Mommy and I had a fun time on the big bus with lots of people. They were from lots of different places. We had ice cream with a lady from Germany who has travelled everywhere but lives near Bangkok. She invited us to her home when we get to Asia. She was very nice.
We also talked to people from England and they told us to go to Wales.
We found out about an old monastery that would fight off pirates with BEE HIVES! That would keep me away too!
They have Emory mines here and send they emery stones to France where factories make them into Emory boards and sandpaper.
They have lots of marble mining here too. We went to a village made only of marble. It was so pretty and white and sparkly.
Naxos is the most fertile island of the Cyclades. That means it can grow a lot of things. They have 16 different kinds of cheese that they make here. Yummy! My favorite thing to eat. Mommy says we will go to a little shop in town (that smells real bad) and try all their cheeses. They also have their own kind of potatoes here. Mommy’s favorite thing to eat. And lots of pomagrats! My favorite too.
We saw a lot of temples and statues and churches today. They all seem to be from the 4th century BC. That’s 300-399 BC. Super old! Me got to get close to the highest peak here. It’s called Mt. Zeus and lots of peiople come here to hike it. It’s where Appolo was raised. His mom hid him here from his father, Zeus.
We visited a village that owns their own olive press. Once a year they gather and make their olive oil the old fashion way. Olive oil comes from crushing and pressing the nut inside of the olives. There are 400,000 olive trees on this island. Sounds like a lot of trees but they don’t sell their olive oils like the other places in Greece. Other places have millions of olive trees and those places send their olive oil for sale around the world. And did you know that you can’t just eat an olive off the tree? It has to sit in salty water for two whole months. The French family we stayed with in September only take 2 weeks to make their olives.
We also saw a HUGE old statue of Dionysos in an archaic marble quarry from the 4th century BC. That means that the artist went to the place where the marble was and made the statue there at the quarry. The statue is unfinished and no one knows why it was not completed. The statue’s feet are done and that means the statue was suppose to be standing up but it was left lying down right where the artist made it.
We saw a lot of beaches and beautiful blue water.
And finally back to our place where we finished the day with a swim.
Well, bye!
Hi Cricket,
Looks like y’all are having so much fun in Greece and are learning so much! I didn’t know about the crushing of the olive nut that makes olive oil!
Wanted to thank you and your mom so much for sending a postcard from Greece to Anna’s class in Mandeville!!! Anna is looking forward to her teacher reading it to the class…they are learning so much about different parts of the country and world and you are living it!
Maybe I will share your blog with her teacher, Mrs. Walter, and they can read your blog and learn about your travels
Have so much fun and keep trying new things!
Kristen
hi cricket!
you taught me something about olives today that i did not know! i wish i could try some delicious homemade olive oil! hope your mom isn’t working you too hard!
Heidi and I visited an olive grove and press in Spain and learned how they made olive oil…the press looked just like the one in your picture. I have enjoyed olives and olive oil much more since learning all about the process. We also saw pomegranates everywhere in southern Spain…yummmm! They are the symbol of the town of Grenada, just like our symbol is the fleur de lis.
Naxos is lovely. I would especially love to visit the town made of marble! Thank you for sharing the history and mythology of the Greeks with us through your blog and fabulous pics!
Hugs,
Annie
Naxos is such a beautiful and interesting island…
I love this island! It looks so old and historical! I would love to press some olives!
It was very fun!
I love Naxos too!!!!!!!! And when you see your grand kids, say Hi for me!!!! Love, Cricket
Hi Cricket
I can’t wait to see Greece. My father always had a jar of fresh black olives turned upside down curing in salt water and cloves of garlic in the pantry. We would go with him into stores that sold imported cheese, olives, and grains. Loved seeing the olive press. Hard work but worth it later. Enjoyed your blog.
Thanks G! I miss you 😘 so much