Although there was much more to see and do in Athens, time wouldn’t allow it.  So at 5:45 am, a driver picked us up for the journey to Piraeus harbor to catch the hydrofoil to the island of Mykonos – the next stop on our Greek itinerary.  The company was called SeaJet and the ship was magnificent.  We thought it would be a small craft but it was massive and traveled over 40 knots which got us to Mykonos in just over two hours.  On a regular ferry it would take about six hours to get here.

Just a small part of our lovely hotel, Nissaki Boutique, complete with a small church. The amazing staff has spoiled us. Here, a photo with Nick, and head waiter, Apostolos. They all went way beyond just making us comfortable, they made us feel like family.

Our driver was waiting for us when we arrived at the new Mykonos Harbor area and we started driving up the steep road to our hotel, which was about 15 minutes away.  But I believe if I had been driving it probably would have taken me a half hour to make the trip.  The road had two lanes but you had to look closely to see that.  It looked more like a one lane road.  Along the way there were motor scooters, goats, huge tourist buses, and impatient Greek drivers all wanting to get to wherever they were going first.  We did arrive safely at our hotel, the Nissaki Boutique on Platys Gialos Beach in Mykonos.My happy place at Nissaki Boutique

The staff seems to be very attentive when you first arrive and they let you in on all the hot spots you need to see and do while on the island.  And, everyone wants to know your life’s history, but we also wanted to know the same about them.  They all seem to be very friendly people and we feel great being here.  Since its so expensive to actually live here, the staff is signed to a seven-month contract and the owner of the hotel offers them a salary and a free place to live while on Mykonos.  In return, the entire staff works seven days a week while they are under contract.  I’m sure it’s a tough life but it’s one that offers them financial security which is something that all Greeks need right now in these tough economic times.

Since the true tourist season hasn’t arrived yet (usually May to September), many of the little shops and markets are closed, but that’s fine because Pat and I agreed that being here with crowds and heat would be just awful; I guess that’s our age showing.  We decided to take the bus to Mykonos City, which is a quick bus or taxi ride away, and runs every half hour.  The city is simply beautiful.  Lots of shops (many very high class), restaurants, and what seemed to be hundreds of churches of all sizes.  All of these sites are located on very narrow streets that run through the city like a maze.  And believe me, once you get in, you can’t find your way out, even when you ask for directions.  But, it is a very beautiful place to experience.

After a couple hours, we did find our way back to the main square where the bus was waiting.  The only problem, the bus driver was nowhere to be found.  So, Pat thought it would be wiser to just take a taxi back to the hotel since my leg was bothering me.  Again, the age thing.

We stopped at a small restaurant called the Blue Myth near the hotel and had a wonderful lunch of souvlaki while looking at the ocean.  Just about the time our lunch arrived at the table, so did a truck that had been called to clean out the septic tank or some such nonsense.  Pat smelled the meat thinking that was where the stench was coming from, but I pointed out the truck.  Ah, Greece!

After lunch, we decided we had enough fun and realized that we needed to catch up on this blog and actually be productive.  The remainder of the day was set aside for writing, editing and placing photos, and a fantastic dinner at the hotel with our waiters, Nick and Apostolos. It was the perfect end to the day.  We’ve decided that we never want to leave Mykonos, but I’m sure that time, money, and this inane feeling of responsibility will bring us back to reality.