Margaretha Western – Greek Island Gods: Mykanos

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The island is part of the Cyclades, located in the Aegean Sea and one of the top international tourist destinations, famous around the globe for its cosmopolitan character and its frantic nightlife. The island is composed primarily of granite and has many picturesque blue domed churches.

On the southern coast of the island, many fabulous sandy beaches curve around bays with crystal clear water. Above, the white-washed houses and many hundreds of bars and clubs create a pretty picture and offer plenty of evening entertainment for the tens of thousands of tourists that surge through the narrow alleys, looking for the elusive bargains.

 
The Poseidon Hotel would be our base for the next three nights.

It offered us its hospitality at a unique spot at the edge of Mykanos town. The vast views over the water towards Delos, a small islet located a few miles from the Greek Island of Mykanos. Delos, is considered as the birth place of the gods Apollo and Artemis. It has ruins of temples, theatres and houses from one of the greatest civilization ever.

The blazing colours of the Aegean sunset, the constant sea breeze and the personalised service round the huge pool of our hotel, a great bar and massive soft couches outside to stretch out in, made us wish that this could be our permanent home. We also looked towards the six historic windmills standing on a pier, jutting out into the harbour. We didn’t sit, no, we lolled, sinking deep in the soft pillows, while drinking fantastic strawberry daiquiris.

 
Our dinner consisted of pork gyros, sliced pork with salad, tomatoes, chips and a generous dollop of Tzaziki.

Majestically sailing into the harbour, seven gigantic white cruise ships, fifteen floors above the waterline and ten below, disgorged thousands of rather loud and very rich Americans.

It was horrid and hot at 28C degrees. The streets in Mykanos are tiny alleys and I can assure you was no fun trying to walk in them with hordes of tourists pushing and shoving to get into the box-like "brand" boutiques. Many were obese and yelled at each other about their purchases and what they had paid. They were falling over each other to spend and add to the multitude of heavy gold chains and bracelets that clanked as they moved.

Everyone smoked here and an irritating youth droned on and on for hours, spouting his know-alls. I wanted to kill him, or at least whack him, but was restrained and tied to my chair. He finally left, but came home to the same hotel as we were in! His room was immediately above ours. He proceeded to expound his great theories all over again to a young female admirer. At 4am I had had enough and I raced around trying to find an AK47!

Unfortunately, the island was a weapon-free zone, so I resorted to telling him to shut-up and peace returned.

Two days later we flew back to LONDON.