Mykonos

Three days of sunshine, warm days and cool evenings in stunningly picturesque village of Chora on the Greek island of Mykonos - surely it doesn’t any get better than this?

From our hotel we could look directly across the harbour to the town and on the hill behind six windmills that have been a recognised landmark in Mykonos since the 16th century.

Village and windmills of Chora

Harmony Hotel

Chora township and harbour

The old port was a hive of activity. Cruise ships which anchored off shore transferred their guests by tender, fishing boats came and went and the high speed catamaran ferries from the Mykonos and Santorini returned regularly conveying several thousand visitors to and from the island each day.

Last Jet Cat ferry for the day

Although not part of our Mykonos agenda, many visitors also take the day excursion from the port to see the archaeological sites on the nearby uninhabited island of Delos.

Ferry to Delos

Chora fishing fleet

Chora harbour at sunset

The town of Chora (also referred to as Mykonos) consists of a maze of traffic free narrow streets full of shops, bars, restaurants and churches and character. Most of the buildings retain the traditional whitewashed Cycladic architectural style.

Traditional Cycladic architecture – our hotel room

The nearby township and new port of Tourlos services a constant flow of larger shipping including the huge fast passenger ferries from Piraeus (Athens) that visit all the popular tourist islands in the Cyclades group, car ferries as well as the local and international cruise ships delivering day visitors to discover this unique Aegean destination.

Port of Tourlos

Visiting cruise vessels

Local cruise ship

Ever since Jackie Onasis chose Mykonos as a favourite holiday destination around fifty years ago and became a regular visitor, this nirvana has become one of the great travel meccas. It is particularly popular with celebrities and the rich.

Tell him “he’s dreaming”

The presence of many luxury yachts in the harbour together with a flock of executive jets parked outside the airport passenger lounge was a pretty compelling indication that this is still the case.

Luxury motor yachts and cruise ship

Speaking of famous, we discovered during our short visit that the small Mykonos community of Agios Ioannis has become famous as a location for the movie Shirley Valentine.

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