My homecoming to Naxos

It feels like yesterday leaving Naxos to find a job abrοad at the age of 18. Today, after several decades, I am visiting my homeland once again and I am very excited about it. Common family and life obligations haven’t allowed me to see my beloved Naxos for 52 years.

My arrival at the port of Naxos was better than I expected it to be. All these years, the internet has helped me be up to date with the island’s progress and change. My continuous contact with friends and family kept me well informed about the new and exciting things taking place on Naxos.

The island is indeed extremely different than it used to be when I was a young girl. Tourism has definitely left its mark. The former difficult to access sandy beaches, are now transformed to attractive holiday resorts accessible to everyone. Naxos hotels, apartments and rooms are just about everywhere. Restaurants and beachfront taverns offer their delicious meze and dishes to their hungry customers. I know because I was one of them for 2.5 months while renovating my old and abandoned family home in Naxos Town. It is now to be my vacation home for the glorious Naxos summer tourist period.

Tourism has also helped reveal the island’s rich history. The archaeological sites, once inaccessible and forgotten, have now come to life. Many museums have been constructed, gathering hundreds of tourists each year.

There is no doubt that what used to be an isolated and relatively unknown island of Greece is now a world famous holiday retreat, offering excellent tourist amenities, breathtaking beauty, many activities and a deep feeling that there is always more to see. That is why one visit to Naxos island is never enough.