Day 54 Mykonos, Greec

Saturday, September 25th. Mykonos, Cyclades Islands, Greece.
Christine and I said goodbye to the Frommels and the Scott-Smiths and flew through Rome to Athens, slept in the airport and then took a bus (Kami-Kazi mad drive through Athens at 5.00am) down to the port of Piraeus and caught a ferry to Mykonos in the Cyclades (Kih Klah Dehz) group of islands. (We decide each next destination at the last minute).
Watching the sunset: the bus to the Paradise Beach resort (10 minutes) goes past as a departing cruise ship lets us know it’s leaving town. Brian is waiting for Chris before we take the rented 4-wheel ATV (15euros/day) down to town for dinner. While in the shower Brian can see the islands of Naxos and Paros through the open window (maybe our next stops?) and, if he moves his glass of wine, he can also see the rusty refrigerator left in what seems to be a mini scrap-yard and just beyond that the three ancient goats owned by Maria and her Dad. After all we are paying just 40 euros a night for this single room with a mini kitchen and shower. Brian made a bee-line for Maria (the most scantily dressed blond amongst all the hawkers of accommodation waiting for the ferry).

Never go to the Greek Islands in peak season. Must be awful. Now it's slowing down and the weather is great, swim in the sea every day.

Tuesday September 28th., Hotel Lefteris, Mykonos Town, Mykonos, Greece.
After two nights piled all the stuff onto a rented ATV 4 -wheeler and went looking for a small hotel in town and found hotel Lefteris and Kosta who gave us this room for the same price. Little boutique hotel 5 minutes from the harbour front. Kostas runs the place wonderfully and we negotiated a price of 40 euros per night for room 5 which has a balcony overlooking the harbor, a rooftop area where you can mingle with other guests and enjoy the view and a kitchen to share.
Caught ferry to Delos (20 minutes from Mykonos Island and 30 euros for two return). Apollo and Artemis supposed to have been born there. Highly recommend that trip. Only 20% excavated so far but apparently believed to have been about 30,000 people living in the town at its height. Occupation started about 1500 BC and the town was fully developed around 500BC. Delos regarded as the center of the group of Cyclades islands which encircle Delos. Also worth the effort is the hot steep climb to the top of the hill in the middle of the island as that provides a panorama of many of the islands.
Niko’s Taverna is a great modestly priced restaurant which easily caters to the tour boats and yet produces good food. A shared starter and a shared entree with a carafe of house wine runs about 35 euros. Another favorite is Marco Polo, smaller restaurant, equally good food served and cooked by the family. Same prices as Nikos.
Whatever you do don’t come to Mykonos in peak season (July, August) -it must be a nightmare. We agree with the guideboook-the shops at first glance look the usual tourist traps but a closer inspection shows that the stuff they have is actually good quality and OK pricing. (Lots of local Greek artist’s work).
Wednesday, September 29th. We made the trek by bus (15 minutes) over to Elias beach. Then hiked 5 minutes to Agari beach and turned back. Totally nude gay beach. So we stayed for a few hours on the Elias beach (beach chairs 6 euros each) and then bussed back to Mykonos. Don’t recommend that side trip, stay nearer Mykonos and visit Paradise beach for people watching, music and beach beds/umbrellas.