If you’re looking for a quiet dose of island paradise, you might want to scratch Mykonos Greece off of your shortlist. A place once known for its iconic windmills, the Cycladic Greek isle is transforming into a place that parties all night long.
I’ve just finished my delicious dinner at a cute, overly romantic Greek restaurant at a seafront table, the waves of the sea almost lapping at my feet. The sunset gave an extra layer of cheesiness to the scenario, the crispy Greek white wine made it whole. The waiter came to take away my plates, and threw the leftovers straight into the sea, quipping “Let’s give something to the fish to feast on, too!”
“ Are you allowed to do that?” I asked in shock.
“Of course. Greece is a free country; you can do whatever you want!” came the answer, accompanied by a huge smile.
Well “geia sas” (hello in Greek, pronounced ‘yasas’), you are in Greece, the birthplace of democracy (among so many other things), so why couldn’t you do whatever you wanted? And who would know more about hedonism than the Greek? Having spent an entire week in Mykonos Greece, one of the islands in the Aegean sea considered a hotspot, it seems like the possibilities are endless. Either you want to party all night, spend a romantic getaway with your love (regardless of your orientation), or take your kids on an action-packed vacation – Mykonos has it all.
I can imagine a boardroom full of “modern Gods” with hipster looks, who are about to create this island of pleasures. It has been some time now that they launched Santorini, the ultimate paradise for those in love, whose business has been booming ever since. These great minds have since realized that they didn’t cover the demands of all tourists: they completely forgot about shiny party people, LGBT, even heterosexual couples needing a luxury holiday – for a little less money than in Santorini, and of course families with kids. “Let’s merge Santorini and Ibiza!” Maybe that’s what they were thinking.
And so Mykonos was born…
Another Cycladic Island where old windmills have been standing firm to witness the most serene sunsets every evening and where colorful houses stand in the water just like in Venice (giving its shocking name “Little Venice” in Mykonos town or Hora), providing perfect sights for dreamy couples to look at from the crowded terraces of pricey restaurants.
Mykonos is where, at night, cherub-faced revellers overshadow the town’s typical white-grey, bougainvillea-draped streets.
A place where you don’t have to burden your mind with overwhelming culture, because it can be seen in a half a day; alternatively, the deserted island of Delos, birthplace of Apollo and Artemis, is a half-an-hour’s boat trip away.
An island where there’s an array of over 20 beaches, and enough luxury hotels to satisfy every need. The service is great, the food is excellent, and the Aegean Sea is beautiful, so it is no wonder why more and more white and blue spots dot the barren slopes of this island, while more and more low-cost airlines bring such an accumulation of people that it is becoming difficult to see (or even remember) the real face of Mykonos.
All in all, I am glad I visited Mykonos, but I would also jump at the chance to visit a less touristy Cycladic island too – perhaps with fewer people, less commotion.
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