There are five massive cruise ships in the harbor today, with literally thousands of passengers. They, along with numerous yachts, catamarans, speed boats and transport vehicles create the shapes and color of the landscape.
Long white rectangles sit against brown mountain ranges, separated by ribbons of deep blue. This forms our horizon. Black smoke belches upwards, and then down on to the rooftops below.
Roller bags beat against cobbled nameless pathways, as tourists hold out mobile devises guiding them right or left. “Where are we going?” They ask each other. “How much further to the bloody hotel?”
Bill and I were aided by Google Maps, ourselves, last night. Led home through the vertical labyrinth after our guide gleefully said good bye, then disappeared into the crowd of visitors. “I Will Survive” blared on a loop in the background.
It helps to be young, beautiful and able bodied here. It also helps to have your phone fully charged, and a pair of “sensible” shoes. Stay far away from the main roads – which double as a speed way for vehicles of every type, size and decibel. It can be dangerous.
But how can I complain? This is Mykonos, after all. One’s heart is filled with gratitude for finally just being here. It is! Really!
With clear blue skies, gentle sea breezes and about 75 to 80 degrees F, the weather is perfect. Food continues to amaze the palate with freshness and abundant flavor. The locals are here to welcome.
I can’t get enough of the iconic blue against white, with splashes of red and pink bougainvillea – a theatre of color and light. Juxtapositions that inspire art and intended to create happy memories.
I remind myself to remain in the moment, but can’t help imagine what it must be like to be here during high season. Or, back in the day – when Mykonos was paradise.
Our guide laments that Mykonians concerned themselves with “quantity above quality”. Now they find themselves with tourists overwhelming infrastructure with foreign income barely supporting the ultimate cost of all of us being here.
It was surprising for me to discover a town center that doubles as an emporium for boutiques, jewelers and galleries. There’s no end to high-end shopping here. The sky’s the limit. From swimwear to evening gowns; condoms to diamond encrusted tiaras. And the prices are shockingly high for just about everything.
Apparently, some businesses are now merely fronts for money laundering. Dark money looms large behind this colorful veneer of luxury.
Like everywhere else, there are contradictions and complexity to be found here. Stunning physical beauty comes along with geological decay and consumption.
It feels as though we have arrived at a playground at the end of a season. But there’s still enough left of Mother Nature to keep us in a constant state of awe.