Whisper House Press

Definitely a slice of heaven.

I spent a full week in Naxos back in 2017 (read about my impressions from that first visit here). This time, I was back for four nights / four days, and I was thrilled to be returning—especially to escape the 102-degree heat + humidity of Athens that precluded us from being outside during the day.

The photos here tell a story. Look below them for the details.

We arrived by ferry the afternoon of the 17th, and we rented a little VW “Go”—a vehicle retired from production and only haphazardly converted from a manual to an automatic—to reach our hotel. The place we stayed, 7 Suites, was the first of two hotels on the trip, and by far the nicest stay planned for the summer.

We rested through the heat of the day and took in a sunset after dinner at a small tavern in the village nearby. The Greek Salad at that place was excellent. I haven’t enjoyed cucumbers in a long time… or raw onions. In this case, I enjoyed them both right along with the tomatoes and olive oil.

Over the next few days, my son and I explored the island, checking out multiple secluded beaches and only really diving into tourist-zone once—to see the sunset at the gate of Apollo (2,500+ years old!).

I’ve been working on editing my press’s anthology this whole trip, and I nearly finished during this leg of the journey. (If you’re interested in this, click here for more.)

Highlights for both of us included the sunsets and the sandy beaches—a rarity in Aegean Greece, given that these are volcanic islands (and so lots of rocky shores and beaches). I finished reading an ARC of Stephen Graham Jones’s latest, I Was a Teenage Slasher and a 2021 audiobook of Lee Mandelo’s Summer Sons, both of which I reviewed here on my website and on my goodreads page. Both were excellent. Reading is definitely one of my top factors of enjoyment for these big summer trips (and for when I’m at home, too).

My sentiments about this island haven’t changed since 2017 when I first visited: this is a much quieter and, for me, better spot to visit than Santorini (I returned there to that island 2019 and will not be going back again). Fewer tourists spread over a much larger area mean it’s easy to find quiet places and avoid heavy crowding. The sunsets are equally beautiful, and the beaches are sandy rather than rocky. Prices are lower, too, of course. All of it adds up to a winning spot. There are dozens of other islands, I’m sure, that are just as nice, yet I hope to return to Naxos again in a few years—next time I hope my daughter and wife will want to venture to Europe with my son and me.

We’re moving on to Ios, an island just south of Naxos. This will be a new destination for me, and I’m looking forward to it. We’ll be staying on the beach in a 2-star spot, which will be quite different from our 4-star Naxos arrangements. I’m excited to see what Ios is all about.

Til next time…