Mykonos
An early start from the Hotel in Athens, catching the 6am Metro down to the Docks in Athens, for the Fast Ferry to Mykonos, one of the many Greek Islands in the Mediterranean.
An early start from the Hotel in Athens, catching the 6am Metro down to the Docks in Athens, for the Fast Ferry to Mykonos, one of the many Greek Islands in the Mediterranean.
Fast Ferry to Mykonos
View from our Hotel Balcony
The Hotel's beach views
After a few stops at other smaller islands, we arrived and left the boat, deciding the walk to the island’s Capital. After a walk taking at least 40 minutes, along a narrow road with no footpath, we made it into the centre of town.
We enjoyed a traditional lunch of stuffed capsicum and tomatoes along with a greek salad, all whilst overlooking the old port where small fishing boats dock.
Mykonos Town comprises numerously closed spaced white buildings giving the typical whiwash city look you see in holiday magazines, etc.
The back streets are very narrow, and most of the vehicles on the island comprise scooters, or really small delivery vans/trikes with ute trays.
After a quick browse through some of the markets and shops we grabbed a taxi to our hotel, located in Agios Ioannis Beach. Upon arrival at the Hotel it was more like a 5 star resort, and the first view of the Hotel was from our hotel room, overlooking the pool then with the sea in the background. Quite Spectacular!
The next few days were spent lounging by the pool, enjoying the local food and beers and also checking out the sights within the Town Centre, including the local Pelicans, and the Mykonos Windmills.
After two days in Mykonos it was time for us to catch the next ferry to Santorini for 4 more days relaxing!
We enjoyed a traditional lunch of stuffed capsicum and tomatoes along with a greek salad, all whilst overlooking the old port where small fishing boats dock.
Mykonos Town comprises numerously closed spaced white buildings giving the typical whiwash city look you see in holiday magazines, etc.
The back streets are very narrow, and most of the vehicles on the island comprise scooters, or really small delivery vans/trikes with ute trays.
After a quick browse through some of the markets and shops we grabbed a taxi to our hotel, located in Agios Ioannis Beach. Upon arrival at the Hotel it was more like a 5 star resort, and the first view of the Hotel was from our hotel room, overlooking the pool then with the sea in the background. Quite Spectacular!
The next few days were spent lounging by the pool, enjoying the local food and beers and also checking out the sights within the Town Centre, including the local Pelicans, and the Mykonos Windmills.
After two days in Mykonos it was time for us to catch the next ferry to Santorini for 4 more days relaxing!
Mykonos Town Centre
Mykonos Windmills
Local Church on the right, town centre beyond
Local Markets
The bus timetable
Hotel Views
Santorini
Santorini’s island shape has changed over the last 2000 years or so from significant and ongoing volcanic activity. The submerged caldera formed from the collapse of the volcano, and has subsequently left a partial ring like island surrounding a much smaller volcano. It is also thought to be the location of the mythical lost city of Atlantis.
The beaches in Santorini comprise of black pebbles from volcanic activity, and present quite an unusual feel compared to the tradional white sand beaches we are most used to. In summer the black sands get so hot that you need footwear to avoid getting burnt feet.
In Kamari Beach, which is where we stayed, there are numerous wooden boards placed on the beached linking the foreshore to the beach seats and umbrellas, to allow you to walk between to reduce to heat on the feet!
Santorini is also a premier wine growing region due to the volcanic soils in the island. Many of the undeveloped areas of the island are covered with grape vines. Within the towns Gum Trees are growing everywhere reminding us of home.
Santorini’s island shape has changed over the last 2000 years or so from significant and ongoing volcanic activity. The submerged caldera formed from the collapse of the volcano, and has subsequently left a partial ring like island surrounding a much smaller volcano. It is also thought to be the location of the mythical lost city of Atlantis.
The beaches in Santorini comprise of black pebbles from volcanic activity, and present quite an unusual feel compared to the tradional white sand beaches we are most used to. In summer the black sands get so hot that you need footwear to avoid getting burnt feet.
In Kamari Beach, which is where we stayed, there are numerous wooden boards placed on the beached linking the foreshore to the beach seats and umbrellas, to allow you to walk between to reduce to heat on the feet!
Santorini is also a premier wine growing region due to the volcanic soils in the island. Many of the undeveloped areas of the island are covered with grape vines. Within the towns Gum Trees are growing everywhere reminding us of home.
Olive trees
Views of Fira (note the windy path leading up to the town, about 350m vertical)
Whilst on the island we spent one day on a tour of the volcano and surrounding smaller islands that make up the Caldera of Santorini. The tour included walking to the summit of the volcano, now only 120m above sea level. Some steam could be seen exiting the centre of the volcano, but no earthquakes or lava flowing on this volcano. It is still classified as active, but it now only heats some of the surrounding waters to form the Hot Springs. Next on the tour was a swim in the hot springs which required a 100m swim from the boat in deeper waters to get to shore, where some of the heat from the volcano heats the pools near shore. The mud that form the floor of the springs in this region are also reputedly good for the skin.
Thirasia was next on the tour, and comprised a smaller island where we had some lunch, and enjoyed the views during the rain that decided to spring from the heavens on our tour day!
We finished the tour with an sunset at Oia (pronounced eeh-ah). This is the place to go for sunsets until we spoke with the owner of one of the local restaurants in Kamari who told us a better spot. Oia is the real expensive end of the island, where prices at usually double if not more for most items. The sunset, however, was indeed spectacular especially with the colour hitting the nearby white buildings.
Thirasia was next on the tour, and comprised a smaller island where we had some lunch, and enjoyed the views during the rain that decided to spring from the heavens on our tour day!
We finished the tour with an sunset at Oia (pronounced eeh-ah). This is the place to go for sunsets until we spoke with the owner of one of the local restaurants in Kamari who told us a better spot. Oia is the real expensive end of the island, where prices at usually double if not more for most items. The sunset, however, was indeed spectacular especially with the colour hitting the nearby white buildings.
Volcano views
Hot Springs thru that gap!
Donkeys taking tourists up the path to Oia, we walked it. Easier on the Donkeys that way!
View from one of the local restaurant's
Oia Sunset
With one full day to go we hired a Scooter to explore the rest of the island, first exploring the southern wine region then heading up to the Ancient Ruins in Thira. The road to get to there ruins shook the bike almost to pieces, as it was made of really rough cobble stones, and it meandered up the hill zig-zagging all the way to the top.
After lunch we headed to the highest point in Santorini, where an old Monastery was located.
The views from the highest point on the island were spectacular, and whilst we were up on the peak, I went down on one knee and proposed to Nada. She said yes thankfully! Hence now we are engaged. The wedding will be in June 2008 (next year), and we shall be back in Adelaide well before then.
We finished off this wonderful day with some Wine Sampling at Santo Wines (the best place for a sunset view). The next day we made our way back to Athens via ferry, spent a few hours shopping then flew back to London, then took a coach to Bristol.
After lunch we headed to the highest point in Santorini, where an old Monastery was located.
The views from the highest point on the island were spectacular, and whilst we were up on the peak, I went down on one knee and proposed to Nada. She said yes thankfully! Hence now we are engaged. The wedding will be in June 2008 (next year), and we shall be back in Adelaide well before then.
We finished off this wonderful day with some Wine Sampling at Santo Wines (the best place for a sunset view). The next day we made our way back to Athens via ferry, spent a few hours shopping then flew back to London, then took a coach to Bristol.
Ancient Thira Ruins
The bumpiest track in the world!
Black sands of Santorini
Santo Wines Sunset
Overall Greece is a great place to visit, and language is not a problem, as everyone speaks English! And the islands are a perfect place to relax and do very little if you want!
I forgot to mention…
Ah yes, and you can’t flush paper down Greek toilets, so remember to put your used paper in the bin provided! Old small diameter sewers block easily apparently…
