Mykonos - Cyclades Islands

This is where Zeus battled the Gigantes.

October 15

We checked into the hotel and within minutes we were back on the main road towards Chora, the main town. We arrived after the main season so the tourist population had mostly left the island. About 10 minutes into the walk, we came across a dead cat who we named Ouzo. He became our landmark. In the 4 days we spent on Mykonos, Ouzo never moved.

We had a lot of fun trying to speak Greek to the natives, using up every word we learned. We always try to have at least the basics; hello-yassus, thank you - efharisto; excuse me - parakalo; good morning-kalimera; good afternoon-kalispera; good-night-kalinickta or tikanickta. It doesn't matter how poorly you say the words, the natives really love that you are making the effort.

Strolled around a harbor named Little Venice where the houses literally hang off the island over the Agean. We found an Internet Café, run by an Australian named Derek, checked our email,  and after an hour or so, we meandered back past Ouzo the cat and spent the rest of the day at the pool.

October 16

We walked back into Chora (past Ouzo the cat) and picked up a couple of motorbikes. First stop, the very authentic village of Anno Mero and a very authentic cup of greek coffee as we watched a couple of cooks heat up the oil for the morning batch of fried calimari. The smell was intoxicating. We ordered a small bag.

We finally settled in at Paragkha Beach for a quiet little afternoon of sun, protected from the Mykonos Meltimi winds.  For the most part we were secluded from everyone but there were a few old queens strutting their ancient penises adorned with gold jewelry. 

That night we took the bikes back into Chora town for  dinner at Al Vento, recommended by Small Christina from the hotel.  A fun meal with a show of fireworks over the little harbor. A cruise ship was docked in the harbour and the cruiseline arranged for the show.

October 17

We caught the ferry over to Delos and became part of an English speaking tour group which we later regretted. Our guide, Natalie, quizzed us relentlessly, mostly on the 12 state-sanctioned Greek gods (which we happened to know, though we flunked the 9 US supreme court justices). 

According to our guide, Delos is the largest archeological excavation in Greece.  It once had a population of 50,000 persons (including women and slaves). Delos was the birthplace of Apollo (or Artemis) and during the Persian wars, the treasury of Athens was moved here for protecion. It was a pretty wealthy and prestigious place to be. Some of the homes were enormous and with indoor plumbing.. But eventually the island got sacked so many times by Pirates and such, everyone moved away. As it turned out, there wasn't much protection at all.

The Lion Terrace could be the most famous of the ruins, but there was a very sizeable theatre, Roman aqueducts and several agoras. 

October 18

It's really windy. The meltimi winds usually end in late September but they've lasted longer this year. It's too cold to ride the motor bikes, too cold to go to the beach, and too cold to lay at the pool. We just hang out with Eva, Big Christina, Little Christina and George, watching them close up the hotel for the winter. We are the last guests for the year. We're sad it's so cold. They're happy o be going somewhere else for a few months, mostly back to Athens..