The Cycladic Islands are a group of 220 islands in the Aegean Sea southeast of mainland Greece. This blog post features Paros and Santorini. Because of the economic situation in Greece, it’s a good time to visit and get the most for your dollar. The Euro is lower than it has been for years, and there are good deals to be found. I think you’ll find our pictures enough to lure you.

Many have asked me about eating and drinking in the Greek Isles and all I can answer is, YES! I prefer to dine at the various tavernas that line the shore. They are usually family run and will treat you like one of the family as soon as you sit. The olive oil is often from a family farm, the feta will be fresh and made on the island and the produce grown nearby. Plates are often set in the middle of the table to be shared with others. The wines are almost always from Greek wineries, stored in wooden kegs and served to you in a chilled metal pitcher to insure that even on the warmest days your white wine will be cool. If you’re a beer drinker I recommend Mythos or Alpha, two very nice Greek beers.

The most interesting way to travel to these islands is from a ferry out of Athens, but if you are short of time you can fly inexpensively through Aegean Air on a small commuter plane.

A note of caution about bathroom facilities on the islands. The plumbing is smaller than American standards, and for that reason toilet paper must not be flushed. A small covered trashcan is kept next to the toilet to drop your wrapped up used paper in and is disposed of daily. After a week of this I like to reward myself with a stay at a luxury hotel in Athens just for the bathroom.

Paros

Paros is a beautiful island of beaches, archaeological ruins and former marble mines. It’s also the ferry hub for the Cyclades. Parikia is the capital of the small island. We have stayed at a small family run pension called the Argonauta. The Argonauta is a short stroll from the port where the ferries dock and at the entrance to the old town. In the morning the aroma from the bakery across the street insures that you’ll wake up with an appetite, and the breakfast the hotel serves will more than fill the bill. We stayed for five nights over Easter 2014, our fourth stay in the past ten years. With each stay we fall more in love with this small hotel. The rooms are up a marble staircase, surrounding a roof garden. It’s a pleasant place to sit and read or share a bottle of wine and chat with family and friends. The lobby is spacious and gives you the feeling of sitting in a traditional Cycladic style living room. Our room had a balcony overlooking the square where we could watch the comings and goings from the port, a refrigerator tucked into the armoire and a bed so comfortable I hated getting up in the mornings. This is not a big American chain hotel but a truly authentic Greek island home away from home. The family that owns the Argonauta has always responded to every question and request quickly and most helpfully. Their warmth is part of what keeps us returning to Paros.

Santorini

Santorini is possibly the most beautiful place on Earth. It is what remains after a large volcanic eruption destroyed an earlier civilization and is largely carved out of the caldera.

I would recommend that anyone visiting stay in Oia, as it has the most amazing views. You can choose between donkeys or steps to maneuver the steep inclines, just as breathtaking as the view.