Going to town

July 04, 2008

True to her word, our Transat representative Sophie meet us in the lobby. She is full of valuable information about bus schedules, beaches to visit, stores that won’t rip us off, restaurants that serve good food etc. She also tells us about the automatic cover charge at restaurants (they charge you for bread right off the top) and the liberal views on the beaches (swimsuit optional).

We take the bus into the town of Mykonos to find an Internet cafe and connect with everyone at home. Mykonos Town is whitewashed concrete from ground to rooftop, and quite literally a labyrinth of narrow streets. It was apparently planned to disorient Mediterranean pirates and now does the same thing to visitors. It is supposedly closed to motor traffic, but someone forgot to tell the drivers. Everything from scooters to SUVs make their way through, honking at the tourists as they try to get by.

We locate an Internet cafe where we retrieve a message from our son Dave, who is suddenly out of money and headed to Paris. Ah, the Internet…in a split second we are thrown back into reality and responsibility. Over the next couple of days, there is a flurry of back and forth messages, and with help from us (and a questionable Greek Western Union rep), Dave’s sister Sydney, and aunt Sylvie and uncle Trevor, Dave is once again flush with funds and able to finish his trip in Barcelona before heading home. And we are free to get back to the magic of Mykonos.

It is so unbelievably hot on this island, but the heat is tempered by a refreshing breeze. During our stay, we visit Paradise Beach where I am wondering why I returned that bikini and opted for a one piece. Clearly out here, beer bellies, flabby abs and saggy boobs are meant to be appreciated by all. Suddenly, I feel overdressed.

One night we decide to catch the sunset in a prime location near the ancient Mykonos windmills. Following Sophie’s advice we take jackets, and we are so glad we did! The windmills are on the windy side of Mykonos (makes sense, I guess) and the wind coming off the sea threatens to blow us clear back to Athens! We sit on the edge shivering, eyes watering, camera poised, and we wait. The sun sets, and sadly, it is disappointing. Al comments that it doesn’t hold a candle to Alberta sunsets, and he is right. He also mentions the fact that in Alberta, there are clouds in the sky, but here in Greece, there are none. That’s right – no clouds in the sky, ever! I will always remember the pure blue skies of Greece.