Alive all day and all night, Mykonos, a dry and arid island that owes its name to the son of the King of Delos, is - according to mythology - the result of one of Hercules' twelve tasks: when he killed the Giants and threw them into the sea, they petrified and turned into rocks, forming the island!
In the time of Alexander the Great Mykonos was an important trade centre. From 1207 until 1537, when the Turks controlled Greece, Mykonos was under Venetian rule. During the Greek Revolution against the Turks, in 1821, the island played an important role. After the independence of Greece in 1830, Mykonos started to recover its former power. Modern tourism started in the 1950s, but it was in the 60s and 70s, with Jackie Onassis among others, that the jet set made it one of the most cosmopolitan destinations of the Mediterranean!
One of the smallest islands of the Cyclades, Mykonos is however also one of the most famous, thanks to its beauty, history, and character: rocks, white houses, sandy beaches, Mediterranean sun and the deep blue Aegean Sea make it an Eden for its almost 11,000 residents, including 4,000 foreigners.
"WINDMILLS - The windmills are a famous landmark of the Island"
"MYKONOS TOWN OF CHORA, i.e. «The Town» in Greek language, a.k.a. the Greek St. Tropez, is the capital of the island, and where the largest part of the population resides"
"PORT - The central harbour is an attraction, with its esplanade, lined with cafes, bars, shops and churches"
"SILVER SEA"
"PANAGIA PARAPORTIANI, a whitewashed group of four chapels in typical architectural style, is one of Chora's landmarks"
"WHITE CHURCHES"
"STREETS OF MYKONOS - Narrow, whitewashed, with white houses and blue windows, small yards, bougainvilleas, little chapels and hidden piazzas as well as colourful shops are there to be discovered"
"RESTAURANTS - Chez Maria and Chez Catherine"
"THE WHITE SHOP - With everything white, there is even a white shop..."
"THE AEGEAN MARITIME MUSEUM, founded in 1983, is housed in the home of Nikolaos Sourmelis, the Master of the "Enosis", a ship that helped the Cretans during their war of independence from the Ottoman Empire. The Aegean Maritime Museum rescued and restored the "Armenistis" lighthouse (built in 1890) that operates in the Museum's garden"
"SHADOW PHOTOGRAPHER"
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56 comments:
Hi everybody! Thank you for your comments on the previous 200 hundred posts on this blog. The other two blogs, The 70s & 80s and the Revival 90s are a bit jealous, but they will survive. .. ;))
I’ve not a counter for the pictures posted, but taking into account the three blogs it’s surely more than 5000! A lifetime venture for you to enjoy!
Hi Gil
Thanks for visiting my blog.
Mykonos looks so beautful! I like the windmills and I would love to visit the Aegean Maritime Museum someday.
Pat in NYC
I think it would have been fun to hang out with the jet setters such as Jackie-O. What a beautiful place, that museum does look interesting.
Rhonda
it must have been like stepping into a dreamland. the photos are so beautiful.
These photos are fabulous! I like them all. I love looking at other towns and the building stuctures. The water photos are great too.
Hello Gil,
I have never been to Mykonos or any other Greek island. I was just twice in Athens, a long time ago. But I have seen documentaries, and now of course your pictures and know that white is a very predominant color in Greece.
Just like in an other country (and this will answer your comment :-) on my blog) where I went to in August 2004: Portugal.
As many times, your country had been confronted with devastating forest fires. And the Swiss Army had sent helicopters to help extinguish the fires. My agency sent me to see the situation on the ground and monitor the operation of our helis. And for one week I was moving around between Beja and Almodovar.
And I stayed at Hotel Atis in Lisbon and made a ride on your beautiful trams.
what an amazing sea..the more I see the blue skies and the oceans, the more I am tempted to travel to a beach
Merveilleux.
Je suis de plus en plus enclin à revendiquer notre passé gréco-romain.
Quel beau pays lumineux, cela nous change des ténèbres intellectuelles actuelles.
(Nous avons un superbe automne).
So beautiful! It's one island I definitely want to visit in Greece. Love the shops and the hotels.
Thanks for visiting Norwich Daily Photo and leaving your comments. Have a great week ahead!
joy
A Pinay In England
Your Love Coach
I, Woman
Mykonos is one of my very favourite Greek islands. I've only been once and can't wait to go again :-)
The colors in these photos are stunning...the blue, the white...I LOVE the pink...I'll take a pink purse please!....and the green and the shadow is awesome!
Very nice pictures. I have never heard of Mykonos before and now I must see the place. I really like the picture of the windmills.
Awesome blog!
This is a fun way for me to spend my weekend -- look at your wonderful photos of Mykonos and pretend I'm there. Thanks!
Paz
Just wonderful, all these white houses with blue doors and windows. That looks so idyllic ... and the blue sky. I was glad that after some fog in the morning the sun came out in the afternoon today. Have a nice start into the week, Gil and thank you for your visit.
Hi GMG!
WOnderful photographs of Mykonos..I'm just curious how they manage to maintain their buildings so white and pristine..white paint must surely have great sales in Greece! =D
Wonderful post!
Thank you showing us Mykonos. When I returned from Greece, I carried back a few miniatures in porcelain of the cathedral posted by you here.
Wonderful pictures Gil, and congratulations on your 200th post. Thank you for the pleasure of your blog, where we get to see more of this lovely world we live in.:)
despite being in greece for 17 years now, i havent been to those major tourists resorts like mykonos and santorini. the awy you portray them, they are really quite beautiful, like that white shop full of white linen - i must remember not to let my children loose in there with their ice-creams...
Awesome photo's of Mykonos and taken at such different vantage points than I have seen in the past. I traveled there in 2007 and again for close to three weeks in 2008 and it is the most incredible place to vacation. The only downfall is the cost.
Congrats on the 200 hundred mark!
Appreciate the work you have put into this blog. Wonderful light and colour in these shots as always.
Would you mind if I did one or two sketches from your photos? - not commercial, just picking up painting again when I've got a spare few minutes!
I love Greece and I love it more and more, seeing your post today about Mykonos.
Thanks for sharing it again with us, Gil!
And thank you also for your nice comment on my blog too!
Bonjour Gil,
Il me semblait avoir laissé un commentaire sur ton post précédent. J'avais beaucoup aimé l'enfilade de fontaines et les plages exotiques...
Bravo donc pour le 200ieme.
J'ai découvert la Grece lorsque j'avais 19ans et je retrouve dans tes photos l'authenticité des lieux dans cette symphonie de blanc et de bleu qui a un charme fou.
Hi Gil, Yes, awards, swaps, give-aways...all kinds of things happening on my blog. Sort of makes getting thru these bad economic times easier to swallow
I loved all those white houses and that blue, blue sea and boy would I love to hit that all white clothing shop. I love white. A girl can never have enough white blouses. :) Take care.
I just like the way they build the houses in the hill. It looks so cool. It's nice but I think I will get bored of the colours after a while. Hehe.. They need to paint some colours to make it more vibrant.
hello you shadow photographer :-)
nice pictures taken. one word for Mykanos
CUTE
:-)
Hi Gil
Awesome photographs as always!
I will say this once again "Your blog is my window to the world!"
Cheers!
Rakesh
what a great place?! i hope ill be able to visit that place but not really living there.
a very special tribute to mikonos with lot of history and wonderful colors
I remember having "claimed" these pictures already a year ago, but I know that you proceed chronlogically with your posts, so we had to be patient! No problem, always a delight to see your complete "reportages"! ... and congratulations to post 200 - especially remarkable if one considers what kind of posts you are producing!
A lot of blue end white, and what could we expect other than the colours of Greece? Too much of these colours could be boring even though they are beautiful, so happily there are those lovely bougainvilleas giving touches of violet to Mykonos as well. A lovely series anyhow.
A post declining white and blue with a few irregularities: green and ochre. That puts everyone in a good mood every morning!
Beautiful place Mikonos... I enjoyed your photos... Make me revival my Santorini vacation last summer...
congratulations for such a huge number! wow! and again, a wonderful post! the last photo is awsome!
Hi Gil
Great post, as always. I especially like the white churches and the stone walkway.
Lisa
Absolutely stunning! I really like the taste in clothing. Light and very comfy. Unlike American styles.
Bonjour Gil,
Hope this quick note finds you in the best of health and makes you a Smiley one:)
Fall is upon us, and time is passing quickly, lots of things on my agenda. Among these all stuff how can I manage and find energy about my journaling, it clearly lies a secret;)
Well, your article is such a eye candy for me. Although there are tons to tell about it, but in brief with its blue-domed churches, whitewashed houses and beaches Mykonos is one of my favourite destinations:) So, no visit to Greece is complete without a little island hopping. The shot of Silver Sea is amaaaaaazing!
Where's next Sir? Hard to discuss but kept crossed my fingers to be Antalya:)
Sending my sunny smiles from sunny Ist'l and happy thoughts. Give my Merhaba (Eng: Hello) to your wife, too.
Best
Nihal
Alors champagne pour ton 200th posts....et felicitation. C'est une belle ville et j'ai adore surtout "THE WHITE SHOP". La promenade vaut le detour, alors bonne continuité a ton blog.
Champagne wishes and caviar dreams...happy 200th post anniversary! Your Mykonos photos just took me right down to memory lane! We were there September 2007 and we absolutely loved it! Hoping to return to Greece soon!
wow, the places look clean and refreshing! love your shadow :)
Congratulations for your 200th posts! They have been a real posts, telling so much about places, where you have been.
White blue Mykonos - I have a beautiful icon bought from Mykonos even I am not Orthodox but Lutheran.
Thank you again for these beautiful photos!
i saw a movie once that was filmed in Mykonos and the image and impression of the place has never left me. Its a beautiful island! Your photos are very reminiscent of that movie and very well put together. The images of this island are stunning!
Merci pour ce merveilleux voyage en bleu ciel et blanc. C'est une invitation à chaque nouvelle photo.
All I can say is, "Wow!" The blue and white are mesmerizing!
Wow, your blogs are like a dictionary for travel, full of photos and informations.
Oh I love the beautiful photos of the buildings and the shops.They really really lovely and inviting to tourists. Would love to visit Europe. :)
There is that "something" about the Greek islands. Well captured!
hi there
nice pics of mykonos...have heard a lot about this island...beautiful pics!!..and bautiful place!!!
but it must be lots of work keeping it so white and shining all the time!!!
A short break, and here I am two thank you once again for your comments! I don’t know if the same happens with you, but I think the pleasure I have in reading your comments demands that a reply, even if a quite short one, is shaped to everyone who takes time and has the patience to comment here! That’s why I always try to let a word to all of you, and that’s why I enjoy so much reading your replies when I comment on your posts; in particular when you ask questions and I answer! Problem is that days are short, and nights full… ;))
Pat,
The museum is amazing; it was the first time I saw a lighthouse in a garden… ;))
Rhonda,
I can imagine you strolling around Chora, and then painting the characters while taking some sun at the Promenade deck of Christina O yacht… ;))
Eye in the Sky,
Stepping into dreamland! Great wording to describe the feeling!!
Barb,
Glad you enjoyed!
Pete,
White and blue; it makes their flag colour and F.C.Porto also… ;))
We actually had a terrible summer in 2003, a bit worse than France and some other European countries. In 2004, it repeated, but the reaction was much tougher; thanks for the help! Anyhow, one week between Beja and Almodovar during the summer fires isn’t that great… Lisbon at the Altis sounds more attractive, but I think you should take some time out and get here off business… I’m sure you would enjoy!!
Lakshmi,
After the monsoon, I think you deserve some days on the beach; water from the sea, not from the sky… ;))
Daniel,
Le passé Gréco-romain mérite bien sûr notre reconnaissance!!
Joy,
Why don’t you start packing? ;))
Tinsie,
Another visitor to start packing… ;))
Neva,
It’s true that everything is basically white and blue; there are some other colours, but a bit irrelevant… ;))
Ron,
Great that I made you discover a new place; and a quite nice one, indeed… ;)
Paz,
Thanks! I take it as a fabulous compliment!!
Ingrid,
It’s great that the sun shined. We have a saying that makes sense only in Portuguese that starts with: There is no Saturday without sunshine… ;))
Mariposa,
Probably it would be interesting to explore the cluster of white paint in Mykonos… ;))
Celine,
Panagia Paraportiani is an amazing complex of churches; have seen those nice miniatures…
MKiwi,
A bit touristy, indeed! But Santorini and Mykonos are worth every single cent you spend to get there! Maybe off-season would be wiser. My daughter went there at the end of September and had a great time… ;))
PM60657,
Two years in a row? That may be too much… ;))
Julie,
Thanks! It’s true that this blog has already some hours of work on it… ;))
Please do the paintings you wish! I’m flattered!
Sue,
It makes sense that love with Greece!!
Dorothée,
À 19 ans c’était un petit peu avant ma première visite qui a eu lieu quand j’avais 25… Mais c’est vrai que la symphonie bleu et blanc continue a jouer son charme...
Lynn,
Careful with the white blouses; better avid the kitchen while wearing them… Great for my diet!! ;))
Cutie,
Don’t get mislead; Mykonos is too vibrant even if only in blue and white… ;))
Azer,
Cute! That’s it!!
Rakesh,
Thanks! I’m flattered!!
The Dong,
Agreed! Visiting, but not living there…
Vaggelis,
Thanks for the compliment!
Peter,
It took a year, that’s true. But time is short… ;)
Helene,
I don’t think I would ever be bored of blue and white… ;))
Therese,
Great that it helped to start the week in good mood… ;)
Tr3nta,
Santorini and Mykonos; an unbeatable ticket… ;))
Lara,
Thanks!
Lisa,
The stone walkway is amazing!
Tawnia,
The white shop is a must in Mykonos!
Nihal,
Merhaba! Thanks! You always bring some sunshine into this blog with your lovely comments!
Actually, I think that a nice visit to Greece is basically an island hopping trip… ;)
Sorry, but Antalya will take some time; I’m still in September 2007… ;))
Olivier,
Merci! Le champagne, Dom Pérignon je le prends… ;))
Jennifer,
Champagne and Caviar, great choice! Join the club… ;)
September 2007 that’s the date of these pictures!
Twin,
Thanks for your comment (first time here, I think)! It’s true: quite clean…
Leena,
Those Greek icons are wonderful, just remember the Benaki and Byzantine Museums in Athens; no wonder you bought one!!
Kala,
Some say Mamma Mia was shot there, but it’s not true; it was in Skiathos…
Anyhow, Mykonos has its own merits!! ;)
Catherine,
Bleu est toujours parfait!
Louise,
Great colour that blue!!
Alice SG,
It’s time to leave Asia and start venturing in new continents; start packing… ;))
Rune,
The Greek “something” is unavoidable…
Shooting Star,
You’ve heard a lot, now you seen a bit… ;))
What a country! Such beauty you show!
Dina,
You can believe, the beauty I show is the beauty I found there... ;)
The mosaic floors are incredible as well as the lions!
Therese,
I've seen many Roman mosaics around the world, but the ones at the House of the Trident are some of the best preserved!
It's been many years since I've been to these lovely islands, and your photos make me yearn to return. Lovely photos.
Kuanyin,
Well, living in such a beautiful islland like Maui, I can understand it's tough to vacation in some other islands... But the Greek ones are worth the voyage... ;)
Everything you have shown is beautiful, gorgeous, and/or break-taking. Magical. I recognize the building on the left in the first photo that was in the last scene of Bourne Identity.
Jill,
Thanks! Haven't seen the movie, but it seems that in the end Matt Damon (Bourne) meets Franka Potente (Marie) in Mykonos...
Hi! I’m the Community Manager of Ruba.com. We’re building a website to highlight some of the most interesting places travelers around the world have discovered. We’ve read hundreds of blogs about Greece, and we think that yours is awesome! We’d love to highlight excerpts from blogs like yours (assuming it’s OK with you of course) and to discuss other ways of tapping into your expertise if you are interested. I’m at erin@ruba.com.
Thanks! :)
Erin,
It's ok with me, but your link lead nowhere... ;)
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