From Filóti to the top of Mount Zas

The hike to the top of Mount Zas starts in the village of Filotio. According to Lonely Planet a traditional village. In our dictionary: 'a farmer's hole where there is nothing to do', with the exception of a number of cozy terraces in the main street. From the town we will climb 625 to the top of Mount Zas.

The path consists mainly of a bumpy road full of stones and boulders. Here and there salamanders shoot under the stones when they see our big feet passing by. Birds (especially a striking number of sparrows) whistle as if their lives depended on it. Bright yellow butterflies fly from one nectar plant to another right before our eyes. Occasionally we come across a goat and a sheep, usually shyly tucked away behind a tree.

Naxos is not only the largest island of the Cyclades, it is probably also the greenest. Mount Zas regularly stops some rain clouds and where there is water, there is also a lot of flora. We see many bright yellow and purple flowers that attach themselves to every crack in the rock face. The most striking plant we see (and especially smell) is the dragon arum. This large dark purple flower emits a smell of rotting eggs and dead flesh as a lure for flies and beetles. The plant only blooms a few days a year. We're lucky (or unlucky, depending on how you look at it), because we're clearly experiencing the climax. Just ask our noses.

At the top of Mount Zas you have a fantastic view. Not only about Naxos, but also about the surrounding islands that seem to have been dropped into the Mediterranean Sea like miniature stones.

At an altitude of 1,004 meters, we would like to enjoy the view and recover from the intense climb up. That's not counting hundreds of flies and beetles that make our lives miserable and settle in every body cavity. So we're dripping quickly. A shower has rarely done as much good as after the grueling climb to Mount Zas.