Day 10 (Saturday 16Nov19) Mykonos

When you think of Greek Islands, you imagine sun kissed white buildings surrounded by blue sky and a brilliant blue sea, Mykonos fits the image. What a marvellous place!  Lots of meandering lane ways. Each one of the corners seemed to be supervised by a cat. One even walking with us for quite a distance before pealing off and passing to the next. Although wild, the cats are generally healthy looking and friendly and happy to smooch your legs.  Clearly cats  run the place. 

The windmills were amazing. They were in various states of repair, some had the thatch roofing removed and sealed with the traditional white cladding and repurposed others still had thatching and blades but just lacking the sails but the outside had been renovated or being renovated.  Unsure of what they are currently being used for.

The food varied in quality. Early in the morning we found a really nice bakery, and enjoyed traditional pastries and Greek coffee, frequented by some locals.  Later we dined on waterfront for lunch. The food was OK.  Unfortunately as we are on the last cruise of the season most of the authentic eateries in these small places have closed until around March next year so only the touristy eateries remained open.

The people are very friendly. Of course as everywhere, there are beggars. In this case, little old Greek ladies hunched up with hands forward rattling an asthma puffer in a plastic cup mumbling in Greek was most intriguing. Not sure of what they were wanting. 

On the shore front was an older lady sorting fish caught. Of course there was a couple of cats at her feet under the bench. 

The island had a goodly number of tiny churches, some within the same street. Most  of the streets meander every each way, up the hill from the shoreline. We understand it was designed to confuse raiding pirates in days gone by. Despite the narrow streets,  the locals manage to drive bikes with trailers and  small vehicles through the wider streets  with similar skill to Athenian counterparts on the mainland. The vehicles tend to beaten up or top of the line, with nothing in between. One vehicle had its bumper bar held on by rope.  🤨

The Mykonos mascot is apparently the Pelican. We were greeted by a ‘pelican’ as we disembarked. Of course the ship’s photographer using the opportunity for photos. We were told that we may see some pelicans on the island. We hadn’t until we sat to have lunch when one strutted through the sitting area. Almost as if to say ‘here I am’. Happy. Amazingly large and pink. 

A great day. Mykonos is a place where you could lose yourself and forget the world.