Lefkes, Mostly

For day two on Paros I hoofed it to Lefkes via the old Byzantine Road. The Byzantine Road connects Prodromos to Lefkes. I set out to Prodromos from Piso Livadi, which was maybe 1.5 miles, traversed through the town of Prodromos, and finally came upon the road.

What I appreciated most about the road is its history, of course. How spectacular to walk a road that’s been around for over 1,000 years! The hike wasn’t too strenuous (by Colorado standards) and the views along the way were stunning. There’s evidence of a previous wildfire in the area. I’m also curious about the stone walls and their purpose. My guess is they were built around the same time as the road. I’ll research and report back. From the trailhead, it took me about 1.5 hours to hike the road…I think.

When I arrived in Lefkes, I was pretty hungry. I ate some fruit and drank a shot of coffee before my hike, and I was ready for brunch. My cousin recommended a place called Sweet Smelling Kitchen @pezoula_paros. According to Google, I was right on time at 11:30, but Sundays must be different-she didn’t open until 1:00. I was bummed, but cared more about my immediate need for food than missing out on this great restaurant.

I found another restaurant close by, Ramnos Cafe,and drank a quart of water before the coffee even got to the table. Oh, I ordered Greek coffee, which yum yum! 

After breakfast, I walked around Lefkes for a bit, picked up a little decoration for my home, and decided to hike back to Piso Livadi. I really do love the fresh air, views, and exercise.

Back at the hotel I took a quick cold shower and changed, then I walked to the beach. I want to be by the sea as much as possible while I’m here. I camped on the sand and quickly made friends with a few Littles. One little girl asked my name, and then I asked for hers and her brother’s. When I asked if they were having fun, they returned with blank stares. Okay, so limited English. They hung around for a while, but I’m no match for playing in the ocean. 

Soon after, another little girl, much younger than the other two, but with the same group, came over and chatted away. I smiled and nodded. I couldn’t even peg the language. Her mom called over and apologized. I told momma the girl was fine, only I felt bad I couldn’t talk with her. I asked momma where they were from, and Albania was her response. Definitely wouldn’t have known that language. 

I was getting hungry and really wanted an adult beverage, so I found an empty lounge chair at the restaurant on the beach and ordered a beer. It was a bit of a challenge getting the attention of the server so I could order food, so I packed up to clean up at the hotel, and then search for another restaurant.

I’d passed Mango quite a few times, and the restaurant had great reviews, so I gave it a try. The staff were kind enough to seat me immediately, even though I think they prefer reservations. 

I really wanted to try a local wine, but I could only get the Paros vintage by the bottle. So naturally, I bought the bottle. 

After dinner, I stopped at Mango’s gelato stand downstairs and headed back to the room. When I say I passed out face down, I’m not exaggerating. 

It felt good to get to bed early so I could be well-rested for my Antiparos adventure.

Cheers,

Audra