Mykonos

Mykonos 7/9/07 5:40 AM

Uploading photos is challenging here on board. I'll try to keep adding photos to the albums as time permits!


Good Morning from Kusadasi, Turkey! Right now the computer is telling me that it’s 10:30PM Sunday on the East Coast. Here, I’m watching the sunrise from the pool deck and it’s 5:30 Monday morning. James and Josie were both snoring when I slipped out of the cabin. We don’t expect to see Maddie and Leah for a few more hours – they’ve made a nice group of friends here on board and have been hanging out late at the Teen Lounge.

Yesterday, our ship arrived in Mykonos around 1 in the afternoon. We were in no hurry to get on shore – the ship was tendered in the harbour and the boats going ashore were taking forever. It was really windy and the seas were rough. James is still complaining that I insisted on bringing the jogging stroller (strollerzilla) but it has been invaluable – allowing Josie to recline and nap while we made our way through the winding alleys of Mykonos Town. In addition, an umbrella stroller would have been useless on the cobblestone streets of Rome and the other ancient ports we’re scheduled to visit.

We had a great visit to Mykonos. Picture the beautiful white washed buildings up against a sparkling Aegean Sea. It’s a postcard come to life. The people are just so friendly – Josie was hugged, kissed and given candy by nearly every Greek Grandmom on the island! We had visited here 2 years ago so I was familiar with the basic layout of town . Maddie and Leah were looking for unique clothing items and jewelry – those items that they were SURE none of their friends would have when they returned home. I took this as a good sign that both girls are embracing independent thought and personal expression. Josie seems to be growing before our eyes – insisting on accompanying the girls and I into the various shops and making sure to say ‘thank you’ to each shopkeeper as we leave. I picked up two beautifully embroidered cotton blouses for Josie. Maddie and Leah got matching shirts – very beautiful on each of them – in different colors. Leah chose a smoky gray color ,which complimented her eyes and Maddie went for the ‘can miss me’ Pink. That was the extent of our purchases, I’m proud to say.

The last tender was not due back to the ship until 10:30PM, so we planned to have dinner in town. We found a lovely Taverna tucked away in a courtyard by a white-washed church. During dinner we were visited by a local celebrity – the island’s mascot – a HUGE pink pelican. It stood at least a half a foot taller than our Josie . The pelican was a show in and of itself. Walking into the restaurant , into the kitchen and waiting to be fed a whole fish by the chef. The kids just loved it.

After dinner, we wandered around town a bit more. I found an awesome linen shop with most beautiful items. I was looking for an embroidered tablecloth to fit our fully extended dining room table- to no avail. But the craftsmanship was amazing and I enjoyed just looking. We visited a few of the small churches that seem to materialize in the most unusual places. They are so tiny and so ornately decorated – just beautiful.

Our nighttime activities are limited, given Josie’s bedtime. We’ve been turning in relatively early and watching back episodes of ‘The Closer’ that James downloaded from iTunes. We’re not the hard-partying types anyway. Maddie and Leah have been checking in at the intervals that we require and observing the mandated curfew for those under 18 (midnight).

That’s about it for yesterday. Today we will visit Ephesus and the House of Mary – the home where she is said to have lived and died once her son was crucified. The streets of Ephesus are said to have been traveled by Anthony and Cleopatra. The ancient theater is said to be the spot where the Apostle Paul addressed the Ephesians (I think it was Paul). Anyway, it’s an amazing place. It’s going to be 96 degrees here today, so our visits will no doubt be somewhat quick.

I’ll let you know how it goes!