I used to back pack around the Greek Islands Phil, thank god I never met you there! Went to Paros, Ios, Naxos and Santorini along with many others. My favourite Island was Ikaria, close to Turkey. The Island of Icarus! I wouldnt go back if I were you, keep the memories, everywhere has changed beyond belief, Paros is unrecognisable. While I was in Paros I was invited to a Greek wedding, it was fantastic, spoilt the memories a bit when I went back.
Santorini was fantastic. Went there I the early 80s when it was very rustic. Getting thee from Athens on a fishing boat was a bit dodgy, swimming in the remains of a coldera was thrilling, and the ruins in Akrotiri were only just being excavated. Got sunburned beyond belief riding models around the island. Went by train, bus, lifts and boats through Europe and went to watch the Swans play friendliest in Yugoslavia. Stopped off in Naples on the way home - was a dump then as well. Didn't go abroad after that for nearly 30 years.
It's a shame that big business ruins such idyllic places gendros, haven't been to Greece since 2006, prices are too high for me now, but I will make a special journey one day, I know what you mean when things change for the worse though, but some places cannot be changed because of the heritage sites, like Chania town in Crete, with it's old town and harbour, which are still the same today. I didn't spend much time in Paros just three days, moved on to Naxos which we preferred, spent a week there before moving out to the back islands. Gendros if we had met out there, I'd have bought you an Amstel or two, it would have eased your pain!.......
Only stayed in Santorini one night Bob, didn't like the black sand, and gave our Thomson room to an Australian couple coming off the ferry as we were boarding, hell of a drop down to the ferry port though!.............
I used to go Island Hopping in the Greek islands in the early 80's as well, mostly during the long summer vacations from uni. I'd read the Magus and on the basis of that we went to Spetses first. It was a bit over developed and expensive, but soon discovered the better islands in the Cyclades. Paros and Naxos were just about perfect then, but also enjoyed Ios for a couple of days of mayhem ie to get a girls and alcohol fix, Sikinos was a good retreat for detox and self contemplation and of course did all the others. it was so cheap back then that we spent next to nothing, far less than if i'd have stayed at home. Then back to Uni, i remember i got full government grant, cheap student housing plus still got rent rebate on the little i paid, plus unemployment benefit during vacations, it was possible to save money during the academic year for the next years summer fun in Greece. Pity the poor students today.
Forget that .. wife got stepped on by a donkey rushing down to pick up tourists from the ferry as we struggled up with ruck sacks. I found the liberal dress code on the far side made up for the black sand - we camped on the beach too.
