We got up early to enjoy the morning. So far, we have been fortunate to have incredible weather, and not too hot, either. When we went down to have breakfast, some folks took the time to have a swim in the warm water off of the back of the boat. We decided to wait for our next swim stop to check out the water.
The buffet breakfast offered many choices, and all were good. The staff was very responsive and helpful, noticing when you needed a refill of coffee or other beverage, bringing whatever you needed. Sofia, our tour coordinator, provided more information about our tour today in Delos.
We will be taking a tender (small rubber boat) to Delos to meet our local guide. No one lives there, except a zillion cats, but it is supposed to be the birthplace of the mythological Apollo and Artemis. It was a prominent trading post as it grew from the 3rd century B.C. It also had one of the first banks in all of Greece. Numerous pieces of sculpture were transferred to many museums in Greece and throughout the world. Excavations on the island began in earnest in 1873, with intensive work from 1958-1975 by the French School of Archaeology. They discovered many private homes, as well as significant pieces of ancient temples. And, the excavations continue to this day, with scaffolding erected to continue the work.
When we returned to the yacht, we had an amazing lunch, consisting of several salads, lamb chops, chicken and pork souvlaki, potatoes, grilled eggplant, swordfish, fresh fruit, and, as a perfect end to our meal, a chocolate mousse lava cake! It was very sweet, so even sharing it with Jim meant that we could only eat half or less of it. But, it was exceptional.
The exhausting tour this morning required a rest, which we happily enjoyed for several hours. When we awoke, we found that we now had internet, due to our proximity to Mykonos. Yippee! I was able to download pictures, as well as checking 50+ emails.
By 5:00 PM, we decided to take the sea taxi to Mykonos, only 15 minutes away. Mykonos has an old port, and a new port. Ships and boats now dock at the new port, requiring the sea taxi to get you to the old port and the town itself. We arrived while it was still light, noticing the crowds of women visitors in teeny bikinis with almost transparent cover-ups. I guess I should have taken some pictures of them…
We decided to stop at one of the seaside restaurants for a drink and focaccia, with marinated tomatoes or an olive tapanade. That was plenty as an evening “meal” for us. Afterward, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset and headed into town to see the shops and the clubs we heard about. Not surprisingly, we didn’t go clubbing, but I checked out the over-priced jewelry, and other items. Of course, as has become our habit, we shared a gelato (half vanilla and half pistachio). The display in this gelato shop was different than we ever saw in Italy, and truthfully, the flavor was amazing.
Time to return to the yacht, let me catch up with the blog and take advantage of the internet to add the many pictures. It was a tiring, but fun day. At midnight, the yacht heads to Santorini, our next stop tomorrow. We have a tour there to see the little towns and enjoy the sights we see in ads about the island. Sleep will come easily tonight!