Mt Zeus, on Naxos, isn't quite as I imagined. Zeus was ancient Greece's king of the gods, as well as the god of the sub-specialties sky and thunder, so a mountain called Mt Zeus makes me think it should contain a hilltop fortress encircled by thunder and lightening.
Well the real Mt Zeus, aka Mt Zas, turned out to be nothing like that, no scary bits at all, just a steady hike with panoramic views all the way to the top.
And while an elevation of 1,000 m doesn't sound impressive, it is the highest point on Naxos as well as the neighboring islands.
Mt Zeus and Filoti
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 16:22
in Naxos, Greece
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It is October 14, the weather is perfect for a hike. The peak on the right is Mt Zeus, aka Mt Zas. In the foreground is Filoti where we stopped for coffee.
Mt Zeus and Filoti
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 16:22
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 34mm f/8.0 1/500s ISO 200
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Naxos photos
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It is October 14, the weather is perfect for a hike. The peak on the right is Mt Zeus, aka Mt Zas. In the foreground is Filoti where we stopped for coffee.
Mt Zeus and Filoti
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 16:22
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 34mm f/8.0 1/500s ISO 200
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www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/1454
Naxos photos
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It is October 14, the weather is perfect for a hike. The peak on the right is Mt Zeus, aka Mt Zas. In the foreground is Filoti where we stopped for coffee.
Church of Agia Marina
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 10:59
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
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The Mt Zas trail head is about an hour's drive from Naxos town via a twisty, narrow road.
The road passes white chapels and through picturesque villages.
The trail starts next to a chapel which is not particularly notable since Naxos is heavily peppered with chapels: on hilltops, on cliff-sides, by the road, in valleys, accompanying trails. And every chapel is the same colour scheme, bright white with a dash of deep blue. It's a chapel-palooza.
Church of Agia Marina
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 10:59
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
The Mt Zas trail head is about an hour's drive from Naxos town via a twisty, narrow road.
The road passes white chapels and through picturesque villages.
The trail starts next to a chapel which is not particularly notable since Naxos is heavily peppered with chapels: on hilltops, on cliff-sides, by the road, in valleys, accompanying trails. And every chapel is the same colour scheme, bright white with a dash of deep blue. It's a chapel-palooza.
Church of Agia Marina
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 10:59
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 18mm f/8.0 1/320s ISO 200
1000 x 667 px
350 kb
www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/1453
Naxos photos
Photos
The Mt Zas trail head is about an hour's drive from Naxos town via a twisty, narrow road.
The road passes white chapels and through picturesque villages.
The trail starts next to a chapel which is not particularly notable since Naxos is heavily peppered with chapels: on hilltops, on cliff-sides, by the road, in valleys, accompanying trails. And every chapel is the same colour scheme, bright white with a dash of deep blue. It's a chapel-palooza.
The trail to the top of Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:01
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
The trail to the top of Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:01
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
The trail to the top of Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:01
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
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Trail to the top of Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:21
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
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Trail to the top of Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:21
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
Trail to the top of Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:21
in Naxos, Greece
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Trail to the top of Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:25
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
It's a comfortable incline to the top, a bit rocky in places but not hard, and of course I stopped for lots of photos.
Trail to the top of Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:25
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
It's a comfortable incline to the top, a bit rocky in places but not hard, and of course I stopped for lots of photos.
Trail to the top of Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:25
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
It's a comfortable incline to the top, a bit rocky in places but not hard, and of course I stopped for lots of photos.
Naxos town, seen from trail to Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:27
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
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The town in the distance is Naxos and the island furthur out is Paros.
Naxos town, seen from trail to Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:27
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
The town in the distance is Naxos and the island furthur out is Paros.
Naxos town, seen from trail to Mt Zeus
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 11:27
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
The town in the distance is Naxos and the island furthur out is Paros.
Islands in the Cyclades from Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 12:09
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
From the top of Mt Zeus we could see inland Naxos, the neighboring island of Paros, as well as the Aegean sea and several of the other Cycladic islands.
Islands in the Cyclades from Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 12:09
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
From the top of Mt Zeus we could see inland Naxos, the neighboring island of Paros, as well as the Aegean sea and several of the other Cycladic islands.
Islands in the Cyclades from Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 12:09
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 55mm f/8.0 1/2400s ISO 200
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Naxos photos
Photos
From the top of Mt Zeus we could see inland Naxos, the neighboring island of Paros, as well as the Aegean sea and several of the other Cycladic islands.
View from trail to Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 12:53
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
I think that's the village of Danakos
View from trail to Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 12:53
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
I think that's the village of Danakos
View from trail to Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 12:53
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
I think that's the village of Danakos
Looking NE towards Filoti and Naxos
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 12:54
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
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Looking NE towards Filoti and Naxos
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 12:54
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
Looking NE towards Filoti and Naxos
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 12:54
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
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We're at the top, what else to do?
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 13:02
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
From the chapel trailhead to the top of Mt Zas took us about two hours, though it was a leisurely pace with plenty of stopping to take in the views.
We're at the top, what else to do?
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 13:02
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 18mm f/8.0 1/350s ISO 200
1000 x 484 px
270 kb
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Naxos photos
Photos
From the chapel trailhead to the top of Mt Zas took us about two hours, though it was a leisurely pace with plenty of stopping to take in the views.
We're at the top, what else to do?
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 13:02
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 18mm f/8.0 1/350s ISO 200
1000 x 484 px
270 kb
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Naxos photos
Photos
From the chapel trailhead to the top of Mt Zas took us about two hours, though it was a leisurely pace with plenty of stopping to take in the views.
View from the top of Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 13:20
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
From the top of Mt Zas (aka Zeus) we saw neighboring islands.
View from the top of Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 13:20
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 50/2 f/8.0 1/1000s ISO 500
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Naxos photos
Photos
From the top of Mt Zas (aka Zeus) we saw neighboring islands.
View from the top of Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 13:20
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 50/2 f/8.0 1/1000s ISO 500
1000 x 584 px
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Naxos photos
Photos
From the top of Mt Zas (aka Zeus) we saw neighboring islands.
Stone walls make long-standing fences
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 14:25
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
Stone walls make long-standing fences
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 14:25
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 53mm f/8.0 1/1000s ISO 1600
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Naxos photos
Photos
Stone walls make long-standing fences
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 14:25
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
Tiny
Village seen from the trail to Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 14:41
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
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Tiny
Village seen from the trail to Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 14:41
in Naxos, Greece
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1000 x 667 px
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Naxos photos
Photos
Tiny
Village seen from the trail to Mt Zas
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 14:41
in Naxos, Greece
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1000 x 667 px
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Naxos photos
Photos
Cafe in Filoti
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 15:59
in Naxos, Greece
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Naxos photos
Photos
After hiking Mr Zeus we stopped for coffee and dessert at a cafe in the charming town of Filoti. The proprietor was welcoming and also comfortable speaking English, the pastries delicious. Along with a cappuccino I ate several frozen treats, like frozen gelatos. Prices are very reasonable.
Cafe in Filoti
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 15:59
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 18mm f/7.1 1/200s ISO 2500
1000 x 667 px
397 kb
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Naxos photos
Photos
After hiking Mr Zeus we stopped for coffee and dessert at a cafe in the charming town of Filoti. The proprietor was welcoming and also comfortable speaking English, the pastries delicious. Along with a cappuccino I ate several frozen treats, like frozen gelatos. Prices are very reasonable.
Cafe in Filoti
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 15:59
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 18mm f/7.1 1/200s ISO 2500
1000 x 667 px
397 kb
www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/1452
Naxos photos
Photos
After hiking Mr Zeus we stopped for coffee and dessert at a cafe in the charming town of Filoti. The proprietor was welcoming and also comfortable speaking English, the pastries delicious. Along with a cappuccino I ate several frozen treats, like frozen gelatos. Prices are very reasonable.
Filoti Village square
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 16:04
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 18mm f/7.1 1/1400s ISO 200
1000 x 667 px
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Naxos photos
Photos
The hike is over and we're in the nearby town of Filoti for coffee, after which we walk around the town.
We encounter this square a couple blocks off the road up narrow marble walkways and stairs. There are lots of stairs in Greece.
The most common pavement material in Greece seems to be marble. It's beautiful, light in color, it reflects the light at night giving a town a glow, and it really glistens in the rain. But you quickly learn marble is slippery esp when wet.
From Filoti we drove the hour back to Naxos, left our car in a free city lot, then walked a few blocks to the hotel.
Filoti Village square
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 16:04
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 18mm f/7.1 1/1400s ISO 200
1000 x 667 px
358 kb
www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/1455
Naxos photos
Photos
The hike is over and we're in the nearby town of Filoti for coffee, after which we walk around the town.
We encounter this square a couple blocks off the road up narrow marble walkways and stairs. There are lots of stairs in Greece.
The most common pavement material in Greece seems to be marble. It's beautiful, light in color, it reflects the light at night giving a town a glow, and it really glistens in the rain. But you quickly learn marble is slippery esp when wet.
From Filoti we drove the hour back to Naxos, left our car in a free city lot, then walked a few blocks to the hotel.
Filoti Village square
Fri, 14 Oct 2016 at 16:04
in Naxos, Greece
X-Pro2 18-55 18mm f/7.1 1/1400s ISO 200
1000 x 667 px
358 kb
www.jamesgaston.ca/photo/1455
Naxos photos
Photos
The hike is over and we're in the nearby town of Filoti for coffee, after which we walk around the town.
We encounter this square a couple blocks off the road up narrow marble walkways and stairs. There are lots of stairs in Greece.
The most common pavement material in Greece seems to be marble. It's beautiful, light in color, it reflects the light at night giving a town a glow, and it really glistens in the rain. But you quickly learn marble is slippery esp when wet.
From Filoti we drove the hour back to Naxos, left our car in a free city lot, then walked a few blocks to the hotel.