My husband and I went on the trip of a lifetime to the Greek Isles when he and two of his best friends turned forty years old. Mykonos was on our itinerary.

Our vacation started in Mykonos, Greece, the land of the frequenting rich and beautiful people of Europe. It then moved to Santorini for a few days and ended in the start of Western civilization, Athens.

Mykonos is located in the Cyclades of the Aegean Sea: the Cyclades is the Ancient Greek word for “ring” and means “ring of islands”.

Why I Was Mesmerized by Mykonos, Greece

Our flight was delayed getting into Athens, so Eddie and I had to buy tickets for the Seajet 2. The circa 1980’s Seajet is a high-powered speedboat/ferry which would take us to Mykonos by nightfall. It travels fast and has airline-like accommodations and a coffee bar. We enjoyed the view of the startling blue waters as we skimmed across to Mykonos.

Upon arrival, the luxurious Hotel Belvedere sent a driver to pick us up. Eddie and I arrived at their small boutique hotel surrounded by a white stone security wall and were welcomed inside with drinks provided by the staff.

White crisp fabrics billowed and hung were everywhere. Gorgeous exotic floral arrangements made the hotel lobby smelled deliciously fragrant. The stunning pool was surrounded by intimate areas of white mattresses, wooden seats, and colorful lights,  beckoning us to visit.

Eddie and I were shown to our rooms, which were nice, but not the most modern or plush. The rooms had white marble floors, two small balconies (one overlooking the pool), and a deep relaxing bathtub.

The Hotel Belvedere also included an American buffet-style breakfast, AC, satellite LCD TV, a cordless phone, Wi-Fi, mini-bar, and Korres bath cosmetics. Guests also had access to a 24-hour gym, music & movies library, safe boxes, and concierge services. It was a great choice.

Discovering Downtown Mykonos

Our friends and I headed into downtown Mykonos for dinner at a lovely waterfront restaurant called Caprice Bar. Little did we know this would be the most memorable meal of our entire trip.

We had a perfect view of the sunset, which Mykonos is famous for. The restaurant served us an enormous marble iced tray seafood delights such as grilled shrimp and fresh lobster. Fresh vegetables accompanied the seafood.

Our wine was tastefully served in a galvanized bucket full of fresh cut flowers. After dinner, Nicko (our waiter), gave us a bottle of “digestive aid” that contained tree sap. It is considered rude to turn down the gracious gifts of the server or owner so we suffered through a shot of the concoction.

Our group wandered the twisty, crooked, cobblestone walkways and did a little window shopping after dinner.

Later we enjoyed Lychee Mojitos with friends at the outdoor bar at Hotel Belvedere. All’s well that ends well.

Breakfast at the Hotel Belvedere was nothing short of “wow”!

A nice selection of quiche, pastries, fresh fruit, dill egg canapés, toast, croissants, and yogurt was available for you to help yourself.

After breakfast, we all gathered at the pool, listened to the iPod, and enjoyed a day of relaxation and fantastic scenery. We met about 20 people from around the world hanging out at the pool.

For lunch, we enjoyed Caprese Salads with Buffalo mozzarella, thickly sliced tomatoes, and fresh basil. Then, it was nap time.

Pleased with Hotel Belvedere

In the evening, I had an algae-peppermint oil body wrap treatment followed by a scalp, shoulder, face, and foot massage. There was not a formal spa, the lady only had a room at the hotel, but it felt very refreshing and my skin was silky afterward.

Later, we invited some of our new friends to join us for dinner and we set out again for Caprese Salads. It was a rare cold day in Mykonos and the 68°F temperatures, along with the seaside outdoor dining, was not favorable. However, our dinner of White Truffle Risotto was wonderful and paired nicely with our wines.

The night was completed after several hours of dancing and listening to world music at the “super” nightclub, Pierros Club. The nightclub was packed with beautiful people and some very impressive drag queens.

At the bar, several people tried to tag along with us to go back to the hotel (we later learned that the Hotel Belvedere is one of the best places to stay and they like to tag along and try to use the amenities at the hotel).

The next day, our British and Australian friends were going to Super Paradise, the gay and nude beach that is the center of partying on Mykonos. I wanted to go so badly but was outvoted by the people I was traveling with.

We ended up just hanging out at the pool for another day. Later, we called a cab and headed to the other side of the island to visit the hugely popular Nammos restaurant.

Exploring the Island

To get to Nammos, a gastronomic concept restaurant that we were going for lunch, is no small feat. Our taxi driver dropped us off at the top of a very steep hill, which we had to snake down a mountain to get to.

Nammos a hip place with a great ambiance and killer menu. There are huts to rent if you want to lie on the beach— food is also served out there.

Being a lover of Greek food and actually eating it in Greece was a real game changer. Souvlaki, Homemade Feta, Moussaka; oh my, the cuisine was amazing!

At Nammos, I had the Crab Tartare and it was sheer perfection in every bite.  Everything at our lunch was nearly perfect except for the fact we were cramped very tightly at the table and the restaurant stays packed.

Beware: When it is time to leave Nammos, you have to walk back up the hill to meet the cab. Good luck in the heat and with a full stomach.

Other than having fields of goats and sheep to ooh and aah over surrounding the hillside, the walk was treacherous and miserable.

After a disco power nap, we were ready for another night out on the town. I think the reason I loved Mykonos so much is that this is totally not the typical thing I do when I am at home in the states.

Mykonos is Mesmerizing

Strolling through the twisty narrow streets of cobblestone is like getting lost in a maze. Whitewashed houses are as far as you can see interwoven with a few trendy boutiques and stray cats.

Blue domed cathedrals are scattered along the waterfront as well as full-size pelicans often waddling down the alleys. The most familiar sight in identifying the island of Mykonos is the windmills along the oceanfront.

Naxos, the largest island in the Cyclades chain, is a destination for the jet set. We traveled there one day to have lunch. The calm bay and beach were buzzing with beautiful tanned bodies enjoying the sun and swim.

Mykonos, home of windmills, chapels, blue roofs, and white buildings won me over and no vacation has ever measured up.

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Mykonos, Greece Photo Gallery

 

 

Check out our other Greece articles:

The Ancient Ruins of Khios                     Volos and Meteora Monasteries

How to Spend 24 Hours in Athens        Athens Small-Group Food Tour