The Semeli Hotel Magazine - www.semelihotel.gr Semeli The Hotel - Magazine | Page 84

Mykonos’ other side
Mykonos is not only about celebrities who party hard.
And it is its multi faceted personality which makes it
so irresistibly charming
Beaches for those in the know
Light and airy at daytime, hauntingly mysterious at night,
Mykonos is a world class tourist Mecca: The playground
of choice of champagne sipping, scantily clad celebrities,
European royalty and Arab princes, international jet set-
ters – and everyone in between. Who flock here to live the
dream: To see and be seen, to eat in gourmet restaurants
and relax at opulent hotels, to shop designer clothes at
2:00 in the morning, go clubbing until dawn and then con-
tinue to party on the beach.
What most are not aware of however is that the island
of winds has a double personality: Glamorous, excessive
84
and cosmopolitan on the one hand; picturesque, authentic,
serene –almost zen-like– on the other. For even in high
season there are still beautiful, empty beaches, without gi-
gantic sunbeds and overpriced cocktails to uncover, as well
as traditional tavernas with honest, good food, significant
archeological sites, old mines and shipwrecks that call for
underwater exploration.
In other words, adventure in Mykonos takes many
forms. For those willing to take the path less travelled,
below are some valuable tips:
There are cosmopolitan, organized beaches where you’ll
dance to the latest tunes –and there are beaches where
the only soundtrack is that of the splashing of the waves
and the singing of the seagulls. Here you’ll find shelter not
in luxurious sunbeds, but on the warm sand, under the
sparse trees or the large granite rocks; and you’ll quench
your thirst not with fancy concoctions but with the water
you –thoughtfully– remembered to bring along.
West of Agios Ioannis, follow the path to tiny, windy
Capari beach: one of the best secrets of those in the know,
with a magnificent view of Delos and the magical sunset.
If the wind doesn’t blow too much, it is certainly worth
to pay a visit to Phanari, after Houlakia beach. Agios Sos-
tis is another “must” for the more adventurous types. No
sunbeds here either, only a majestic, imposing scenery
with lava’s brown clashing beautifully with the golden sand.
Once you find yourselves here, you should definitely eat
at Kiki’s taverna on top of the hill. It has no electricity, so
everything is prepared on charcoal. Be patient however.
There might be a long wait for a table, but then again not
even Abramovich (and his likes) are allowed to make a
reservation at Kiki’s.
Merchia is also a spot of paradise lost for peace and
quiet seekers: A tiny, serene beach, tucked in the north-
eastern part of Mykonos, 8 km away from Ano Mera, with
no sign of organized facilities. Make sure you bring water
and supplies with you and keep in mind that it requires
driving on a dirt road. Yet this isolated pebbly beach, prob-
ably the most remote one on the island, is bound to reward
you with its crystal clear waters and beautiful vistas. Stay
till the sun goes down and watch the scenic fishermen’s
houses and the chapel of St Nicholas at dusk, lying right on
the rocks at the tip of the cove – it is surely a sight you’ll
remember in the years to come.
Adventure island
Besides its intense night-and day life and cosmopolitan (or
more secluded) beaches, Mykonos has many other facets
waiting to be discovered-and enjoyed.
Deserted yet fascinating, the old mines beckon those
willing to explore the crumbling buildings that once housed
the island’s miners. Tread carefully among the ruins, listen
to the howling wind and look out for the sole surviving in-
habitant: the small crocodile, also known as the mykonian
lizard. Though not as famous as his counterpart, Peter the
Pelican, in fact it is Mykonos’ true mascot!
The next spots that call for exploration lie underwater.
There are two wrecks on the island that remain almost
intact on its seabed. “Anna II” is a cargo ship that sank in
1995, very close to Lia beach. Resting at a depth of 20 to
30 metres, it functions as an artificial reef attracting many
marine life species. “Peloponnese”, on the other hand, lies
on the northeastern side of Mykonos at over 55 meters.
The boat which sank in 1926, is cut in two and is preferred
by more experienced divers, due to the location’s harsh
weather conditions and great depth. Next stop is Tragon is-
si, also known as Dragonissi, about a mile from the north-
eastern coast of Mykonos. A protected area and refuge of
Monachus Monachus, Tragonissi is a beautiful, small rocky
island, with a unique system of caves and caverns, which
make it ideal for underwater exploration.
85