Cruise Diva Goes Ashore in Europe:
The Mediterranean
Sights to see & things to do
Mykonos, Greece
Once the playground of jetsetters, Mykonos is now one of the most heavily visited and expensive of the Greek islands. With one of the Mediterranean’s most scenic harbors and abundant beaches, the peak summer months can be chaotic.
Diversions
Passengers tender ashore to the harbor area of the Esplanade in Hora (or Mykonos Town). Two types of taxis are available, but exploring the town is best done on foot. Hora has been designated an architectural landmark and cars are not allowed in the narrow streets. However, small motor scooter taxis can be found at the pier that will zip passengers about the city. For trips around the island, standard cabs can be found at Taxi Square and there’s a good bus system.
Other than Hora itself and the pelican mascots that greet passengers at the pier, there is little to see on Mykonos of importance. For premier archaeological sites, excursions to Delos are highly recommended. A walk through Hora’s streets reveals small blue domed churches, quaint whitewashed houses, and an unusual working Windmill Museum is located west of the city. It’s a picture-postcard pretty scene, particularly the area of “Little Venice” where wooden galleried houses with colorful balconies overlook the sea.
The best excursions are by boat to Delos where ancient ruins in the Sanctuary Area include the Agora of the Competialists; the Sacred Way, the processional road to the Great Temple of Apollo; the Avenue of Lions with its marble beasts; and the now-dry Sacred Lake. The Agora is also the starting point for explorations of the Mount Kynthos district and the remains of the Hellenistic Quarter and the House of Cleopatra—not the Egyptian queen, but a wealthy Athenian. The House of the Dolphins is a small structure containing renowned mosaic floors depicting cupids riding dolphins. Other notable buildings containing mosaics are the House of Dionysos and the House of the Masks. The Archaeological Museum displays many artifacts from the area. Take your own bottled water with you; refreshments are atrociously expensive on Delos.
Shopping
Mykonos is home to a large artists colony and many galleries in Hora display their works. Gold jewelry is found in abundance throughout the island, as are gift and souvenir shops.
Beaches
Located on the island’s south coast, the most famous of the splendid beaches is Paradise, also noted for being the original nude beach. The beaches start at Plati Yialos and stretch to Kalafatis. Plati Yialos is backed by a hotel and tends to be crowded, but it’s the only beach that doesn’t include a nudist area. Offshore currents are treacherous on the windy north coast and sunbathers primarily frequent the beaches there.
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