Mykonos |
| Wednesday, 30 January 2008 00:00 |
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The air above the roofs of Mykonos seems to flicker, a lonely car can be heard in the distance, and some lonesome figures stretch out in the shades. It is noon on a summer day in the capital of Mykonos and the town seems deserted. The sun burns onto the blue and red rooftops of houses and churches, the island awaits dusk or the cooling Melmeti, a steady north wind that blows away some of the heat during main season.The Melmeti gave Mykonos its nickname: island of winds. Only after the greatest heat has gone can one truly appreciate the beauty of Mykonos Town in the western part of the island. White houses with blue roofs, wooden doors and Venetian windows creep up the steep cobble streets. Flowers grace the balconies and the setting sun bathes everything in a surreal golden light. The town’s landmark, the Kato Mili, sits on a hill above the town. Once the hill of Ano Mili was home to ten wind mills, providing the island with its main export product: processed grain. The harbor paints a different picture of Mykonos Town. This district is called Little Venice due to its Venice-style architecture. Trendy bars, restaurants and exclusive shops line up here and make Mykonos a relatively expensive travel destination within Greece. After sunset the town begins to rise. Islanders as well as tourists fuel up on good food and wine for the night. Around midnight hot spots like Celebrities, Caprice and the discotheque Space start to fill up and remain busy until the early morning hours. A little out of town the Panagia-Paraportiani Church is the most popular photo op. What were originally five separate churches were linked to a large complex over time, the oldest dome being almost 500 years old. Unfortunately it can only be admired from the outside, as the structure of the church is dangerously weak.
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