Antiparos, the island in Greece, beaches, nature, car rental, Mike's Place, hotels, pictures and information

<XMP><BODY></xmp> Antiparos, the island in Greece, beaches, nature, car rental, Mike's Place, hotels, pictures and information
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ANTIPAROS INTRODUCTION

The island of Antiparos is located southwest of Paros, from which is divided by a shallow and about 4 metres deep channel. Because it is so undeep the big ferries have to sail around Antiparos instead of in between Paros and Antiparos. The island covers an area of 35 square kilometres, and because of its long shape it has 57 kilometres of beautiful coasts. When we arrived on Antiparos for the first time we were there for a daytrip, but as soon as we sat down we both had the same feeling of 'we are home'. Eversince that day it has been on our menu when we go islandhopping in Greece. A holiday just wouldn't be complete without it, so I have to go there at least once, but preferably twice a year (or more!). It has become my favourite island of all the Cyclades. We go to Antiparos every year and meet with our friends Simon and Clare and their kids, to relax and to eat. There's a restaurant situated on both sides of the main road, called taverne Yorgis, that's just fabulous. The food is always tasty and the daughter and son (Garifalia and Bennos) that work outside on the terrace ar super: fast, friendly and funny. We always look forward to seeing them and their parents, but we don't look forward to the extra kilo's we always gain, haha. You will have no problems finding it. There are chairs and tables on both sides of the road and it's always busy. Once you have eaten there you won't find the need to eat anywhere else. At least: we don't.

MIKE'S PLACE STUDIOS AND APARTMENTS
In the evening the lamps on Paros and the small ferry that's sailing between Pounta (on Paros) and Antiparos make it feel like something out of a science-fiction movie. The honesty, sincerety and friendliness of the people that live there move me every time I go back. We found an apartment on a spot right on the beach with no road in front (so only the birds, the sea, the beach and the silence) with an extremely nice lady called Lillian, who rents both studios and rooms at a good price (cheap!!). It's called Mike's Place (0030 22840 61217) - closed in 2007 for renovation -, and she has the best views in Antiparos village. If you are on the ground floor you have a terrace in the garden and if you are on the first floor you have a balcony, and a big table where you can have breakfast, or just a drink. You can also go and sit on the pier in front of the house and be in the middle of the sea. It's very likely I'll be your neighbour, because this is a place I return to every year. :).

DOLPHIN APARTMENTS, AGIOS GEORGIOS ANTIPAROS
In the south of the island, about 10 kilometers away from the Antiparos Town, in the cozy village of Agios Georgios, you can find the Dolphin Apartments. It is a small complex with 7 apartments that are divided over three buildings. The apartments offer space for 2 to 5 people depending on the apartment. All apartments have a kitchen, airconditioning, bathroom, umbrella's, parking, and they all have a seaview. Agios Georgios has a beautiful large sandbeach on which you can sometimes find the rare beachlily. On the other side of the village there are coves with many other small beaches where you can find a beach of your own. Opposite Agios Georgios you can see two islands of which Despotiko is the largest. Read more.....

ROCCOS STUDIOS, ANTIPAROS TOWN ANTIPAROS
Roccos Studios in Antiparos Town is situated in the port of Antiparos town at a distance of 100 meters from the main street with the restaurants and the shops. Roccos Studios is a recently renovated small complex with 10 studios and apartments (1 or 2 rooms for 2-4 people) overlooking the island of Paros. It is also a good option if you are looking for an economical place to stay in Antiparos Town. For the year 2007 and for the low season special offers from 25 euros per day for 2 people. Read more here....

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE ISLAND
The land in the north is flat and fertile while small hills, with Profitis Helias (300m.) being the highest. The western coasts of the island are smooth and sandy, while the east ones are rough with small bays. The island is surrounded by a a lot of smaller islands. In the north there are Kavouras, Diplo and the rocks Kokkinos Tourlos and Mavros Tourlos. In the northern entrance of the channel there is Rematonisi (owned by Goulandri, with a beautiful house, palmtrees and beaches on it) and Saliagas with the lighthouse and the remains of a prehistoric settlement. Southwest we can find the biggest one, Despotiko, and a little further more Strogilo. All these islands except Rematonisi, are uninhabited and some of them are used as pastureland. On Despotiko a number of Early Cycladic tombs were excavated in the 19th and 20th century, and isolated remains of a Doric architecture were found in 1958. Systematic excavations now focus on the site Mantra, where a large building of the Classical period has been partially uncovered.Archaeological work has documented occupation from the Early Bronze Age through Roman times.

HOW TO GET TO ANTIPAROS?
Antiparos can be easily reached from Rafina (near Athens) or from Piraeus, where there are daily ferries going to the Cycladic islands. The journey to Paros takes about four to five hours, depending on the speed of the boat you take and the schedule it follows. After that you hop on the small ferry to Antiparos (30 minutes), or take a taxi to Pounda in the south of Paros, and take the car ferry there (10 minutes). On the airport of Athens there are regulair busses going to Rafina, and you don't have to drive through Athens itself. Off course you can also take a taxi. The ride takes about half an hour. It's also possible to fly to the island of Mykonos. From there it's only one and a half hours by ferry.

Sculpturing in marble for starters on the island Antiparos
Greece and especially Paros are famous for their beautiful white marble and on the island of Paros you can take a look at the marble caves. The artist Jessy Boelen gives a very specal course on the island of Antiparos. she teaches how to sculpt marble in the old Greek tradition and she does it in a very inspiring surrounding. There is no need for experience and it is not especially physically demanding. She lives and works in Glifa. More info you can find on het website.