Paros and Antiparos

6.30pm Getting used to the relaxed pace of life here. Arrived back at the Hotel Agnanti after a terrific day's sightseeing. Hired a Fiat Panda for 27 euro and circumnavigated the island in seven hours of easier than expected driving.

First stop was Pounda on the west coast where we caught a ferry to the island of Antiparos. We wandered the now familiar narrow lanes of its old port and fort - not much left of its Venetian glory. Blame the Turks I guess.

An hour or so later we returned to our little fiat and drove south past the airport and got lost in the beach town of Aliki. After that we learned to stay on the main road - there are few choices - and passed small and large towns including Drios and Marpissa before ariving at our second port of call, Lefkes. This traditional mountain village was formerly the capital of Paros and is now famous for ceramics. Unfortunately, all the shos selling them seemed closed - we are still a little early for the season.

We enjoyed an energetic clamber around its lanes before driving on to Naoussa, a picturesque fishing port on the northern shore of Paros. Here we finally (3pm) paused for a plate of Tzaziki and a beer while Tess attended to her latest injury.*

Finally we turned west again for Parikia, the capital of Paros and its ain port. We again found a convenient parking spot and explored its now familiar attractions. It also has a Byzantine Museum (closed 2-5pm) and old church. Everything on these islands is covered in a not-so-fine patina of dust which combined with the white builings and harsh bright sunlight makes even Australia seem cool and green.

By 5pm we had enjoyed enough of the island's attractions and found the road back too our hotel with only one mistake. Always glad to return a hire car undamaged. I relaxed with a swim in the excellent pool (half a dozen sunbakers but no swimmers) while Tess showered, cleaned her wounds and settled down with her book and a glass of the Rose rescued from lunch.

Finally, at 6.30 we settled here on the verandah of our hotel - we have it to ourselves - ordered a beer and settled down with our laptops for some photos and email. We will have an "early" dinner sitting with some new Dutch friends at 8.30 pm before retiring to our shuttered room for some baklava we bought in Parikia. Bliss!

Tomorrow we are collected at 10.20 am for ou ferry to Santorini which leavs at 11.55pm. I will pray for calm seas. I recorded parts of our journey with the GPS in my phone and once I work out where to store it for you, those with Google Earth may like to retrace our steps. Stay tuned.

Salut!

* Tess stubbed her thonged toe on a step in Lefkes today neccessitating the purchase of some expensive bandaids to stem the flow of blood. She has added this to the scraped knees and ruised chest from Mykonos in her injury tally. Don't want things to escalate on Santorini so may confine her to her room.