Greece: Paroikia (Paros)

Paroikia, Greece: apartments near my room
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The island of Paros is one of the most enchanting and charming of all the Greek isles.  Not as touristy as Santorini, but not as sleepy as Antiparos.  A perfect mixture of whitewashed houses, classic Greek tavernas and pounding discos.  All in the middle of the Cyclades, a sound jumping off spot.

Paros, population just under 13,000, is one of the largest islands in the Cyclades chain, separated by a five mile wide strait from Naxos.  The island's most famous export is its Parian marble, known throughout the classical Greek world, having been used by the most famous Greek sculptors.

The World's Best Corn on the Cob

Paroikia, Greece: bright flowers
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I had visited Paros in 2002 with my brother and was eager to explore its capital, Paroikia, again.  The perfect town to get lost in, Paroikia is composed of labyrinthine alleys immersed in bright white and blue paint.

I roamed and roamed throughout the town, ducking under low ceilings, taking unexpected turns, photographing little Greek kitties, and losing myself in this Greek fantasyland.

Being high season there were a large amount of tourists, mostly German and Scandinavian.  But, in spite of the visitors, there were still countless quiet alleys to poke around, devoid of any signs of life except for the brilliant flowers and sleeping cats.

Paroikia, Greece: shadows
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I found the spot where I had taken one of my favorite photographs four years earlier, that of a whitewashed staircase leading down from under a lapus lazuli window into a tight alley.  I was surprised I actually found the location and proceeded to take a number of new photographs.  As was the case four years earlier, there was no one around.

One of my favorite things about the Greek Isles is the corn on the cob, prepared by each island's elderly residents.  Paros stands out, by far, as the best place to get corn on the cob in the entire world.  I am not exaggerating.  It is BRILLIANT.

Paroikia, Greece: all white alley
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To no surprise, I found the same exact old man who I bought my corn from in 2002.  Still there.  Preparing corn on the cob all night for the tourists.  Yum yum yum yum.  I actually have a picture of him from 2002, so I had to take a new one to prove to my brother he was still there.  I'm sure he'll be there in 2010 too.

After they grill the popcorn, they douse it with salt and use a paintbrush (!) to spread the butter on the corn.  Sounds simple, but the taste cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world.  So my advice is, go to Paros and eat the corn on the cob.  You'll never regret it.

Paroikia, Greece: perfect scene
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I picked up dinner on the water and set out to enjoy Paros' nightlife.  The main place to party is a large complex containing about four different bars/clubs called Paros Rock.  The night I went was the grand opening of some hip-hop dance club, so I checked it out.

There weren't really too many people out which was surprising, but I still enjoyed a few beers at the bar.  I had a great time watching a mother and daughter drink on a couch, only to see the mother (about 50 years old) chat up a smooth Greek guy and go home with him, leaving her daughter alone at a club full of guys.

Paroikia, Greece: parian church
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The daughter didn't seem to mind, and proceeded to grind with some local kid for the remainder of the night.  Pretty hilarious; I wonder if her mother locked her out from the room too.

I took the long walk back to my decent room, taking in the clean Aegean air and the welcome breeze.  Weather in the Greek Islands during July and August is nothing short of perfect - hot during the day, rarely too hot, and cool at night so you can wear jeans and a t-shirt.

How I wish Boston was even remotely similar.