Paradise Gained

Friday July 30, 2010
Although we had planned to go to Delos today, we slept in til 9:30 AM and so making the 10 AM tour boat was an impossibility. During the night, I dreamt that I was scratching my scalp off from some malady and indeed I awoke to find myself scratching vigorously at my scalp due to hives around my neck and lower body. Must be either the wine or the late night baklava but I had to get up at 4 AM as part of my dream and take an antihistmaine. It must have worked as the hives and the morning were both gone. So we roused the troops with groggy protestations of "I'm awake" and we went down to the delecious breakfast buffet. So, at the risk of repeating myself, delicious Greek coffee, cereals and thick yogurt with honey, we were ready for the sunshine. Faithful readers will note no running so far on this trip...

Anyway, with some friendly advice at the front desk from a mother-daughter combo on scooter, we went to the beach and got on the "water-taxi" to head to one of the famous Mykonos beaches- Paradise- it is called, although no longer either gay or nude.The little boat took us first to Psarou, Platy Gialos, Paranga and then Paradise beaches. We passed many of the super -yachts docked in and around Mykonos by the wealthy and the ne'er do wells who control the economy of the world.[We are talking yachts with four to five decks, sleek and very modern, flying mostly British flags.] Paradise beach is a bay with a gritty, sandy beach and shallow turquoise water. The umbrellas and lounge chairs are set out the length of the beach for the reasonable charge of 6 Euros each. Of course the sun was shining and the bodies began parading by in the narrow spaces between chairs- a very young crowd, international  and many of whom thought 1 or 2 PM was early morning. We swam and inspected the shallow reef, while tanning/basting a light brown- serves three when properly cooked-. Lunch was in the large self-serve area where excellent \Greek was available for lwo prices. Menu for three - Myconian(Greek) salad, moussaka and fried kalamari with chips for the youngest of the group. Add beer, watermelon and you have a full meal, prompting a little siesta under the umbrella. More swimming and tanning and the action started to warm up. Dancing girls came out in costumes at the Tropicana Bar behind the beach and souvenirs were tossed to the crowd. The techno-dance music was pulsating and likely continued all night. However we took the last little water taxi back to Ornos beach, a half hour reverse ride from the morning. so we missed the traditional all  night debauch that Paradise Beach and its neighbour, Super Paradise, are known for.
Once back at familiar Ornos, the girls headed for a little salty dip in the pool while I changed and headed out in the night with music and sunglasses into the streets of Mykonos. I ran up and down some hills for half an hour, finally on the main road back to Mykonos town, up a steep hill. The drivers of mopeds and cars were close ( no sidewalks most of the way) and the heat and dust were against me, so I headed back to Ornos. There was tons of litter in the bushes by the sides of the road (who cleans up here?) but no cast-off euro notes. I must have looked "local" at least to some as a group of young Italian teens asked me for directions into Mykonos town. Don't say it was my finest Greek moment because I used my fake Italian accent instead.

Back at the Deliades, a delicious chilled Greek Mythos beer greeted me at poolside.and was happy to make my thirsty acquaintance. Showers, stretching, pilates on the deck and ot was time to head out for supper. Debate about the bus and the road back to Mykonos lead to the decision to eat in Ornos. So we paraded past the Greek cafes on the beach to Kostantis Greek cafe where we had a nice outdoor table with a whole crowd of hungry late night tourists. Ouzo, tzatziki, wine, moussaka, lamb chops and lamb souvlaki graced the table and filled us up pleasantly. The decor and ambiance were just right and the price was not so bad either. A few minutes stroll and we were back at the rooms at 11PM ready to read and snore.
PS SPF 30-60 seems to block most of what the Aegean sun throws at us and we have avoided burning on the grill and just have a faint healthy, glow so far. What SPF is local olive oil?