Category: Blog

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.

Mykonos is one of the few places that keeps up the beat of its world-renowned day-and-night life until around the end of October.

September and October are magical months in the Cyclades. The sometimes fierce “meltemi” —strong summer northeastern winds— ease down, revealing the natural calmness of the gorgeous Aegean Sea coastline. The air temperature is hot and can climb to unusual —for this time of the year— heights. The sea is even more beautiful and inviting than in the middle of the summer and swimming in its clear, azure waters becomes a real bliss. Of all the islands in this blessed corner of the world, Mykonos is one of the very few that keeps up the beat of its world-renowned day-and-night life until around the end of October.

So, in a sense, one could say that summer almost never ends in Mykonos. On the contrary, Mykonos connoisseurs insist that visiting this world-famous paradise off season, is a little bit like… owning it! You can have the best of everything; best private villa, best table in the most exclusive restaurants, best corner with a spectacular view at one of the super-trendy bars in the Little Venice neighborhood and so on. At your full disposal there are also carefully selected guided tours to churches and monasteries, museums, and wineries that produce fine local wines; plus amazing sailing opportunities, as the calmness of the sea allows comfortable journeys to near by islands like Tinos, Paros or Naxos.

In addition, during this time of the year Mykonos becomes the ideal destination for combining business with pleasure, and organizing corporate events like conferences, incentives etc. The island is well-prepared to address the needs of even the most demanding audiences, as there are many venues that offer state-of-the-art audiovisual and communication equipment for any kind of business event. Also, the level of services is very professional, and you will not have any problem finding the most dedicated specialists to create imaginative and innovative events of any kind. All you have to do is describe your needs and get more than you have been dreaming of; either it is about a most successful corporate occasion or about an unforgettable luxurious, almost private vacation in the amazing Greek archipelago.

Booking your tickets already, aren’t you?