I'm not sure what one can say about a perfect day...any description will pale in comparison to the actual experience, but I will try to do it justice on my blog.
I embarked on this adventure, sure that I would just be thankful to have at least a day in Mykonos, but unfortunately that didn't work out at all. I'm quite sad that my day was so short and is over, and at this point I feel like the highlight of the trip has ended with the ship pulling out of the Mykonos harbor. Oh the Greek people are so lovely, and welcoming and spoiled me for a day.
My morning started off a bit later than I'd planned because I was literally up most of the night so excited about seeing my friends and Mykonos again. During the night sometimes I order the club sandwich and when I got hungry and called down to room service, received the bad news that I would not be able to get that at the time. I could only get it until 2 AM and since it was 4 AM, I could only get a plate of breads and pastries or an English muffin egg sandwich. Well I can get the english muffin sandwich at McDonald's, so I didn't come on princess cruises for that! I was angry as I found out that princess cruises no longer has food available 24 hours and to be honest, with some of the other changes in addition to this, I will be exploring other cruise lines. But the problem remained that I was hungry and there wasn't a thing I could do about that. I was sent to the international cafe but they had cleared out the sandwiches and were going to stock the cakes and pastries. I finally got a small croissant with a tiny bit of ham and cheese rolled up, lost in the middle of it. Pathetic! About 7 AM I had my last look at the clock and when the alarm went off at 9, I doubted I would make it through the day. But I was so excited to finally be on my way that I managed to get up and ready and head out.
I took a taxi to the Grand and got the usual warm greeting from the reception staff. I was told to go straight down to the restaurant for breakfast and my friend, the manager, would meet me there. I wandered down the series of paths and elevators that take you down and what a wonderful greeting I received! Lots of hugs and kisses and smiles! My friend had shared the book I had made him of photos of the hotel and everyone was raving about how they loved it! People kept saying how wonderful I look, and how happy. I said I was in Mykonos, there was a lot to smile about. Finally the very kind chef told me that not everyone smiles in Mykonos, just look around. Once again I felt special, and how can one not smile when greeted with so much enthusiasm? So my journey into the food of Mykonos began!
I started with a cup of Greek coffee. I've never liked coffee in my life! Last time on my departure morning one of the servers wanted me to try some and she cooked it in the hot sand for me and it was very good so I'd looked forward to a bit more of that. Then after a pleasant visit with my friend, I started my journey. This time the servers were more comfortable and one delightful lady started bringing over traditional foods and explaining the culture through the food. What a great concept that was, one which I haven't thought of before, culture through food. So after making my choices of some of the basic choices, including the MOST delicious breakfast pizza and Greek potatoes, I started receiving Greek delicacies to taste.
A bowl came with traditional walnut cake soaked in honey, a sesame square that is traditional at a wedding and a Greek candy, it starts with an 'l'. I delighted in tasting the traditional foods. After these, I was treated to prickly pears and fig compote. I didn't enjoy the hard seeds of the prickly pear, but it was interesting. Then it was over to the table of 'sweets', which included candied fruits and even tiny candied eggplant. These are foods that the Greek girls make for the man who is courting her to show her ability to cook and entertain. The man has some alcoholic drink with this and the girl has sambuco, I think it is...so of course it was time to taste this Greek drink. It is almond milk mixed with water, a very cloudy liquid that is served in small glasses...delicious! After this there were more traditional Greek pastries, cakes and breads and cookies! I could barely move after all this food and then theo said I would be having lunch with them too! LUNCH? My goodness I'd just eaten a days worth of food for an hour and a half!
Then I was informed that people were waiting for me in the spa to show me to a changing room to get into my swimsuit for some time by the pool and beach. I found my way there and was very warmly greeted by the staff who had been expecting me and was shown around and left to get changed. Then out to the pool I went. Unfortunately all of the cabana accommodations were taken so I had to settle for a basic umbrella! Oh, to be one of the common people! I had turned down my friend's typical kind offer to drive me to the beach and though I regretted that afterwards, the pool was lovely. I ended up sitting next to a couple from Switzerland and spent about an hour discussing life there and world events. I'm always interested in others' perspective of the world...part of the whole international travel experience.
Eventually, way too soon, it was time to change and get on with my day. So back to the spa I went and soon I was ready to get on with my day. My friend had insisted he would be my chauffeur and even though he is very busy, he eventually showed up to take me wherever I wanted to go. I said I would like to say hello to my friends at the other hotel I'd stayed at. He knows them and made a call and I'm not sure what he said in Greek, but by the time we got there, he went to visit with some people he knew and the two owners showed up to say hello to me. We had a nice chat and then I got a chance to see my friend the bartender, more kisses and hugs and smiles there! Too bad there wasn't time for one of his mojitos...next time! After that short visit we took off to my final destination, finally to meet my new friend who I met online when trying to help her plan her solo visit to Mykonos. Just by coincidence, we had ended up being in Mykonos on the same day...how serendipitous to meet there of all places. Meeting her was like meeting an old friend, we've gotten so close because of so many things in common. At least seeing her helped me not be quite so sad having to say goodbye to Theo, but it was still very hard. He has become such a special person to me! Before I knew what had happened he had put a big bag in my hand, gifts for me! As though spending a day at a 5 star resort wasnt enough of a gift! Each night his hotel puts a gift in your room, and inside the bag were several of the lovely gifts they give. In addition to all of that, there was a beautiful book on Delos. On my last trip I had asked him about the tour to that ancient island and he had said it was better to just buy the book and read about it,and so he gave me the book, what a thoughtful gesture! I was overwhelmed! To be the center of so much love and attention, well there is really no way to express my appreciation!
But the fun wasn't to end there, Barbara and I had a wonderful couple of hours together in the town. We talked and talked, it was if we had known each other for years! We wandered through the town taking pictures everywhere, so much fun to have a friend to do that with for a change! and then it was time to start thinking about finding a taxi to take me back to the ship, but none were around. One drove up and people got in and I was trying to see in to see if by chance it might be the wonderful young man who took me on my tour last trip, but I couldn't see that far. Before I knew it, the drivers door opened, he looked back and said something to the passengers and then headed my way with a big smile on his face, yes finally it was indeed my friend! More hugs and kisses and smiles and he told me to let him know when I wanted to get picked up, and just as planned he was back and taking me to the port where the ship was docked. He is adorable and said he had just known we would run into each other at some point. And so finally my day of delights was over. Barbara rode to the port with us and then he was taking her back to her hotel. He refused to let me pay him a cent for the ride...again my heart was so touched!
In the past it has been hard to tell Cesar goodbye at the end of our visits, and today all that sadness of saying goodbye to people you treasure, returned, along with some tears. I had been so sure that being back in Mykonos was going to be wonderful, if only for a day, but maybe I was wrong...it wasn't nearly long enough! But how grateful I am that the day was magical...as is my favorite place of Mykonos!
And so you see all that I experienced in a day, what a dream it was! And I'm told that I will be quite moved by my visit to Olympia, Greece tomorrow. The adventure continues...
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