Mykonos, Greece

We awake and we are just pulling into port, in fact we get clearance prior to our scheduled arrival of 9 am.  Once again we ordered breakfast and it met our needs perfectly.

We are excited to be here.  Last time we were here was two years ago and it was very late in the season and so much was closed.  Actually only a handful of restaurants were open and a few stores and it felt like a waste of time.  We left felling we missed out.  So today we hit the ground running and we were not disappointed.

Our tour today is Mykonos Town and Island Drive for Small Groups.  We meet up in the Casino our designated spot and wait.  The crew member there was very helpful.  She advised that you should arrive only at the time of the ticket.  That when docked the ticket reflects arrival a half hour prior to the tour departure, and 45 minutes prior when in a tender port.

We head ashore and we meet with the others in our group where we meet our tour guide Elena and we board our small bus.  There is 20 people in our group so yes it is a small group but can be still a bit too big.  While walking around it was hard to hear her but it was nice as we were able to board the bus easily and meet up and get into areas that large groups can not.

We head to a beautiful look out with the views of Delos – which at one time was lived on but now all that is there are ruins.  

Our next stop is the beautiful beach of Kalafatis which apparently the rich and famous love.  Yes it is lovely but personally I have seen so many other beautiful beaches but for here this is stunning.  There is a restaurant/bar here but when we go up to order a drink they say sorry they are closed for the season. We stay here for about a half hour.

Back on the bus we are head to the tiny village of Ano Mera in the center of the island where we tour the Panagia Tourliani Monastery which was originally built in 1542 and dedicated to the Virgin Mary.  We have another half hour here so Bernie and I take a seat and enjoy a light snack and drink.

Our last stop is right back at the town of Mykonos for a walking tour but it is so crowded.  There is another ship in port and it is hard to get around the town.  As Elena leads us to the windmills and we dodge the people and have to back track because of crowds.  It is also getting very hot.  Soon we decide that it is time for us to call it quits.  We have been here before and have done our own walking tour so we don’t feel like we are missing out too much.

We seek out our favorite little bakery again.  I have the name but it is in my pictures so check back later when I upload all the pictures. We each get a coffee and some baklava and honey balls.  Yummy.

where I am standing is where the bus shuttle is - you have to walk all along the harbour.
The far right is the start of the town right near the dock.

On the walk towards town there is this little beach that a few people enjoyed.

We make our way back to where the shuttle pick up is.  Note it is about a kilometer away so take note as no cars are allowed in the town.

Once back on board we rest for a bit and then head off again around 1630 with Ben in tow for some time away from the ship.  

The boat shuttle to town - 2E per person each way - drops you right in town

this is the shuttle boat

We catch the water taxi (2E per person each way) and runs every half hour and it is nice because it drops you off right in the town.  You can also take the ship’s shuttle bus at $10 per person round trip.

Me and Ben

Bernie

We walk around a bit and the lighting is stunning, perfect for pictures.

We stop and decide on a lovely restaurant called Fato a Mano.

We start with cocktails and then some lovely wine.  We share our appetizers of Greek salad, fried feta and pita.  For our main meal Bernie gets some fish and I have mushroom risotto.  All amazing!  They give us a lovely dessert to try that is wonderful and some local liquor that darn I can not remember the name.  Starts with an M, can anyone help me with the name?  

We slowly make our way back to the shuttle boat and we are back on board just before 1930.  Of course when I try my card in the lock it has been demagnetized!  My phone case has a magnet and if I even come close to putting my card to it is demagnetizes.  

So I head back to the elevator bank and as I am waiting these two couples approach and the one woman looks at me and says “I know you…. You are Vickie”  yes I am.  She watched my YouTube videos and reads my blog.  I am always so happy when others recognize me and I love meeting you so if you see me say HI!

The staff at the Purser’s desk are so helpful and quickly get me a new card and even punch it for my lanyard.  

There is a lot going on around the ship but we have been off all day and we are tired and tomorrow is another busy day so we head to bed and this gives me a chance to write my blog and to rest up.

Other things happening on the ship today: Stargazing at center court at 10:30, Vista Lounge is showing the Greek Tycoon, The band Atomic is playing the Atrium, Majority Rules Game, Texas Hold’Em Players Meet, MUTS is showing Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Men Tell No Tales, 50’s vs 60’s music in Club 6 and so much more.