As if being in Mykonos wasn't heaven enough, being at the Grand Hotel makes the visit even better. My first hotel was elegant but there was a cold formality there. This is a five star hotel also, but here they think of everything and the people are warm and friendly. There they asked what you would like and would probably do whatever you ask, here they just do anything you could want before you even think of it! My visit here has been too short! And I regret that I've not been well enough to enjoy it to the fullest.
The morning started with breakfast, a wonderful array of choices greeted me when I walked in. Walking 'in' may not be the correct term to use, restaurants at the hotels are actually in the open, maybe a wall or two, and a ceiling. So the breezes of Mykonos keep the temps quite pleasant! No fan needed here after all! Breakfast was delicious, more choices than the other hotel had and it just tasted better. At breakfast the manager, Theodore, who had been so wonderful to me yesterday, came and sat with me. He is a delightful young man. Very hard working and professional. I asked what his training was and he spent his post high school years in Oxford for a prep class to get him ready for the premier hotel management school in Europe, which is in Switzerland. I've heard of it before. After four years there he interned. In several places before returning to his home of Mykonos. In Europe the hotel field is taken much more seriously than in the US. I know from Cesar that you need a license to even work in reception in some places in Europe.
I asked my new friend the manager about one of the cabanas and he said they don't reserve them but he would make an exception for me and when I got to the pool area mine was waiting for me. He finally mentioned that he knew I'd been at his biggest competitors before here and I wonder how much that had to do with my special treatment! It doesn't matter to me why, I have enjoyed every minute of being spoiled! I spent the day, well several hours, in my cabana by the pool, shaded by the sun but with the breeze blowing. I read. And I contemplated the complexities of life. And I decided once was not enough for this experience! About every hour and a half pool people came around with an offering. I wasn't there for the ice cream bar, but they had frozen scented wash cloths to cool you off, that was delightful! Then they came around and served orange slices. Yes, this is a life anyone could get used to!
I finally pulled myself away and came in and after a shower I had a nice short nap. I decided to take the first shuttle into town at 7pm rather than watch the sunset from my balcony again. When they take you to town they have to leave you off at an entrance and it is quite a little walk. I rushed and thought I would find the windmills but they were farther away than I thought but I got some lovely pictures in town of the sunset after all. The windmills...next time! Can't wait to see the pictures I took tonight. Then I wandered and eventually found the fish house I'd heard about for dinner. You had to choose your own fish but at least they were already dead. I chose a small sea bass and asked for them to please not serve it with the head on it. That was no problem. The dinner was simple, served with boiled potatoes. The fish was so moist and delicious! It was grilled on an outside grill that reminded me of the fish I had had at Cesar's home on my first visit to Portugal. That meal was delicious too, and I remember how hard it was for me to look at the fish with heads on them at the time. Seems so long ago. At the end of this meal I was served a cinnamon liquer that was absolutely delicious! I swear if there weren't such a strict bagage weight limit I would be bringing bottles of these liquors home! And I would take up drinking! But I only had a small glass and was on my way.
When I was here on my first cruise I met a young lady who owned a shop. I saw her on my next visit too. I'd written her a letter that I was going to be here but when I went by the shop she wasn't there. I talked to the lady in the shop who was her mother and she said she would be in at 4 today. I misunderstood and thought she meant she'd be in after that but when I arrived she had left so I guess I will see her on my next trip. What I had taken to mean she would be in at 4 to work for the rest of the day, had actually meant she would be there until 4. It turned out a nice visit with her mother though. I had found out that I can't sell my cards here, the ones they have that are similar are much cheaper than I could ever make them for. Her mother asked me about the cards I'd written her daughter about and I showed her what I had. She LOVED the one of the street scene with the white and blue highlighted with bouganvillas and knew the person who lived there so I gave her the few I had of that scene and some of the others. She was so grateful and kind. She had already given me a Mykonos pen that was quite unusual so it was nice to have a gift to give her. She asked when I might be back and I said I didn't know and she said that whenever it was, they would have me over to visit for coffee. I thanked her and she said she could tell what a good heart I have. A very nice way to end my trip here. After that visit I took a couple more photos and then got a taxi back to the hotel.
Now a bit more about my hotel. When I got to my room yesterday there were some candies and a liquor made from gum which the lady said was good at night for digestion. I decided not to try that. When I got back last night my room had been made up and there were 2chocolates by the bed with a little card that said good night in English and Greek with a nice quote on it. Tonight I got another card with a different quote on it and a gift, salt and pepper shakers that are two people hugging, one blue and one white, very sweet. I realized the quote was by Socrates and will check the other one when I get home, it is already packed. I am sure it was from a Greek philosopher too, but I didn't have glasses on and didn't see it. The Greek people are definitely generous, giving people! What a wonderful experience this whole trip has been!
This hotel is built on a mountainside and has an interesting arrangement. The reception area is the first you enter. There are a few buildings and each has only three levels. So from reception you take the elevator down a couple levels and then follow an outdoor winding path to the next building where there is another elevator. That one goes down 3 floors and then you walk on another lovely path to the next building and do the same. Needless to say I've been lost...and found a couple of times! And to think I've been around the world alone...well a few places anyway. I think I finally have this place figured out now!
Tomorrow morning I will once again have the delicious breakfast and will then head to the airport to become Nitzi again and fly to London.
And that has been the tale of this journey...to paradise!
The morning started with breakfast, a wonderful array of choices greeted me when I walked in. Walking 'in' may not be the correct term to use, restaurants at the hotels are actually in the open, maybe a wall or two, and a ceiling. So the breezes of Mykonos keep the temps quite pleasant! No fan needed here after all! Breakfast was delicious, more choices than the other hotel had and it just tasted better. At breakfast the manager, Theodore, who had been so wonderful to me yesterday, came and sat with me. He is a delightful young man. Very hard working and professional. I asked what his training was and he spent his post high school years in Oxford for a prep class to get him ready for the premier hotel management school in Europe, which is in Switzerland. I've heard of it before. After four years there he interned. In several places before returning to his home of Mykonos. In Europe the hotel field is taken much more seriously than in the US. I know from Cesar that you need a license to even work in reception in some places in Europe.
I asked my new friend the manager about one of the cabanas and he said they don't reserve them but he would make an exception for me and when I got to the pool area mine was waiting for me. He finally mentioned that he knew I'd been at his biggest competitors before here and I wonder how much that had to do with my special treatment! It doesn't matter to me why, I have enjoyed every minute of being spoiled! I spent the day, well several hours, in my cabana by the pool, shaded by the sun but with the breeze blowing. I read. And I contemplated the complexities of life. And I decided once was not enough for this experience! About every hour and a half pool people came around with an offering. I wasn't there for the ice cream bar, but they had frozen scented wash cloths to cool you off, that was delightful! Then they came around and served orange slices. Yes, this is a life anyone could get used to!
I finally pulled myself away and came in and after a shower I had a nice short nap. I decided to take the first shuttle into town at 7pm rather than watch the sunset from my balcony again. When they take you to town they have to leave you off at an entrance and it is quite a little walk. I rushed and thought I would find the windmills but they were farther away than I thought but I got some lovely pictures in town of the sunset after all. The windmills...next time! Can't wait to see the pictures I took tonight. Then I wandered and eventually found the fish house I'd heard about for dinner. You had to choose your own fish but at least they were already dead. I chose a small sea bass and asked for them to please not serve it with the head on it. That was no problem. The dinner was simple, served with boiled potatoes. The fish was so moist and delicious! It was grilled on an outside grill that reminded me of the fish I had had at Cesar's home on my first visit to Portugal. That meal was delicious too, and I remember how hard it was for me to look at the fish with heads on them at the time. Seems so long ago. At the end of this meal I was served a cinnamon liquer that was absolutely delicious! I swear if there weren't such a strict bagage weight limit I would be bringing bottles of these liquors home! And I would take up drinking! But I only had a small glass and was on my way.
When I was here on my first cruise I met a young lady who owned a shop. I saw her on my next visit too. I'd written her a letter that I was going to be here but when I went by the shop she wasn't there. I talked to the lady in the shop who was her mother and she said she would be in at 4 today. I misunderstood and thought she meant she'd be in after that but when I arrived she had left so I guess I will see her on my next trip. What I had taken to mean she would be in at 4 to work for the rest of the day, had actually meant she would be there until 4. It turned out a nice visit with her mother though. I had found out that I can't sell my cards here, the ones they have that are similar are much cheaper than I could ever make them for. Her mother asked me about the cards I'd written her daughter about and I showed her what I had. She LOVED the one of the street scene with the white and blue highlighted with bouganvillas and knew the person who lived there so I gave her the few I had of that scene and some of the others. She was so grateful and kind. She had already given me a Mykonos pen that was quite unusual so it was nice to have a gift to give her. She asked when I might be back and I said I didn't know and she said that whenever it was, they would have me over to visit for coffee. I thanked her and she said she could tell what a good heart I have. A very nice way to end my trip here. After that visit I took a couple more photos and then got a taxi back to the hotel.
Now a bit more about my hotel. When I got to my room yesterday there were some candies and a liquor made from gum which the lady said was good at night for digestion. I decided not to try that. When I got back last night my room had been made up and there were 2chocolates by the bed with a little card that said good night in English and Greek with a nice quote on it. Tonight I got another card with a different quote on it and a gift, salt and pepper shakers that are two people hugging, one blue and one white, very sweet. I realized the quote was by Socrates and will check the other one when I get home, it is already packed. I am sure it was from a Greek philosopher too, but I didn't have glasses on and didn't see it. The Greek people are definitely generous, giving people! What a wonderful experience this whole trip has been!
This hotel is built on a mountainside and has an interesting arrangement. The reception area is the first you enter. There are a few buildings and each has only three levels. So from reception you take the elevator down a couple levels and then follow an outdoor winding path to the next building where there is another elevator. That one goes down 3 floors and then you walk on another lovely path to the next building and do the same. Needless to say I've been lost...and found a couple of times! And to think I've been around the world alone...well a few places anyway. I think I finally have this place figured out now!
Tomorrow morning I will once again have the delicious breakfast and will then head to the airport to become Nitzi again and fly to London.
And that has been the tale of this journey...to paradise!
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