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Mykonos, Santorini beckon you to Greece

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The sunset in Mykonos is epic and a draw for locals and tourists to one of Greece’s most famous islands in the Aegean Sea. (Adrian Brijbassi/Vacay.ca)

Vacay.ca is launching a Sun Getaways series to help you plan your winter and spring holidays. We will be covering destinations in the Caribbean, Mexico, United States, and Europe. The first article by Adrian Brijbassi focuses on a cruise of the Greek Isles.

Story by Adrian Brijbassi
Vacay.ca Managing Editor

MYKONOS ISLAND, GREECE — Mykonos and Santorini. Quite likely, these are the two Greek Islands people will most often name when they cite destinations for fun, romance, and beauty in the Mediterranean. They might even identify them with a hint of awe or satisfaction. The two islands evoke visions of sunsets, al-fresco dining, relaxation, and, sometimes, carnal pleasure.

After a Celestyal Cruises sailing that took me to both of these sought-after destinations, I can offer some observations on each, including travel tips that may help you plan your voyage.

Party Time in Marvellous Mykonos 

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The windmills of Mykonos were introduced to the island by the Venetians years ago. Today, they lure visitors for unforgettable photo-ops. (Adrian Brijbassi/Vacay.ca)

The island of parties and outrageous nightlife could very well be nicknamed Ibiza South. Cavo Paradiso, famed among club-goers, sometimes doesn’t open its doors until 3 am and when it does guests are treated to music from the world’s leading DJs. Recent performers have included Steve Aoki and Deadmau5.

A playground for global jet-setters, Mykonos appears to have been thoroughly insulated from the financial crisis that has decimated much of the Greek economy. The island is alive with sophisticated shopping, an immense restaurant scene with establishments running along the water’s edge and above it on cliff-side roads, and those clubs that go day and night during the height of tourist season.

Discover More: Athens Enriches With Its Culture

Mykonos is touristy but it’s also beautiful. Once you catch sight of the sunset and the joyful atmosphere in the pleasant streets of the main town of Chora, you’ll be tempted to indulge in a multi-day stay. The island is 85.5 square kilometres (33 square miles) in area, putting it about the size of Manhattan and Harlem combined. It’s home to an airport, a variety of accommodations, and stellar beaches.

Dining Tip: Roca Cookery Restaurant is in the Old Port of Mykonos, away from the row of restaurants that line the water in the area of Chora called Little Venice. It served the best meal I had in Greece, including a grilled sea bream, served whole and with roasted vegetables.

Santorini Keeps On Shining

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Santorini is the setting for a nightly sunset that sees hundreds, sometimes, thousands of people on the hilltop watching the horizon. (Adrian Brijbassi/Vacay.ca)

Oia is the name of famous resort town where the sunsets of Santorini have become a thing of lore. Half of the island was blown away when a volcano erupted 3,600 years ago. The civilization was buried after the blast, which caused catastrophe in nearby islands as well.

Although there are still active volcanoes on and around Santorini, the thought of another disaster doesn’t prevent more than 10,000 people from calling it their home year-round, or nearly 2.5 million annual visitors from arriving.

The tourists congregate mostly on the hilltop of Oia, a few hundred feet above Santorini’s shoreline and its principal town, Fira. Set on a cliff, Santorini’s main island (there are five islands that compse the destination) looks like a frosted mountain from the distance, with white-washed buildings ambling along the rock.

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Don’t forget the wine! A glass of local white wine pairs wonderfully with the Santorini sunset. (Adrian Brijbassi/Vacay.ca)

If you go, make a reservation at a restaurant to view the sunset, and plan to stay a while. (A bottle of nickteri, or “night-time wine”, will help; it is the the white wine of the island, whose viticulture dates to 3000 BCE.)

Tour buses arrive en masse, so the streets of Oia crowd with hundreds of people seeking the nightly show of the sun settling into the azure waters of the Aegean Sea. I viewed with a group at the Sun Spirit Cocktail Bar, watching the golden light plume on the horizon and then ebb into the night. The Santorini sunset proved to be more glorious than its legend lets on.

More About Celestyal Cruises

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Celestyal Cruises Olympia sails through the Aegean and Mediterranean seas multiple times a year. (Adrian Brijbassi/Vacay.ca)

Sailings and Cost: The all-inclusive four-day Iconic Aegean cruise operates from March to October. Rates start at $740 per person for sailings in 2018. The Iconic Aegean is ideal for passengers looking to see the highlights of the Greek Islands and to decide in which of them to base a longer stay. Celestyal offers additional cruises of the Greek Isles as well as Cuba.

Website: americas.celestyalcruises.com/en

More Coverage

Visit our sister magazine, VacayNetwork.com, for these features on destinations in the Aegean Sea

In Athens, the Value of Greece’s Cultural Riches Never Depreciates

Even in Ruins, Ephesus and Its Achievements Remain a Wonder

Adrian is the editor of Vacay.ca and VacayNetwork.com. He also edited "Inspired Cooking", a nutrition-focused cookbook featuring 20 of Canada's leading chefs and in support of the cancer-fighting charity, InspireHealth. "Inspired Cooking" was created in honour of Adrian's late wife and Vacay.ca co-founder, Julia Pelish, who passed away of brain cancer in 2016. Adrian has won numerous awards for his travel writing, travel photography, and fiction, and has visited more than 55 countries. He is a former editor at the Toronto Star and New York Newsday, and was the social media and advocacy manager for Destination Canada. His articles have frequently appeared in the Huffington Post, Globe & Mail, and other major publications. He has appeared on national and local broadcasts, talking about travel, sports, creative writing and journalism. In 2019, he launched Trippzy, a travel-trivia app developed to educate consumers about destinations around the world.

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