A great building I stumbled upon on my way to the port.
A guided ticket package that included both the boat ride, Delos entrance and guided tour was €50. A round trip boat ride alone was €20 with the Delos Island entrance being €12 making it €32 without the guided tour. Me being me, I wouldn't get anything out of the tour because I knew I won't understand anything by being too focused on trying to understand what a tour guide was saying and not pay attention the environment. So I did it my way, which is more adventurous and cheaper to boot!
I waited around for a half hour before they let us get on the boat early. There was still 30 minutes to go and many people still haven't gotten tickets or arrived yet, so I nabbed a prime seat at the top of of boat!
First Delos boat of the day, 10am launch and we were off! It took about 20mims? Maybe 30? I certainly lost track of time admiring the clear blue waters and ancient islands with churches peppering the hilltops. We got to the island and had to go through the ticketing building to get to the ancient site.
I felt I was back in Pompeii or Ostia Anticia in Italy. I used the map to guide me through a path and identify what some ancient remains were. I was blown away with just how old everything was. How it got burnt down by their enemies, how they had to rebuild, and eventually moved away due to declining commerce. You can identity which were commons houses, which were mansions and see how they did their floor plans depending on that. If they were rich, the roads were more narrow and irregular since people built the, so they get the most square inch of the plot they owned (same can be said for more modern cities!) People walked these old roads thousands of years ago!
There were also tons of cats and by noon I had a second water bottle I got from the museum cafe and used the cap to let the cats have water. I was tempted to take several back with me but I'm sure they're having the best time of their life on an island with hardly anyone on it except for tourists. They looked healthy anyway!
Posing in front of the Lions of the Naxians, featuring my new Greek tunic 👌
There were only two times the boat would be departing from Delos and I was determined to make the first one at 1:30. Two hours is more than enough to go through most of the ancient site. I made it back to the boat and caught a ride back to Mykonos town.
I decided to explore a bit of the port area and went back and forth in the streets. I stumbled upon a really nice shop called "Scandali", that makes custom Greek sandals! I highly recommend stopping by here if you are on Mykonos - the shop owner was so nice and attentive. You can decorate your own sandals and have it ready within 30 minutes. It's not super cheap but you are paying for quality and labor. My sandals were €65.
I got a free tshirt too 😁 The tshirt is printed localled and branded for the shopowner's sister's store.
After that, I was already getting worn out so I headed back to my hotel for an afternoon on the pool deck.
Wednesday morning came and I still had no clue what I wanted to do. I had the island map with me at breakfast as I figured it out. I decided to go to the beach. Can't really experience Mykonos from the pool deck. So I wanted to go to Elia Beach which is quite far and hard to get to but it would mean less people and more calmer seas.
I walked 20 minutes to Ornos / Ornos Beach to see if I can catch a water taxi to Elia. Luckily there were sidewalks or lined roads with enough space to walk.
I got to the beach and went to the water taxi stand to get information.
Yes, the taxi is accessible - you get on right from the beach in front of us.
Yes, it is €10 round trip.
Yes, it is several stops and it would take about an hour to get to Elia.
Today? No, the winds are blowing inland so there will be no water taxis today.
Noooo!
Ornos is packed with expensive sunbeds and umbrellas and very little space to actually put your towel down. Even though I was there pretty early and there were hardly anyone there, it was eventually going to be packed. I spent a good few minutes debating if it was worth it to go back all the way to Mykonos Town and catch two buses to get to Elia.
Ultimately, I decided I just wanted to lay down and read my book. I can turn my hearing aid off if the people get too noises. So I parked my bag and towel on a spot where there wasn't too many people within a couple feet.
I read my book, napped and swam in the water. I returned from my water and went to my towel only to realize a topless old lady had put down her towel mere inches from mine. Look lady, you do you, but you need to back away several feet from my towel thank you very much. I tried to read my book a little longer but decided I disliked how close everyone was and packed up. Not a huge fan of close proximity with tons of people (and screaming kids). Three hours of beach time is decent anyway.
Hotel pool deck it is! I headed back to my hotel and took a rinse in the pool shower and promptly fell asleep on my sunbed, in total silence except the winds and waves and the only people were two other couples on the other side of the deck and my favorite waiter who consistently supplies me with water bottles without me asking.
Much better.
I spent most of the afternoon napping and reading. Not much to report there. By 5pm, went back into my room for a shower and to pack. I had one last dinner in my hotel's restaurant and had Greek beer (Mythos) and Greek souvlaki.
I stayed there to watch one more quiet sunset.
I'm sad to leave Mykonos - I really enjoyed my time here. I definitely want to come back and I would definitely come back to this hotel. They have gone above and beyond my expectations (though the bar was set low anyway because I did not even expect that much!). I will be back. One day! Hotel pictures below as promised.
view from my porch. unfortunately, two giant cruise ships pulled in today.
I checked out ahead of time after dinner since I am leaving early tomorrow morning. My airport transport will pick me up at 5am and the evening desk host has offered to arrange coffee and a small breakfast before I go (!!!) at 4:30am, which means I have to get up at 4am.
Ugh. Wish me luck. And you'll hear from me once I'm in Barcelona! ✈️