“I think I’m going to do a day trip to Paros while I’m in Mykonos.”
“You’re going to Paris too?”
“No, Pa-ros. The Greek Island.”
This was a conversation I had quite a number of times as I haphazardly planned my final days in Europe. I was actually planning on staying on this little island instead of Mykonos, but was afraid it wouldn’t be busy or interesting enough for a solo traveller.
Naturally, I was wrong in this case, but now I know, and I cannot wait to step foot on it again.
I mean, look at it…
**Word to the wise – if you are catching one of the trans-island ferries from Mykonos, the port is actually a hell of a way away from Mykonos Town. Luckily I left enough time to walk the extra 5kms before the ferry left. Next time, I catch taxi.**
An easy hour away from the larger party island, Paros is broken up into two main areas – the capital and port town of Parikia, and Naoussa, an older fishing village and home to the beaches, restaurants and bars.
I hadn’t done a lot of research before embarking on my journey, so upon landing I wandered round Parikia aimlessly for far too long, before a casual chat with a lovely local store owner that the better part of the island was a bus ride away.
But Parikia is pretty all the same.
Paros, like Mykonos is stunning, with its white-washed buildings with pops of bold pinks, blues and yellows, white cobblestone streets, and vibrant draping vines leading you down each same same but different little alleyway, where a new discovery awaited.
Once in Naoussa, and after a hearty explore of the streets, I headed to the nearby beach to soak in what would be my last day of European sun for the foreseeable future. That was followed by an incredibly mouth-watering meal of grilled squid, saganaki and the best god damn roast potatoes of my life from a local taverna. I really ended this trip on a high.
Upon my arrival back to Mykonos, I may or may not have headed to Scorpios for one more dance to Melbourne’s very own Kaz James, resulting in a far later night than planned…which consequently resulted in me sleeping almost the entire flight/s home to Melbourne.
‘Til 2021 Europe!
