Paros

Leaving Folegandros, our next stop was Paros. We tied up at the harbor of Naoussa, boarded a bus and traveled to the island's largest town, Parikia, to visit the church "Panagia tis Ekatonotapiliani" (Our Lady with the "hundred doors").
The name is related to tradition where it is said that the church was found to have 99 gates or doors. The 100th is still hidden but will be detected when the Greeks take Constantinople back from the Turks.		The Baptistry is the oldest and most well preserved throughout the Orthodox East. It consists of a complete building, including the cross-shaped font. Its oldest sections also date back to the 4th century.
	One of the traditions still actively performed is the expression of petition or thanks to the saints for specific favors. Good health, a safe trip, an injured leg, eyesight... it is all done quite literally.


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	We traveled next to the ancient quarry at Marathi. Parian marble is the best in Greece, and it was used in the building of the Parthenon and all the finest sculptures of ancient Greece
Lefkes is a small white-washed village nestled into the hills. It is the highest village on Paros.		I was really delighted by the authentic examples of popular island architecture - characteristic doors, parapets, arches, wells, and paved roads.

Walking along the marble-laid roads, I was captivated by the white houses whose architecture goes back hundreds of years		The gardens and courtyards are truly beautiful, filled with the ever-present bougainvillea, of course, but also with peppers and grape arbors.
This imposing white church (Ag. Triada) was built in 1835 on the ruins of three old churches.		Of course, there are the ubiquitous Greek cats, maintaining their guardianship of the village.



Following a late lunch at a taverna in Naoussa, we then boarded the Galileo and were surprised by our tour leaders, staff and crew with appetizers of grilled octopus and a couple of rounds of ouzo, that licorice flavored liqueur that is crystal clear until you add ice, when it then becomes milky white. Once we had "loosened up" with the appetizers and ouzo, Eleni proceeded to give us all our first lessons in traditional Greek dancing. What a hoot!!!