ISLAND HOPPING

PART II: Come Along To Mykonos and Santorini

There are more than 3000 Greek  islands in the Aegean Sea, but only 227 are inhabited.  In this week’s blog I’d like to share pictures from the two Cyclades islands that we visited in hopes of giving you just a little feel of Greece. Mykonos and Santorini are two of the most popular islands that help create a circle around the sacred island of Delos, birthplace of Artemis & Apollo, according to mythology.

They  are best known for their dramatic landscapes, colorful beaches,  appealing  cliffside villages, white & blue houses, romantic getaways and exciting nightlife.  

Before we arrived, I worried a bit about getting to the islands because I had been fighting vertigo for several months.  But the Blue Star ferry with its huge seats and capacity for 1475 people was almost as comfortable as a cruise ship.  The only problem for me was battling the 1000 people getting off with their luggage at the same time  I was trying to get on with mine.  I think it could actually be designated an Olympic sport! Ha!

Photo by Andrea: Kathy, Sheryl, & I on ferry with Andrea’s husband, Vince.

Mykonos is home to the iconic windmills originally used in the 16th C. to mill wheat. It is nicknamed “The island of the Wind.” It is also known for Little Venice, the row of fishing houses that line the waterfront with balconies hanging over the sea and the quaint restaurants on its waterfront. Although the merchants were very friendly to us land tourists, they let us know they weren’t that excited about the nearly 895 cruise ships that visit them each year. They claim the cruise ships are putting a strain on the island’s infrastructure. There are signs in all restrooms asking people not to flush any toilet paper down the toilets. Phew!

Mykonos’s narrow cobble-stone streets are filled with beautiful shops, exquisite restaurants and whitewashed churches.

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The second island we visited — known by most as Santorini — is the remnant of a volcanic caldera. It’s official name is “Thera.” Snow-white architecture in the enchanting town is surrounded by sapphire blue water, colorful beaches, fancy shops and rooftop sunsets. If you look close enough in the first picture, you can see a wedding taking place in the distance on a cliff.

The stunning, sugar-cubed houses in Greece have been painted white and blue since the military dictatorship took over from 1967-74. The leadership mandated all houses be painted white & blue, the colors of the Greek flag, to boost patriotism and national pride. Eventually the serene look became a wonderful tourist attraction.

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Akrotiri, is a former Bronze Age settlement on the southwest end of the island frozen in time after a volcanic eruption — much like what happened to Pompeii in Italy. Although the volcano led to the demise of the Minoan culture, it left behind the ruins of this four-story city and these amazing stones at the beache. I was tickled to bring smaller ones home for my daughter’s 6th grade science class.

I loved visiting these two Greek island. But I was surprised I really liked Mykonos more than Santorini, which is ranked as one of the top islands in the world. It is estimated Santorini welcomes 2 million tourists annually.

Again, I wish I could share more pictures with you. But since Substack has a limit, I encourage you to check out more pictures on my FB page. Greece Travel Guide by Gary Jones is also a great source if you are planning a trip. Next week, I will tell you about Gate 1 and our tour guide, along with some interesting things about the Greek culture.

Thanks for joining me so far…

It’ll Be OK.

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“I googled my symptoms. Turns out I just need a vacation.” ~ Dan’s Travels

COMMENT: WHERE ARE THE ONE OR TWO PLACES IN THE WORLD YOU’D LIKE TO SEE?