Author: M Mykonos Villas

Early March and the vaccination race opens the window to a summer with hopefully less restrictions than those of last year. Accurate predictions are hard to make, of course, but the warm, dry climate of the ever-sunny Cycladic islands adds more hope for an as Covid-free as possible holiday season.

The magical journey to Mykonos starts from the moment the plane starts descending towards the island’s International Airport. Below your feet, the Aegean Sea looks like a cobalt blue carpet, decorated with smaller and bigger rocks spread in a circle. No wonder why this part of the Archipelago is called Cyclades; from the Greek word kyklos that means circle. The islands here form a rough circle around the sacred island of Delos, neighboring to Mykonos, which, according to the myth, was the birthplace of Artemis, ancient goddess of hunting and her brother Apollo, god of music. Once in Mykonos don’t miss the opportunity to take a fascinating daily guided tour there, as it is one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece.

And the “not to miss” list doesn’t end here, for Mykonos hides a paradise in every corner. From the amazing coastline with dozens sandy beaches, where the crystal-clear waters have the most beautiful azure colors you’ve ever seen, to the mouthwatering cuisine and the legendary nightlife, for more than 7 decades Mykonos has been and still is the top international destination for trendsetters and celebrities from around the globe.

You will love it for its most picturesque neighborhoods like Little Venice, its narrow alleys, crowded with boutiques that don’t close before midnight and bars where drinks are being served till early in the morning, when the small, elegant café open their doors. You will love it for the wild parties at the beach bars, the beautiful Byzantine monasteries and the whitewashed chapels “hanging” at the top of dry, rocky cliffs. You will love it for the endless opportunities of having fun by enjoying extreme watersports, yachting, shopping, and feeling like this super exciting place of the earth was made especially for you, to have the time of your life!

Keep in mind, however, that even if you’ve been vaccinated you will still need to take safety precautions — so get ready to pack your masks and hand sanitizers, too! 😷

Usually, January, February and March are the coldest months in Greece. Even in the islands of the Cyclades, where the climate is milder than in the northern part of the country, temperatures remain low. There are even a few —not many though— possibilities of snowing!

January and February are two very quiet months; and not only this year, due to the COVID-19 lockdowns all over the world. Especially February is usually the quietest period of the whole year. This month is also called “drunk”, because of its unstable weather and because it marks the time for pruning vines and planting new ones. People often say that when February’s “veins” (underground streams) get filled with water, the air will start smelling like summer!

Under normal circumstances, somewhere between February and March people celebrate the Carnival (“Apokries” in Greek). In Mykonos, like in the rest of the country, celebrations are full of inspiration, including group masquerades, singing, dancing, joking and a lot of wine drinking. The peak of this… foolery comes on Fat Thursday (“Tsiknopempti”), a day when barbecuing is an undisputable must, and then on the last Sunday, also called “Great Carnival Sunday”. The day after, known as Clean Monday, with people traditionally flying kites in the countryside, is the beginning of a 40day Fasting period that will end on Easter day.

Of course, the pandemic that started almost a year ago has changed everything — and all these wonderful traditions are put on ice, until next year.

This is the year to choose optimism

We choose to be optimistic, though; after all, before we even know it, summer smells will start flooding the sky of Mykonos. The first works for the coming season usually begin during the last days of February. The locals become tireless busy bees, whitewashing the walls of their houses, repainting doors, and window shutters, fixing their boats, renovating shops, reequipping the beaches, and preparing for the notorious Mykonian holiday frenzy!

What they hope, along with the rest of the world, is that at the end of the winter the pandemic will start receding, allowing us to gradually retrieve our lives.

By then, Mykonos will be ready to welcome its visitors from all over the planet to show them the irresistible beauties of this rare Aegean diamond; sunny skies, crystal-clear azure-blue waters, golden sandy beaches, a fascinating landscape and an amazing coastline, exceptional food and rocking nightlife and, most of all, the most heartwarming hospitality in a paradise where luxury is a true art!  

From all of us at M Mykonos Villas, best wishes for a safe and happy New Year!

Delos is a tiny island, only a mile and a half away from Mykonos. Famous for its antiquities, it is a quiet rock located in the center of the Cyclades complex, deserted yet visited by thousands of tourists every year.

Unlike its busy, ever-rocking neighbor, in Delos there are no boutiques, restaurants, organized beaches, or night clubs here to entertain travelers; just beautiful seawaters, ancient temples and maybe the most beautiful sunset in the Aegean archipelago!

The Myth

According to Greek mythology, the island of Delos is where Leto gave birth to Zeus’ twins, Artemis and Apollo. It is a fascinating story where Leto, Zeus’ “mistress”, got pregnant from him, driving Hera, Zeus’s wife, crazily jealous. So, when Leto was about to give birth, Hera ordered all the lands in Greece to refuse shelter to her. Immediately Zeus told Poseidon, ancient god of the seas, to locate a safe, hidden place for her; which he did. When Leto flew away from Athens in despair, she was led to the tiny, rocky island. Here she gave birth to Apollo, later god of music and Artemis, later goddess of hunting.

This is how Delos became “sacred”. Its secret was revealed in the late 19^th century by French archaeologists who discovered, among other, many spectacular temples made mostly of marble and even gold. They also discovered breathtaking statues dedicated to Apollo, Artemis, Hera, Zeus, and other ancient gods.

Delos, Then and Now

Being at the heart of the Cyclades, especially in the Mycenaean period Delos was a famous stop for traders. Thus, it gained the fame of a busy, cosmopolitan corner of the Aegean. This was confirmed by the findings of the excavations that included many market areas, a hippodrome, a gymnasium, and a theatre for thousands of spectators.

Today, Delos island remains a fascinating open-air museum, hosting rare antiquities from the Archaic, Classical, and Hellenistic periods. There is also an archaeological museum on the island where one can admire 7 from the maybe 12 marble lions that once stood proudly with their mouths open as if they were roaring. The lions were initially guarding the sacred lake where, according to all these beautiful myths, Apollo was born.

Once in the area, visiting Delos is an absolute must; and very easy too, since it is a just a short boat ride from Mykonos with very frequent connection! Just book a villa to be your base and plan your trip to this magical place.