No
matter how and where you arrive in Paxos, you cannot help but pause
for a moment and admire its serene beauty. It has a stunningly
beautiful landscape that is almost entirely covered in olive and
cypress trees right down to the edge of the shimmering turquoise
sea. The small fishing village of Lakka with a huge almost circular
sheltered bay is situated on the northern end of this lovely
island. It remains an unpretentious village, narrow streets,
cobbled courtyards and small squares with their open air tavernas
combine to provide a refreshingly authentic Greek atmosphere.
The village houses still echo of the past, alterations to the
old houses to provide tourist accommodation has been in general
confined to the interiors. Numerous small shops include a bakery
and a butcher but the word 'sophistication' is not known to the
warm and friendly local people. You will receive the same
hospitality from John and George Grammatikos who manage our
programme here. The Grammatikos family has lived on this island
since before the Venetian invasion.
There is a small pebble beach which shelves to sand and here
dinghy sailing and windsurfing is available. Some may choose to
hire a boat for a day or so and escape to one of the many coves
dotted around the island. Others may while away the time at one of
the few tavernas on the waters edge, enthralled by the beauty of
this picturesque harbour.
LAKKA
Paxos is very like a place you dream of when you close your eyes
on the 8.02 on Monday morning as further delays are announced to
your journey or you sit in a fume filled tailback on the M25. This
little gem of an island lying off shore to the mainland village of
Parga has an abundance of natural beauty combined with an indolent
lifestyle that can make ones everyday stresses seem a million light
years away. Being one of the smallest inhabited Ionian island, just
eighteen square miles, Paxos has not seen the commercial
development of some of its larger neighbours and lacking an airport
(mercifully) together with consequent tourist hordes, it has
managed to retain an unspoilt and simplistic lifestyle. The
interior of Paxos is a vast olive grove, where many of the trees
were planted by Venetians who once inhabited this island. The shore
line has many small deserted coves where the dazzling white pebbles
contrast with the beautifully clear aquamarine sea. The local
population is concentrated in the 'capital' Gaios, a bustling
little port, and the two other fishing villages namely Lakka in the
north and Loggos on the northeast coast. Our programme to Paxos is
centred in and around Lakka, a delightful village developed around
a stunningly attractive circular bay.
Basically a holiday to Paxos lacks pace completely so if you
like to fill your days with tours and shopping trips, wild beach
parties and non stop night life then this is definitely not for
you. However, if you like to take time out to enjoy a relaxed easy
lifestyle in relatively unsophisticated surroundings this may well
be the choice for you. Daytime offers the opportunity to explore by
land or sea, and to discover the numerous little deserted coves
inaccessible by land, local boats are available for hire.
Snorkelling is excellent all around the coastline and for the more
energetic, this lovely island is excellent if you enjoy walking and
the unspoilt interior gives you the chance to truly escape your
fellow travellers. But, of course, for the likes of myself if you
derive the maximum pleasure from the least effort whilst on
holiday, take a boat to a quiet beach where the day can be spent in
total idleness. Evenings follow the same relaxed style with a
choice of tavernas and a few bars and the entertainment largely of
your own making.
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