The next morning brought something special. Every so often on our travels, I schedule a family photo shoot with a local photographer, and this year we worked with Petti through localgraphers.com. She captured our family beautifully as we wandered the white and blue pathways of Naousa. Those photos will forever hold this season of life for us.
After the shoot, we made our way to a local winery to sample the wines that have made Paros well known. The kids joined in with glasses of local orange juice, happily clinking cups alongside us.
From there, we drove into the center of the island to explore the marble quarries. Much of the marble used in the statues and structures we’d seen throughout Greece came from places just like this. We met a local at one quarry and purchased small pieces of marble. I chose two dice, simple objects that now carry a story.
Next, we wandered through the town of Lefkes. Shops, food, winding alleyways, and the joy of letting ourselves get lost. Somewhere along the way, I dropped my camera, shattering the lens filter. Thankfully, the lens itself was unharmed, but it did require that I put up the camera for the rest of the trip.
We ended the day at Kolympethres, a beach known for its unique rock formations. It was beautiful and surprisingly one of the warmest beaches we visited on the trip. Ethan found a rock to jump from, which immediately made it his favorite stop.
That night, we had dinner right on the water, savoring the final moments of our Greek island adventure.
Paros felt balanced and grounded, full of beauty without trying too hard. A place of light, stone, and simple joys, and the perfect way to close this chapter of the journey.
Until next time,
