By Danny William
It’s been six years since I’ve been to Paros. A lot can change in six years. I’ve graduated high school since then. I’ve gone through two years of college. I’ve become an entirely different person, both inside and out. Here on Paros, things are changing faster than ever before. Flying in, I saw the shells of houses on the hillsides, settled among shiny new builds. Local restaurants I remember eating at have been replaced with chic, expensive cafés and bistros. The stores along Market Street have shifted; the butcher is a clothing store, the fish therapy center (where I got my feet chewed on by tiny fish years ago) now sells soap. Mostly, the amount of people has exploded.
Years ago, the island would be mostly tourist-free when I arrived in late May. Now, arriving May 14, I was greeted by packed parking lots and crowds in downtown Parikia. It’s not a coincidence I saw a TikTok recently that espoused Paros as one of the best places to visit in Greece; it’s becoming much more of a tourist destination. Modernization is a great thing — I won’t argue with that. There’s fast wifi at the villa now. Running water and electricity are available for an increasing number of islanders. Quality of life, both for visitors and residents, has improved dramatically since the first time I came to Paros in 2011. But I can’t help but feel like we’ve lost something in the increasing efficiency and sleek, fashionable style of the new builds. It’s selfish, but I want to feel like I’m in a real community, not being sold the abstract concept of “Greece.” Wandering the streets of Parikia the last few days have reminded me that some things never change. I can still find the gelato shops I’ve loved to visit; the steakhouse with the best gyros; the most beautiful spots to see the sunset.
Paros is still the beautiful community I’ve loved for so long, and I’m excited to rediscover it through the lens of studying here rather than just sightseeing. Beneath the tourist veneer, I’ll just have to look a little harder.