Greece is one of my favorite travel destinations. In fact, I’ve gone every year for the past three, always starting in Athens and then choosing different islands to travel to. On my last trip, Mykonos was one of these islands. I’d heard so many great things about it — numerous friends had told me it was their favorite; however, when wandering I was surprised to find how completely overrun with tourists and chain stores, not to mention how expensive, it was.
That’s not to say there weren’t things to love about Mykonos. Along with the whimsical windmills and secluded beaches like Panormos and Agios Sostis away from the port, I found a bit of serenity in this photo. Oddly enough, when I took this picture I was standing right on the waterfront, in the belly of the hustle and bustle of Mykonos cruise visitors and island hoppers; however, in this moment peace was a mindset.
Despite the roar of diners at nearby restaurants, the bellowing of cruise ships and constant shutter sound from cameras, I was able to find serenity in Mykonos’ beauty. Seriously. Just look at this photo. The bright turquoise waters contrasting with stark white cubic Cycladic architecture, bright colors of red, pink, teal and yellow from small fishing bouncing off the already-heavenly backdrop. I think an explosion could have gone off and I still would have been able to breathe a sigh of pleasure.
Whenever I look at this photo I don’t think of the multitude of tourists, but of my complete at-ease mindset I felt as my pointer finger pressed down on my camera’s shutter. It’s a reminder that sometimes a true getaway is all about our attitude, and what we choose to get out of an experience.
Oh, I also remember the ice cream I ate right after at Davinci Gelato on the waterfront. So good. I recommend their Yogurt & Honey or the Dark Chocolate n’ Orange.
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
