Our third and last day on Koufonisia and time to wander a little further afield.
Whenever we visit somewhere new there are always little sights and views that become familiar and fondly remembered as you get to know somewhere.
This little odd collection of chairs.
A strategically placed dead tree.
Small coves and cliff edges.
The view across Alejandra, Italia and Fanos beaches.
We were heading to the far north west of the island which had a beach and some cliffs and features we hadn't explored before.
More coves and caves and this time with blue rather than grey skies.
One of these features is the Devils Eye. A cave that cuts through the rocks.
That also has a deep tidal pool where the waves swell the water. I loved the fact you could still see the turquoise blue of the sunlit water through the swelling waves in the little video clip.
You could stoop and crawl through tight to the edge of the cliff.
I managed to convince TJF to pose there for a photo!
I tried to scramble to the cliffs so I could see back in but it was very precarious and a slip into the crashing waves would likely have been problematic. This was as close as I dared get
You can probably see from the waves that there was a very strong northerly wind blowing - the famed Meltemi that blows from the northern Aegean through the Cyclades every summer. One of the reasons why its a very popular sailing destination.
We moved on to Parali Pori, the islands biggest beach.
Its a beautiful curve of pale white sand and very quiet and unspolit, just one small taverna and a few isolated villas.
We thought about a swim here but it was really rather windy and we saved swimming for later in the more sheltered areas.
There is a small circular peninsula behind the beach with some spectacular cliffs.
Views along the next stretch of coast with the island of Naxos behind.
The collection of overhanging cliffs, caves and arches was made all the more spectacular with the crashing waves. I was actually a little concerned about the effect this might have on our scheduled ferry the next day. However during the afternoon and evening the wind dropped almost completely leaving a flat calm sea for our trip.
The island in the distance on the right is Donoussa, another island I considered for the trip.
We were hoping to get down and take a closer look at this semi enclosed beach and low sea arch called Gala Beach.
However there was a very short section that looked a little delicate to cross and whilst easy, a slip would have been very costly. We took the safe option and just sat on the rocks for a while, waves crashing below us.
We completed our walk around the headland and back to another glorious view of Paralia Pori.
These benches were a superb overlook and had we not been hungry and ready for some lunch would have made a good spot to swim from.
Saling yachts framed by the beach and Keros.
We passed by the natural rock pool once more and again I passed up the chance to take a swim in it.
The colour of the rocks kept catching my eye and the contrast with the sea and sky beguiling.
Keros always looked so inviting both for coastline and mountains but its been left purely as an uninhabited farming island.
Another lunch at Finikas Beach with the sea and beach just below our table.
Having walked a way in the morning, the afternoon was reserved for swimming and sunbathing on Finikas beach.
The family enjoying some quiet time.
TJF and the Prof swimming and snorkelling respectively. The fish life here was particularly good.
For the first time on the holiday it was genuinely hot, the winds of the first few days having dropped .
It was a great spot and one of my new happy places.
Simple pleasures of just strolling across the beach, mesmerised by the deep clear blue waters
Panorama across the sweep of coastline, beaches and rocky coves.
I kept looking at the ridges and mountains of Keros although as its uninhabited I'd guess the terrain would be extremely hard work, not to say pretty hot at this time of year.
We had to tear ourselves away from this dreamy spot and head back to freshen up before our evening out.
The small pebble cove we swam at the day before.
Considering Koufonisia is only a few miles across and less than 200m at its highest its coastline and rocky cliffs and coves are spectacular.
And I don't think you could ever tire of looking at the crystal clear waters.
We had another meal in our favourite restaurant. All the other restaurants looked equally good but this one had so many interesting menu choices, we kept coming back.
One last warm evening to wander the narrow streets.
You could have a happy evening just moving from one bar to the next.
Sunset over Naxos.
Fishing boat sporting very British colours!
And a night-time shot of the village.
One last pre-breakfast morning stroll for me.
So peaceful and calm.
And another windmill, this one a bar that hadn't opened for the season just yet.
Time to pack up and move on.
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