How could anyone hate Mykonos? It’s got beautiful beaches, friendly locals, cute towns, ruins, wine….the list goes on. The sunsets are incredible, the parties (potentially) legendary and the food, incredible.
It’s a little on the expensive side, compared to other Greek islands, and it can be pretty tourist-laden, especially in the middle of summer time. But one visit to the island is usually enough to convince you to put up with it.
I’ve wanted to visit Mykonos ever since my friends went in high school on a school-trip, and I was unable to go. They came back with amazing pictures, life-long memories, and beautiful souvenirs.
When I went to Europe for the first time in 2007, Greece got unfortunately left off the list in favour of travelling farther East (Vienna), and spending more time with family in Ireland. When I took my first long-term backpacking trip back in 2013, I tried to get to Greece. Unfortunately, I had planned it for the end of my trip, and I was essentially out of money before I could get down there. Not to mention the financial troubles around that time terrified my mother so much that I was pretty sure she would have found a way to stop me from going, despite being back home.
Finally in 2015, I was able to get to the country. While Athens is connected by land and sea to the rest of mainland Europe, it would be a sorry thing to go to Athens and call Greece ‘visited’. The best part of Greece is definitely the islands. And of course, it is the best because for the most part, they are more difficult and expensive to get to, and most require a ferry ride or expensive flight. Read about my whole trip to Greece here.
One of my island stops was, of course, Mykonos. I only had enough time to spend a full day on the island, so I hadn’t made a hotel reservation. I arrived on a very early ferry, and left on the latest one I could. I had done my research to ensure that I could leave my backpack at the ferry terminal lockers. I was, if nothing else, a careful traveller…
When I arrived on the island, I discovered that the old port was under construction. Sadly there were no lockers, and no one working anywhere to tell me where to go or what I could possibly do. And perhaps worst of all for a desperate traveller, I could not find a wi-fi signal to save my life. I reasoned that the new port might have some information, so I started the simple 1.5 kilometre hike. I had obviously forgotten that Greek drivers are a little on the crazy aggressive side. And forgotten that it was 32 degrees Celsius out, in the shade. And that most Greek roads don’t have shoulders. And that a kilometre can be endless when you’re carrying a full backpack.
I swore the whole walk, desperately praying that this would not be the last thing I did with my life. I wasn’t ready to become roadkill!
I finally made it. Much to my extreme sadness, the new port was also under construction, and there was nothing around. Desperate for a cool shower and safe place to store my bag, I turned around and walked into the closest hotel I could find.
Unfortunately, they were completed booked, but suggested that I could try the hotel down the road 300 metres. (Ugh! More endless walking in the heat…).
At this point, I was very disappointed with my decision to come visit this famed island. I was ready to shout out a big ‘I hate you, Mykonos’ into the air, and then go sit at my ferry and wait for my trip back to the mainland. Nevertheless, I continued to one last attempt to find a haven.
I came up to a beautiful, shiny, white hotel. The type of hotel that probably catered to tourists who had money to spare; unlike me, the bedraggled, sweaty, exhausted and peeved off backpacker. I didn’t even feel worthy of sitting on their pristine white couches. I approached the reception and was told no vacancy. At this point, I was very close to tears. The man at reception probably noticed this, and suggested that their sister hotel, in town, had one room left for 160E. At this point, I was just about ready to pay anything. It would kill my budget to blow over 200$ on a room that I wouldn’t even be sleeping in. I asked if there might be a reduction in price, considering that I had to catch a ferry that night, and really, I just wanted a place to keep my bag and shower.
At this, the kind older man came a little closer and exclaims:
“Oh my dear girl! You don’t need to spend the money for a room! You will leave your bag with us here. Go into the town of Mykonos! It is very beautiful. Sight see. When you are ready, come back here, have a shower and dinner. Wait for your ferry; you can see it from the lobby! Your bag will be safe and you can enjoy the island!”
He then gave me a hug, took my bag from me, and made sure I knew how to get into the town.
And that’s basically how I went from hating Mykonos, to loving it.
[…] Finally, early the next morning, I got to my last island, Mykonos. My entrance and introduction to this island was less than perfect, but it ended happily. You can read about it here. […]