TIPS, THOUGHTS AND A TENTATIVE ITINERARY

A few tips before we go:

*The first thing that's absolutely necessary before we leave is to download the "GOOGLE TRANSLATE" app - it works offline, and I think it'll be an absolute necessity to have as we attempt to converse in the difficult language. 

*Secondly, we all need an IDP (International Driver's Permit) which can be purchased at your local AAA (not ALL have them though - need to call first). You cannot rent a quad or moped or ATV without one.

Information on Mykonos:

The islands surround it include the island of Delos, but Mykonos is probably the most famous, known for its rolling hills, white beaches and the crowd from around the world that vacation there. 

We'll see in Mykonos the island’s cubist Cycladic architecture, and Mykonos also provides a good jumping off point for archaeological day trips to nearby islands, most notably Delos. 

A few MUST SEES Mykonos:

• A visit to the Aegean Maritime Museum
 • Lounging on one of the many gorgeous beaches such as: Platys Gialos (wide with many restaurants and hotels), Ornos (family friendly with many tavernas), Psarrou (WHERE WE ARE STAYING: beautiful sand -  with many restaurants and supposedly the most "trendy" beach on the island), Paraga (pretty but a number of gay nude sunbathers go here), Elia (THE gay beach), Paradise (THE party beach), Agios Ionnis (quieter and narrow), Agrari (very quiet and secluded - only 1 restaurant and primarily gay), Magali Ammos (very quiet),  Lia (beautiful beach with great swimming and snorkeling), Fokos (quiet and secluded) Agios Sostis Beach (quiet and beautiful where Kiki's Taverna is located where we may go for lunch)

 • Wandering through “Little Venice,” Mykonos Town’s historic 18th-century district

 • Taking pictures of the island’s famous windmills that line the coast

 • Visiting the historic Church of Paraportiani

btw - here’s an image of a “Greek Salad” that I’ve read many write and swoon over:

kristiwicks.com

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It's usually served with a big slab of feta on top like this one:

handluggageonly

SO yummy looking and so NOT what we’re used to getting here (with romaine lettuce).

review:

https://trip101.com/article/things-to-do-mykonos-greece

And specifically in Santorini there's a "Santorini Salad" that they are know for that is a version of the Greek salad but has ingredients that Santorini is known for: capers, sundries tomatoes and cucumbers.  Here's a photo of one from bucketlistjourney.net from Salt & Pepper in Fira:

ITINERARY:

Here’s my (in pencil/tentative) itinerary (ALL subject to change of course IF anyone in the group wants to alter it):

Arrive Mykonos on 

DAY 1 - Wednesday: get to villa (jet-lagged!), unpack and get oriented.  

Dinner plans figured out:  We have reservations at: NIKOS GALLOP that's a 13 minute walk from our airbnb:

 https://www.facebook.com/nikos.gallop/?ref=page_internal&utm_source=tripadvisor&utm_medium=referral

Has gotten great reviews! Such as: "it is the most suitable place to try the typical Greek cuisine. All dishes are delicious and the prices are very reasonable." From FantasticGreece.com

Here's a pic of the infamous LOBSTER PASTA dish they serve:

DAY 2 - Thursday - Mykonos Town - shop, have lunch etc.  (maybe here: http://www.pepper-mykonos.com/en/?)





Afternoon - check out Psarou beach by our airbnb villa.  

Dinner reservations have been made at: Avli Tou Thodori

In Mykonos Town:

"Matogianni is the busiest alley in Mykonos and is the island’s most well-known market. 

Fashion and nightlife are combined here. Walk along the narrow traditional alley and you will find luxury stores, international clothing brands, accessories, jewelery, works of art and many souvenirs. It is usually full of people walking by and window-shopping or trying on clothes and accessories. All the shops, no matter how luxury or well-known brands are, all retain traditional Cycladic architecture, keeping the traditional style of the island.

The area has shops, cafes, bars, and taverns where you can relax and have a cup of coffee, a cocktail or eat some local food."

A great place for dinner in Mykonos Town that sounds amazing: http://www.kastrosmykonos.com/menu/

DAY 3 - Friday - Rent quads-

Rental shops are everywhere in Mykonos and you just need to have a driving licence and be over 18 years old. Rent a scooter and let the winding roads guide you to some incredible beaches and towns. 

- and head to Mykonos Viona https://www.mykonosvioma.com/index.html

 http://villahurmuses.com/mykonos-vioma-winery-a-local-food-and-wine-experience/  https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g2296448-d6621156-Reviews-or10-Mykonos_Vioma_Organic_Farm-Ano_Mera_Mykonos_Cyclades_South_Aegean.html winery. 


Have lunch there around 1pm then tour the vineyard at 2pm.  

The winery is known for its dry white wine and red organic wines called PARAPORTIANO.  It's found at many restaurants around the island.  All are organic, natural and free of pesticides. You can buy their wine as well as their honey.

mykonos viona

PM - on our own (could go back to town or beach or explore our area)

DAY 4 - Saturday - 

Take a 20 minute ferry ride to Delos (a UNESCO World Heritage Site, to explore the ancient ruins of the Temple of Apollo, the sanctuary of Artemis, and the amphitheater.) for the day.  It’s one of the most important and well-preserved archaeological sites in Greece. 

Delos is the birthplace of Apollo and Artemis (the children of Zeus from his affair with Leto).  Delos was constructed as a testament to the Gods.


Daily boat trips depart there from the pier in Hora. Buy tix the day before near the port (close to downtown Mykonos). 

 https://global-goose.com/how-to-get-from-mykonos-to-delos/ OR 

https://www.delostours.gr/en/services/ - ~$20Euro for a tour for 1 person

To tour or not to tour - that is the question.  Will be our only real touristy thing of the trip.  But it’s supposed to be pretty amazing.  Or we can simply follow a self-guided map and stroll around the ruins on our own.

Delos is the mythological birthplace of Apollo and a major religious center and port during the 1st millennium B.C. The island’s ruins encompass Doric temples, markets, an amphitheater, houses with mosaics and the iconic Terrace of the Lions statues. The Archaeological Museum displays statues excavated from the site.

Dinner reservations - 7:00pm at KASTRO'S MYKONOS! 
So excited we were able to get in here! It's in Mykonos Town and we'll watch the sunset while enjoying fabulous food!

DAY 5 - Sunday - OPEN DAY - 

We can all go our separate ways here (or do nothing but lounge by the gorgeous pool or pick a beach and read)

DAY 6 - Monday - We'll leave our villa around 8-8:30am for the port in Mykonos.  

The high speed hydrofoil leaves at 10:00am on a hydrofoil to Santorini.  I've already purchased tickets for this trip.

Then, we are getting picked up by the hotel at the port in Thira. Our hotel is located in Oia.

Port in Thira: 

We travel upward toward the top of the volcano, and we'll arrive at a winery called: VENETSANOS for lunch and a wine tasting.

After that we'll head to our hotel and check in.  We will then get acclimated to our surroundings, relax and unwind before dinner and sunset watching at: 

KATINA FISH TAVERN

https://fishtavernkatina.gr

This restaurant has gotten rave reviews and is roughly 1/2 mile from our hotel.  We'll either arrange transportation or walk there and see the sights along the way and (maybe stop for some fabulous Gelato at Lolita's!).  I read that Lolita's closes at 8pm though.

Pistachio Gelato (my fav) at Lolitas:

DAY 7 - Tuesday - EXERCISE!

We travel to Fira and do a 3 hour hike to Oia https://santorinidave.com/fira-oia-hike

https://www.oyster.com/articles/63711-top-tips-for-hiking-from-fira-to-oia/

We return to the hotel and have a 5 hour SUNSET CRUISE planned for fun, sights, relaxation, drinks and dinner!

Sunset Cruise - https://sailing-santorini.com/itineraries/ 

DAY 8 - Wednesday - sadly we leave Greece this morning.  My husband and I have a 6:25am flight (!) out to get to Naples, Italy.  Our "kids" leave later in the morning - one couple flying home and the other heading to Dublin, Ireland for 3 nights...

MYKONOS

From a blog:

SUNSETS:

***Prime spots for watching sunsets in Mykonos include:
*the bars of Little Venice in Hora 
*Kato Mili (a classic quartet of windmills on a hillock overlooking Little Venice)
*Agios Ioannis beach.

Where to eat

Mykonos has a great dining scene. The concentration of dining options is in Hora, where visitors can find anything from upmarket fusion dining represented by M-EATING and FUNKY KITCHEN (BOTH TAKE RESERVATIONS!) to authentic Italian at DANIELE AND ALESSANDRO and traditional Greek tavernas such as NIKO'S TAVERNAand JOANNA'S NIKO'S PLACE TAVERNA 

There are plenty of dining options along Platys Gialos and Ornos beaches; in addition, pretty much every single beach on the island has at least one decent restaurant, the most renowned of which is KIKI'S TAVERNA above Agios Sostis beach.

Other suggestions from a friend of my brother:

Lunch/Beach at Principote Panarmos (Beach club).
- Scorpios Mykonos for lunch or beach time. (Boho Chic)
- San Giorgio Hotel - Drinks
- Interni Restaurant for dinner.
- Cavo Tagoo (Sunset drinks or bites)

***Another guide to the BEST restaurants in Mykonos:

https://santorinidave.com/best-restaurants-mykonos

FYI - re the BEACHES in Mykonos, here’s what I read:

The island boasts 25 beaches, to be precise, and they’re justifiably its biggest natural attraction. Partygoers, look no further than Paradise or Super Paradise, dominated by eponymous clubs; Paraga and Psarou are other favourites for beach parties. Elia is Mykonos’ longest sweep of white sand, while Platys Gialos and Kalafatis are particularly good for water sports. On the north coast, Panormos and Agios Sostis receive a fraction of visitors to southern beaches and have naturist-friendly sections. Pebbled Myrsine and Fokos coves, reachable via rutted tracks off the northeast coast, offer seclusion and refuge from the crowds. In the southwest, Ornos bustles with dozens of seafront restaurants, while secluded Agios Ioannis is a good spot for windsurfing.

santorinidave

From theculturetrip.com:

Agrari beach, Mykonos

If you think that all the beaches in Mykonos are party zones, you are mistaken. Agrari beach is a small beach about 8 kilometers south of Mykonos town at the end of a long winding road. This is probably why it escaped the massive exploitation other neighboring beaches endure. Though rather secluded, it still has a friendly vibe, with cafeterias, restaurants and sunbeds.

Another read:

kaiki: A Kaiki is a small boat that you can actually get to key points of the island, which is great to get to places like Platis Yialos Beach. You can also grab a Kaiki to head over to Delos Island and pick your tickets up at the port in Mykonos harbour itself.

from a great blog:

https://handluggageonly.co.uk/2017/08/03/the-complete-guide-on-things-to-see-do-and-eat-in-mykonos-greece/

***A few items left to "gift" my family over the next few months (to get all of us hyped up about traveling to Europe) are these:

APRIL:
OK, it's not THAT exciting but - an adapter (or 2 or 3) is a must!  Wanted to make sure they had one:


MARCH:
And I found this great Greek Sea Salt and am already really enjoying it myself:

WE LEAVE IN ABOUT 2 MONTHS!!!  CANNOT WAIT!