Greece

Naxos - unlike it's more popular neighboring islands - is large and surprisingly mountainous. Arid desert roads wind through the landscape to places that few tourists visit

A few hours of riding a scooter along suicidal hairpin turns through the hills takes you to the "other" side of Naxos, whose rocky beaches and crumbling stone walls attract only the occasional goat

Another picture-perfect sunset; a bonus in a land where water is always on the horizon

Fishing boats rest for the night; Naxos

The Mediterranean Sea slips by the ferry between Italy and Greece

Sailors ignore a nosy photographer as the island-hopping ferry leaves the dock on its nighttime run

Any port in a storm: When all the inside seats are taken, tired budget travellers will scout out any wind-sheltered nook on the ferry's deck to catch some sleep.

Children tease a truck full of young chickens in the Naxos interior

Whitewash on a Greek house splashes across the bottom of its door; Naxos

Fig trees grow so profusely it's hard not to wonder if there's some sort of catch, when one reaches up by the side of the road to pick a few

One of many sunsets over warm ocean waters; Agia Anna

Greeks harbour no false modesty about their country; Naxos