Friday, 31 May 2013

Naxos & Mykonos

After the craziness of Contiki, we booked ourselves just over a week in the Greek Islands to relax and prepare for the next one. We caught the ferry from Athens to Naxos (about 6 hours) and we did this on less than 3 hours sleep as we were out with our Contiki friends all night.  
 
There isn't a lot to report on Naxos and Mykonos as we didn't really do much! We explored both islands on foot, lazed around the pool and went to the beach a lot. We detoxed from alcohol and tried to eat lots of vegetables as we know in Italy it will probably be carb overload. 
 
Things we loved about Naxos:
  • While it's the biggest island in the Cyclades, it has a small population and is very chilled out. It's not full tourist season yet, so it was nice and quiet.
  • Every building being painted in blue and white, and all the pretty doors. 
  • Beautiful calm beaches with bright blue water. Have to laugh at the European definition of 'white sand beaches', they're still just millions of tiny pebbles and shells that sting when you walk on them. No sand in sight!
  • Being able to cook our own dinner on the stove in our room. 
  • Walking along the strip of restaurants at the Harbour and eating ice cream.
  • Taking in the view at the Gateway to Naxos.
  • Lying by the pool at our hotel and catching up on some reading (me - Jack Reacher, Brian - AFL highlights).
Things we loved about Mykonos:
  • Sleeping in
  • Being across the road from the windmills and Little Venice.
  • All the winding white roads full of jewellery and clothes shops.
  • Meeting the 3 famous resident pelicans (who are massive!)
  • Eating gyros
  • Catching the bus to paradise beach and lying on the rental sun lounges without paying until we got asked to pay (then we moved to the sand). What?!   €12 is more than we spend on dinner, let alone a chair to sit in!
We definitely preferred Naxos as Mykonos has too many tourists which meant heaps of litter, sunburnt nude old ladies and crazy quad bike drivers. But we had a great time relaxing on our balcony, exploring the little streets and walking along the beaches. It was exactly what we needed before our two week Italian Contiki which kicks off the day after tomorrow. Tomorrow we're up at 5am to get to Mykonos airport and fly to Rome. Greece has been amazing and we would recommend the islands to anyone!
 
Lots of Love,
Kobi & Brian
Xxx
 

The ferry ride to Naxos from Athens

Naxos Harbour

Naxos Harbour

The Gateway to Naxos
Brian getting some serious air
 
Naxos

Gateway to Naxos

View of Paros

Smallest beach ever!
 
Naxos swimming
 
Getting fish pedicures

Brian's feet getting suckered
Our Naxos hotel pool
 
Naxos sunset

Naxos sunset

Beachside
 
Loved the blue doors everywhere!

Eating gyros in Mykonos

Puggle on a scooter

Everytime we passed this dog we wanted to steal her

Awesome beach art
 
Relaxing on the balcony

Listening to Aussie music and relaxing

Paradise Beach Mykonos (before we got kicked off the sun lounges!)

Beachside
 
Little Venice, Mykonos

Pelios, one of three giant resident pelicans in Mykonos. They just chill at the restaurants.

In a little side street, Mykonos
 
 

Mykonos windmills























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