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Published: June 14th 2009
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The Aegean Sea is dotted with hundreds of islands, of which some are uninhabited. Some of the islands were important cultural centers in the past but are deserted now, but for tourists who visit it during the day-time. Delos is one such island, to which Mykonos played the second fiddle in the past. Just 2 Kms separate the two islands.
Mykonos was never the cultural center in the past but it is now a sort of cultural crater-- the center of pop-culture, the Mecca of the jet-set, the island of the night-clubs.
To the tourists on shore-excursions from the cruise-ships, this island first appears like a stockpile of white soap-boxes, placed end-to-end. Only when they alight at the jetty and start walking on the streets of Mykonos, its allure starts spreading on them.
I believe Mykonos’s main charm lies in its narrow, winding streets, paved with stone. The joints of the stones are painted white and therein lies the secret of its charm. The streets start looking like a Giraffe’s neck or a giant, diamond-patterned python sunning itself.
The streets are so narrow that one can lean across from the balcony of one house and kiss a
baby, playing in the balcony of the opposite house.
A Mykonean Romeo does not have to climb the balcony for his Juliet. He has to just extend his hand and she can jump down. Come to think of it, she does not even need Romeo’s help. She can jump down by herself.
It was so pleasurable to wander around the Mykonos village, window-shopping. We did enjoy the walk though the weather was cloudy. The red, blue or yellow domes of various little churches and the painted balconies add a dash of color to the white-washed village.
When the lights came on in the gathering dusk, Mykonos’s charm enhanced.
I have got a mind which is forever questioning - how, why, where, who, what etc. Another quirk of my mind is that if I get satisfactory answers to all these questions, then it starts asking the opposite questions - why not, if not, where else etc. There no satisfying my mind.
Now also, instead of just enjoying the lighted streets and shops, my mind started asking questions -- where from the Islands get their electricity? They can’t be in a national grid after all.
Back
in Mumbai, I see the Elephanta Island from my kitchen every day. In the night, it is just a dark shape on the horizon without any lights.
So, from where do the Aegean Islands get their electricity?
Avi is used to my quirkiness by now and so does not mind discussing this sort of problems with me, instead of just saying “Oh, shut up!”
As we were discussing this problem, we turned the corner and saw five windmills standing where they could catch the breeze.
“Eureka! Wind-power!” I said.
However, the vanes of the windmills did not move even in the strong breeze. The windmills are totally defunct and serve the purpose only as a tourist-attraction. Even when they were operational, probably they only ground the grain and did not generate electricity.
Hydel power is out of question because there is scant rain in the islands. Drinking water is provided by desalination.
So, we came to the conclusion that the islands get their electricity by a thermal station somewhere on the island - by burning either diesel or coal.
There is a lesson here for Maharashtra. Our state should develop the Elephanta
Island as a tourist spot and provide all the civic amenities throughout the year.
There can be a ‘little Venice’ at the Elephanta too. I would certainly like to stay in a well-lighted hotel whose base is being washed by the sea-waves. The lights shimmering in the waves make a beautiful picture.
Mykonos even has fast Internet connection. Avi downloaded important office correspondence there and our Moscow trip, which took place later, was born out of that correspondence.
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