Glassblower Extraordinaire: It's All Greek to Me

You’ll be exhausted if you even try to keep up. Mykonos is definitely the party island of all the Greek isles. We had some really nice late nights docked until 10pm, and also an overnight here; so there was plenty of time explore the island. My first day back on Mykonos, since 2013, was our overnight and we were planning a big one at Paradise Beach. They say the best part of the day is the night but really I’ll just take the whole 24 hours. Okay. Thanks!

We started our bus transport to the beach with gyros and gelato. Arrive with still plenty of sun in the sky to lie out and swim. There must have been a whole wolf pack of us there, and others from the ship who trickled in later. My friend Nick and I borrowed some snorkels checking out the rocky shore for fish. Then we all hit the daytime dance floor. Less like line dancing more like xbox Just Dance you mimic in a crowd of people 2 main dancers on the stage. Everyone is invited- the music doesn’t stop and the drinks keep flowing.

Tommy Boy catching some rays.

To break up the day and the madness, at dusk my group ventured off the beach and up the rocky hillsides, checking out views and taking a short break from it all before the night party got started. Hit the water for a night swim and then back to the dance floor it is! Paradise Beach is a series of outdoor beach clubs and restaurants, and you can move freely throughout. But it gets packed on the ground. You have to make room on tabletops and the bar and anything goes so just dance the night away and have a good time.

But everyday can’t be like this or I wouldn’t save any of my paycheck. About a 25 minute walk from the ship is a small beach just fine for a swim. We just wish we couldn’t still see the ship. If you head in the other direction you will find the center of Mykonos, full of tourist shops, art galleries, jewelry shops, gyro joints and nice restaurants. It’s quite the maze roaming through all white buildings and curvy streets.

This handsome devil is always out for sunset while his owner plays some less than favorable tunes for spare euro.

We are treating ourselves to a fabulous Greek meal at one of the waterfront seafood restaurants. Mmmmm octopus and dolmas. Now we are talking! Don't forget the wine.

Mykonos is a windy island and it gets chilly fast once fall hits. But being such a beautiful place, it’s hard not to enjoy the day even when it’s past beaching weather. Also, if you have enough adult coloring books to go around you can’t be bored. Our friend led us to this quiet little gem of a courtyard café. I was shocked to never have noticed it before. And surprisingly at night it turns into an outdoor cinema! Greek style coffee, coloring, gelato and a walk along the water with cute boys are still a great day in my opinion!

This summer we also visited Crete, Corfu and Santorini. Santorini is a favorite on everyone’s list. Two summers ago I rented an ATV and explored Mykonos, so this year on the only day we went to Santorini on my 2-month contract, I was set on renting an ATV. It is such a perfect way to see the whole island in a day, get a sampling of the different towns, find your favorite beach and get to a great viewpoint. You’ll have such a better idea of what you’ll want to do there next if you should return. We eventually covered most of the island making it all the way down to the black sand beaches of the Aegean sea and back up to the peaks by sunset. Our first scheduled stop was Oia, because I love it there and because I said so!

So we left the main city of Fira where the ships dock, and rode out to the town of Oia.

This town is beyond picturesque. Every photo could literally be on a postcard for Greece. I was the only person out of the four of us who had been so I guided my friends through the streets and then onto a lunch spot.

BAM! Postcard

Jared decided to try the local donkey brew. The donkey is a well-known icon of Santorini. On the side of the island where the ships dock, Fira is located at the top of a sheer cliff. There are only 2 ways to reach the city from the docks; 1) A gondola ride or 2) a donkey trail. The donkey trail is incredibly evil and inhumane and I refuse the idea all together. No creature needs to carry some overweight tourist who has been binging on a cruise ship buffet in the last week up a steep path in the dead of summer. Simmer down now Taryn. Anyhow, this is why the donkey is a little icon here on the island. But Jared didn’t harm any donkeys in the consumption of this local brew!

With a few hours left in our day, Jared spotted a peak at the other end of the island and we figured what the hell?! Let’s go! The weather on this particular day was incredibly strange. The sun was setting as a super thick fog rolled in. It made it difficult to get a super clear panoramic of the island but it also made for some very unusual photos. I really love the last image of the sunset and the island.