Sandy and Tom: MYKONOS, GREECE

MYKONOS, GREECE

This Greek island, that lies between Tinos, Paros, Naxos, and Syros in the Southern Aegean Sea, is everything it’s cracked up to be—pure paradise. With its rapid rise as one of the most popular vacation destinations in the world, the island accommodates millions of visitors in posh resorts offering white sand beaches, radiant blue waters, and a hopping nightlife. Mykonos encompasses just 33 square miles and houses about 10,000 residents year round. Findings show that settlement dates back to the early part of the 11^th Century BC. In the early 20^th century the island relied upon fishing as a primary industry, but once word got out of the natural beauty of the area, tourism transformed this once poor island into a bustling hotspot. Onassis brought his party friends here. All the rich and famous of the world made this their playground.

In a part of town called little Venice the buildings have been built on the edge of the sea with balconies hanging over the water. In the Kastro neighborhood there is the Church of Panagia Paraportiani, which is comprised of five separate churches and took about 200 years to complete from start to finish.

The tops of the white stone houses are flat to collect rain water. They now have a water system but still collect water just in case of a drought. In the old days they painted their houses with lime to make them all white and to disinfect them. Today it is their law the houses still must be white but they paint with an acrylic paint. They also paint around the rocks in their streets. They all paint once a year to be completed by 1 May for the tourist season.

There are one thousand chapels in town because a family can have a private one. There are 70 churches. 98% of the people are Greek Orthodox.