One of our favorite places....Mykonos, Greece

The next morning we found ourselves in one of the most delightful ports of our trip, definitely one of our favorite islands, the island of Mykonos. It reminded us a little of the Okanogan Valley here at home with the dry, brown hills. But the water was so beautiful and all the white buildings....limewashed to bleach them which kept them cool and comfortable.

The harbor itself was wonderful and boasted a white sandy beach.

The town was compactly built for defense, with a tight, winding maze of streets that was designed to both confuse invaders and break the effect of the strong winds coming in from the Aegean Sea. At first the streets didn't seem that bad, but they kept getting smaller and smaller as we walked away from the water.

Dave was so thankful to get out of the maze and find our way to the Windmills that comanded the ridge above the harbor. From as early as the 16th century these were one of the most recognized landmarks of Mykonos. From up here we got a great view of 'Little Venice', where the buildings were constructed right on the edge of the water with their balconies hanging over the water. During the 16th and 17th century pirating was common and it is said that this area was used for the necessary quick loading and unloading of goods.

From here we headed back toward the ship, but first we stopped at a little cafe right on the water for some cold drinks....it was very warm as you can see by the lady with the umbrella!

Dave really enjoyed his Pineapple Juice as you can see, and for the rest of the trip tried unsuccessfully to find another one just like it. As we walked back we were in awe of the beauty all around us!

Churches large and small, both Roman Catholic from the time of the Venetian rule of the island alongside the more traditional Greek Orthodox churches.

Notice how all the bell towers have bells that are rung on Sundays and other important occassions. You can see the rope hanging down for easy access.

The impressive Panagia Paraportiani church unites four chapels into a unique Byzantine pattern, with a single door and a graceful arched bell tower.

The earliest part of this church dates from 1425, while the rest was built in the 16th and 17th centuries.

 It was fascinating to photograph because it looked different from every single angle.

As we walked along the harbor we came across this little market...all they needed was a truck, a scale, and some baskets and they were ready for business.

We came across this gallery that reminded me of my sister, so I had to take a picture of the sign!

It truly was a most amazing little island and we wished that we had more time here but it was time to head back to the ship for some pool time so I could swim before the sailaway and dinner.

Farewell Mykonos......we hope to be back some day!