Painted Streets & Peaceful Days in Paros
Among Blue Doors and Quiet Courtyards
#29
We traveled this past week from Sifnos to the more populated island of Paros, and then on Saturday continued on to Naxos. (I’ll share more about our stay on Naxos next week!) Serifos and Sifnos have around 1,200 and 2,200 year-round residents respectively, while Paros has closer to 13,000. It is energizing to both of us to be on an island now with more people and activity. The weather in Greece has been warmer than expected, and I’m beyond happy to have clear blue skies and moderate temperatures.
Greece has been exceptional so far, and somehow each island keeps getting better. As I mentioned in a previous blog, the off-season ferry puzzle has been a bit tricky to piece together. Ideally, we stay about a week in each place, but because of limited ferry schedules—especially from smaller islands like Sifnos—we had only four nights on Paros. Fortunately, we were able to enjoy a relaxed final day on Sifnos before catching the ferry later that afternoon. One of the perks of off-season travel is that there’s no rush to check out for the next guests. We could lounge, do laundry, take a nice walk, and simply enjoy the space before moving on.
My usual pattern on travel days is to get more stressed and anxious—the day before and the day of. I start thinking about the next stop: checking in with our hosts, figuring out transportation, printing ferry tickets, returning the car, lining up what’s next. This is our tenth place in two months, with about nine more to go. But I’m realizing now (better late than never) that this tension is just old patterning. Travel can be joyful and doesn’t need to be a stressor. There will always be details, but I can choose how I move through them. As a lifelong traveler, logistics have always fallen to me—it’s my wheelhouse—but I’ve often carried an unnecessary layer of angst. I see it now, and I’m choosing something different.
On our travel day off Sifnos, I actually took a nap. That never would have happened before; I would’ve been too wired to rest, much less sleep. Tim and I travel very well together—we’re both organized, on time, and supportive of each other—so why not make it enjoyable for everyone involved?
The ferry ride to Paros was about three hours, and we decided not to rent a car this time since our stay was walking distance to everything. Once we landed, our driver met us at the dock and took us the short 15 minutes to Naoussa. It’s a charming town near several beaches, with a small square, a bakery, and a handful of restaurants still open. White-washed homes with blue doors, flowers still in bloom, kind people, and art-painted streets gave it that classic Greek island feel. Most of the shops and restaurants had already closed for the season, and the 20-room apartment complex we stayed in was empty except for us. That felt like such a gift. We had two rooms and a kitchen, and since there was no living room, we spent most of our time in the courtyard—which we had entirely to ourselves. What a different experience it would’ve been if the place were full of other travelers all trying to pack in their last island days.
We could read, work out, and enjoy the morning and evening air in quiet solitude. Roaming cats are everywhere on these islands, keeping the rodents at bay, and they seem healthy and well cared for. We’re not really cat people, but in Naoussa a precious cat Tim named Bob kept coming around, and he quickly worked his way into our hearts. Affectionate and calm, he became part of our days in the courtyard. It was a little sad to say goodbye when we left—we sent him off with love, some extra cheese, and gratitude for his playful spirit. This home didn’t have an ocean view, which was actually a nice change of pace, and being able to walk everywhere was energizing.
The weather has stayed warm, which has also brought more flies than usual for this time of year. Normally, the islands would be cooler by now, but with the warmth, the flies have multiplied. Still, I’ll take them over biting bugs any day. You might remember from my Bahamas blogs last year that I couldn’t go outside without layers of clothes or bug spray because the no-see-ums were so bad. Here, I can be outside freely—and that’s a win.
I took long walks around Paros, we spent a few quiet hours at the beach, and although I don’t swim like Tim (the water is too cold for me), it’s glorious to lie on the sand and feel the sun warm my skin. I bought cookies from the bakery to have with my yogurt each morning, and Tim made the eggs. We found a great little Italian place with delicious carbonara, had gyros, and an excellent spanakopita. Paros is one island I’ll consider returning to—ideally when it’s warmer and the town is alive with more people. Even in the quiet season, it was so worth it.
I’ve also loved seeing the holiday decorations start to appear. Since Thanksgiving isn’t celebrated here, Greece has already moved into the spirit of the season. To those of you spending time with loved ones this week, I wish you the peace and gratitude this holiday represents—time to reflect on the blessings we have, to connect with the people we love, and to celebrate all that truly matters. May we carry those gifts forward — not just through this season, but into every moment that follows.
As always, I’ve shared more videos on YouTube if you’d like to follow along and see the journey unfold.
To your highest and best,
Dianna
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