Mykonooooooooooooooooooooos.

Thursday saw us travel to our first Greek island..... MYKONOS.

AKA the party island.

After a beautiful goodbye dinner with H's family in Athens in the middle of the bustling city, before venturing up through the street markets to a spectacular bar that overlooked the Acropolis (glowing from the strategically placed lights around its base) it was a breathtaking end to wonderful start to our adventure. I was also terribly spoilt by H's family who gave me very special gifts to represent my time in Athens, a bracelet with the Greek eye symbol to ward off the 'other' evil eye, keeping me safe and bringing me good fortune & also a lovely necklace with a tiny glass bottle attached, with the eye symbol on its top and filled with white and blue sand (to represent the Greek colours) and two tiny rocks and shells. As I don't know any Greek YET they were able to very sneakily trick me and I was unawares that they were sussing out my taste! It feels even more special when you are able to make connections with people despite not being able to communicate with them through speech.

It was sad to leave Athens, but I was itching to see what the two and a half hour ferry ride would bring me too...... and I was not disappointed!!

Pulling into the port, all I could see before me were the white concrete houses even more obvious and beautiful due to the dry, barren and mountainous landscape that is Mykonos. Scattered between them were the winding roads, filled with scooters, four wheelers and small cars (needed to get through the impossibly narrow streets). We were met at the port by our hosts wife, who took us to our apartment in Mykonos town. All I can say is WOW!

We could not have been luckier in terms of location. We unloaded our suitcases and were led through the tiny cobblestone alleyways, pure white apartments lining either side with brightly coloured hand rails and window shutters. Everything looks fresh and bright because of the white walls, down and down we wound further and further into the bustling inner core where small shops appeared on either side. Selling tourist items, clothes, hand made greek jewellery, hats, bikinis, cafes with traditional greek food, souvlaki shops, kebab houses, gelato bars, crepe stations with windows full with stacks of nutella (DROOL). It was the most surreal experience because it was like something you see from a postcard or a film set in Greece. Conveniently, our apartment is right above a 24hr gelato bar...... WINNING!! Bueno flavour is the current favourite.... but there is still plenty of time to try some more. After dumping our bags I was itching to explore, first stop was the windmills on the corner of the hill, then down to little venice, loaded with the freshest seafood restaurants, more wandering through the streets, down to the old port to glimpse the ridiculous boats resting in the harbour and then back to our room to formulate some plans!

We rented our green scooter and went for a hoon around the island (I tried not to poo my pants), crazy drivers, opposite sides of the road and drunk tourists aside we arrived at our first beach spending most of the day relaxing in the sun and swimming in the clearest blue water I have EVER seen. Little Venice was on the dinner menu, calamari, octopus, prawns saganaki (in a tomato and feta sauce), a Greek salad.... of course, fresh sea bass and some bread with the traditional olive oil and balsamic vinegar. As the night as still young.... and we are in Mykonos we hit up a cocktail bar for some mojitos before indulging in a nutella, banana and almond crepe..... pushed the limits with that one and I tried not to empty the contents of my stomach onto the street. 

Day 2- a quick peak at super paradise beach (we nearly ran out of petrol) so had to make a detour to paradise beach tropicana where we did some more all important tanning, cocktail drinking and witnessing the beginnings of what tropicana is most famous for..... Sasa the sequinned elephant thong wearing MC.... let me paint a picture for you, he's Italian, fully waxed and oiled, his bits sit strategically inside the elephant trunk and he loves to shout out rude commentary to all of the wasted singles, who are in Mykonos to have a good time..... if you know what I mean. After a few songs and drinks we returned to the apartment and then headed to dinner at another seafood restaurant where more of Mykonos's best seafood was devoured! After a little walk through the markets it was time for bed ready for more ADVENTURES!

Today we got the most delicious breakfast, spinach and feta pastries at one of the oldest Greek bakeries still operating with the use of a proper wood fired oven. We then spent the day at Psarou, my favourite beach so far with the most relaxed atmosphere and beautiful water. We are just about to venture out for some Italian and have a few more sneaky cocktails to top the night off, when in Mykonos!!

Tomorrow another visit to Psarou is on the cards and is our last full day on this beautiful island as we say goodbye on Monday and jump aboard our next ferry to Santorini!!!