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Published: February 20th 2006
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Right. It's decided then. I'm forever moving to Mykonos. At least during the low season. I think I'll spend the high season in Vienna. Wait, I forgot one thing. I'm going to need someone independently wealthy to provide for me so I can just not work in order to enjoy the places to the fullest. Since that's not going to happen, I guess I'll just put those plans on hold. (But I can still dream.)
Mykonos is absolutely wonderful. Picture postcard perfect. You'll have to because there were no postcards to be found on the island. Most shops were closed because December/January are definitely not at the peak of tourist season. On top of that, the shops that would have still been open were closed in observance of New Year's Day or just as part of the holiday closure in general. It was fine though.
I got off the ferry at
the port and walked toward Mykonos Town. I went into a place called Pier 1 (not to get bric-a-brac for my home) because they had a sign saying that they rented cars, sold various tickets, and arranged accommodation. Now, I probably could have tried to run down something
Pelicans
I'm really glad I didn't have to mail anything cos I wouldn't have wanted to get much closer to the pelicans than I already was. cheaper and less desirable, but for 30 Euro, I was 100m from the Mykonos Town shoreline. Can't beat that! I had my own room and a private bathroom. There were actually two twin beds, a TV, and a fridge, and it was glorius. I'm dreading wherever I end up staying tonight because I know that it won't be nearly as nice or as quiet. After I climbed up to my "apartment," I took advantage of the remaining sunlight (ferry didn't dock until 1:45pm) and headed out to look around and take some pictures.
Mykonos Town Centre was my first destination and I just sort of wandered through the "streets" of the town. Mostly they were just alleys tha maybe three people could walk side by side in. And they all had painted walkways and really pretty "sugar cube" buildings. The town has no map and a lot of the pathways don't really get you anywhere. I only got turned around about four or five times but eventually I made it out of the maze.
I saw lots and lots of sugar cubes, but they weren't all the same. Not like the pre-fab neighborhoods popping up all over the
US. The other cool feature Mykonos has going for itself is the windmills. I found one that said it was built in 1710. I kept walking up the hill so I could try to get up to the ridge and see down the other race of the island or at least get a different perspective on Mykonos Town.
Now, the island is only 84 square meters, but the books forget to mention that those meters are mostly vertical. I climbed and climbed and climbed and eventually found a mini-market where I got some water and a Kit Kat Chunky (I'd highly recommend both.). The sun was starting to make its descent and I figured I should head back toward town while I could still see the pathways, roads, and stone fences. I think I only trespassed a couple times. Sometimes there was a path that dead-ended and since I could see where the next path/road was, I just sort of hopped some stone fences, scampered though the person's yard, and over the next fence.
I then went back to Town and got something to eat. I tried to get Carbonara something, but they didn't have bacon--kind of an
My apartment
I had the whole place to myself. intricle ingredient. Instead, I got vegetarian risotto and--I forget the Greek name--crispy Cretan breat with olive oil and spicy Feta cheese. Yum! After dinner I headed back to my apartment just to chill. Ended up watching CNN and reruns of Just Shoot Me and the show with the guy from Boston Common and the girl that was in Mr. Holland's Opus. I know, you're thinking it's weird that I can pull those references but can't come up with the show's name. Sorry. But another reference in case you need it to narrow down the show is that the sister of Mr. Holland's Opus girl was on the show Jessie (starring Christina Applegate) and she worked in the neighborhood bar. But I digress!
I slept the sleep of a girl who has slept in hostels and trains for over a week. It was absolutely fabulous. I awoke refreshed. I packed all my stuff after taking the most bizarre shower. The shower was about 2 feet square but didn't have walls, or a curtain, or a place to hang the shower head. The whole bathroom ended up drenched even though I tried to be careful. I got all my stuff into
my pack and left it by the door so that they could come clean my room because I was not going to take my bag with me exploring.
I headed back up the mountain and went toward the northern end by way of the eastern side. I saw the water on the other side of the ridge and that was close enough for me (on this trip!). On this trip, I saw more sugar cubes, but more typical Mykonian landscape. Definitely not as touristy. People had farms and no everyone's house was painted to "town" standards. I still think I could live there though. I don't know if I'd like the island during the summer because when it really comes down to it, I'm just a small town girl. I think that's part of the reason I loved it so much.
After my walk this morning I got my pack and then I went to a little restaurant and had a savory crepe with ham, cheese, and mushrooms (going to have to learn to make crepes as well) and then walked down to the port to catch my ferry at 2:15pm. Should be in Athens at 8:25pm and
then I need to find a place to stay--probably the same place as before. I don't think I'll end up doing anything more in Athens with exception of finding an English-language bookstore. I MUST find something to read while I wait at the airport, during the flight, and during the train ride back to my flat. Hopefully the trains are running smoothly when I get to Gatwick 'cause I don't feel like taking a four hour bus ride from South London to North London and have people give me dirty looks 'cause my big-as-a-person pack has its own seat. We shall see....
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cara
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Wasn't it great!?!