We all know and love Paros. It's an exciting island with serene moments and plenty to do. So when Jen thought of places to getaway from Paros and try a new island, Amorgos entered the conversation. I had faint memories of Amorgos being a sleepy little island with a famous monastery and few beaches from a day trip when I was a kid.
A return to Amorgos with Jen, Astrid and Jen's parents, John and Sandy, has left me with an entirely new perception of this beautiful island. The typical Cycladic charm is seen throughout the island in white washed buildings, sandy beaches, amazingly simple tavernas and crystal clear waters. Amorgos is one of the more mountainous islands in the region, so winding roads lead you over many precipices lined with goats and down into small valleys that exude a wonderful sense of serenity.
On the day we arrived, we boarded the ferry with our car packed to the brim and made our way from the southern tip to the northern bay of Amigali. Here we were greeted with a stunningly calm bay with mountains overlooking the village. High atop the mountain ridges, were smaller towns that seem to cling to the edges of each cliff.
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| Astrid seemed to enjoy her new view |
After a lovely evening at a lovely taverna perched on the cliffs, we decided to explore the nearby waters via boat. We chartered a speedboat for the day and made our way towards Nikfouria Island, a nearby uninhabited island with a rickety pier. We parked in some shade and enjoyed the peace and quiet with only a few of the local goats.
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| The family headed through the crystal waters of Amorgos |
After a busy day of cruising the waters, we dropped John and Sandy off at a nearby resort and Jen and I set out to find the shipwreck cove along the southern tip of Amorgos. We were rewarded with an amazing shipwreck to ourselves.
We headed back to the port for a quick meal and siesta, only to take the boat out again for some sunset drinks on the calm bay. While Paros will always be my sunset perfection, Amorgos certainly carried itself well with a gently setting sunset along a perfectly calm evening, we soaked it all in and Astrid gently waved goodbye to the sun.
Sure enough, it rose again the next day and we made our way to the famed monastery of Hozoviotissa. John and Sandy let our young legs do the walking and gladly accepted the offer to spoil little Astrid with some love and laughs. We made our way through the mountains to a lot where we hiked up the ancient stairway, only to be greeted by some kind priests offering us raki and water for our sweaty selves. The monastery seemed smaller than I remember, but that is because I was likely half the size I am now. It still had narrow hallways and steep steps to navigate, but Jen was charmed.
Shortly after our return, we left for Levrossos beach nearby for a late lunch and a swim. We enjoyed our taverna lunch while Astrid napped nearby in her stroller. She awoke to fresh watermelon and delicious pressed eggplant in sauce. The beach ended up being perfect for kids, as it was shallow and calm with a cool breeze rolling off the mountains. We set up Astrid's umbrella and whiled away the hours.
