Day 11 Amorgos

September 9, 2023

Up early again and off for a walk on the beach boardwalk. The grocery store is along the way, so we picked up some water and wine for the fridge. We took the bus, €2.50 each to Chora, the C is silent (hora) the capital of Amorgos, which is one of the highest elevations. The wind gusts were very strong when we got off the bus but turned to breezes as we navigated through the narrow alleyways. One picture after another, I was like a kid in a candy store. We waited until one o’clock to eat lunch, which was when the restaurant recommended by Tripadvisor opened. We started with a delicious tomato and cucumber salad with oil and vinegar. I had smoked mackerel with pickled red onion and fennel cream which was beyond delicious. Jill loved her chicken in honey mustard sauce (Paul ;) and so did the young cat that stole our hearts.

The terraced stone work we saw as we approached Chora was called dry stone masonry. They were built to retain soil and water. I can’t image the tireless work that went in to constructing them. Within Chora, the outer edge of the walls were perfectly flush, a testament to the craftsmanship of the builders.

After lunch we had time before the afternoon bus. We stopped in a shop for a tasting of Greek raki, once distilled, and tsikoudia, twice distilled. I preferred the raki and bought a small bottle. I  developed a taste for raki in Crete where it was always served complimentary at the end of a meal. 

We decided to stop in at a coffee shop we passed earlier that was playing reggae music.  Yesterday when we were lying on the beach I said to Jill, the only thing missing is reggae music. Our coffee shop was playing Michael Jackson’s Thriller. Cool! I had a Greek coffee, sweet and Jill had a wine. I enjoy Greek boiled coffee, it’s strong with a thick layer of fine coffee grounds on the bottom, like mud. It is meant to be sipped and is a Greek tradition to serve when guests arrive. There is a reason you get a glass of water with it. The foam on top was delicious. 

It was a 10 minute windy walk to the bus stop… one last picture.

Jill made dinner with leftover bread from lunch drizzled with olive oil, Naxos cheese, salami, tomatoes, and olives, yum!  The sunset from our balcony was stunning. To top off the day, we took a stroll along the beach boardwalk and took some pictures of the activity and the lights of the night. I did have to stop at the bakery for my baklava fix.