Contrary to popular belief, Mykonos is so much more than a party island…
When I was about to travel to this magical paradise, a lot of people warned me that this island was full of parties and not exactly the place for yoga. Yet after 6 weeks of being here it's clear we choose what we want to see.
(Photo credits: Brian Wcislo)
Contrary to a chaotic party scene I have had a peaceful and loving time, and in the following paragraphs I will explain in greater detail.
The heavenly beaches
Mykonos is a small island of 85,5 km2 where you can find some crowded beaches with music, chairs all over the beach and lots people on a non stop mode drinking beers and cocktails. But this is just one side of the island. Fortunately for me, there is so much more to see and experience. Parties are nice, but lately, on the last years, I have been looking for more quiet experiences.
(Photo credits: Luana Fara)
I have visited the most beautiful and tranquil hidden beaches where the acoustic of the rocks blends with the silence over an hypnotic ocean, enchanting the soul. The beaches I have liked the most have been Agios Sostis, Fokos and Ftelia. But my favorite is Kapari. In such a small island it seems that everyplace could be kind of similar scenery, but they are so different, the beauty is so diverse! Each place has a different color on the rocks, a different texture of the sand, a different range of blue and turquoise in the water.
(Photo credits: left and right, Luana Fara/ center, Brian Wcislo)
The white town
In Mykonos I have had enjoyable moments of space with myself, and the ones I have enjoyed the most have been when I have gone for a walk down the streets and the little alleys in town, surrounded by the shining of the white house's, dressed with pink bougainvilleas, highlighted with the oceanic blue windows, doors and balconies.
(Photo credits: left, Brian Wcislo/ center and right, Luana Fara)
Sometimes there are lots of tourists, but it is always possible to find a space where I can sit and observe in peace the movement of the streets, sometimes with a coffee, sometimes with a glass of wine and other times, with a pistachio ice cream.
One of the most visited spots on the island, is the Little Venice. A corner on the other side of the harbor, where tourists come together to watch the favorite spectacle of the day: the sunset. A parade of marvelous colors melting the blue of the sky in an explosion of oranges and pinks. It is worthy to sit in one of the expensive tavernas in front of the ocean and join the final applause with which the last act of the big star closes.
(Photo credits: Brian Wcislo)
For the ones that are looking for shopping, it is easy to find modern and original clothes, shoes and jewelry, but I must say that, Mykonos is an expensive island. There are lots of local designer shops, art galleries and souvenirs where to spend thousands of dollars in a few days.
Two main attractions on the town are the Windmills and the Church of Paraportiani. It is hard to believe that in such a small island you can find more than 400 chapels, and some of them, with a magnificent architecture, have been declared historical monuments.
(Photo credits: left, Brian Wcislo/ center and right, Luana Fara)
Most of the local people are now more dedicated to the tourist industry, and in high season you will find many people from Athens, Serbia, Macedonia, Albania and so many countries from southeast Europe working full time at restaurants, bars, hotels and tavernas. They don't care too much about free days, the only time for making money for the rest of the year is about 4 months which is the high season. But besides this rush, it is still possible to see sailors at the Port and farmers taking care of the goats in the early morning.
The gastronomy
The food in Greece is delicious! For a vegetarian it might be a little difficult to have a full gastronomic experience, as it was for me, but there are always options. I am not a vegetarian, because sometimes I eat fish, but still my animal consumption is very little. However, even under this circumstances it has been a pleasant experience to try the local gastronomy. I have eaten delicious Greek salads, special eggplant based dishes, the best lentil salads I have ever had, and of course, my favorite food from Greece: Dolmades, which consist on soft grape leaves stuffed with rice and herbs, with a delicious vinegar taste. Also, there is a very tasty dish that suits vegetarians, called Horta: steamed Greens with Olive and lemon juice. Simple and delicious. If you want to spend little money and eat something delicious and traditional, go to a bakery and ask for a spinach pie, I have to say that I have not tried a better spinach before in my whole life.
(Photo credits: Luana Fara)
It is time to talk about desserts. I try not to eat too much sugar and bread because I easily get addicted to them and they bring nothing good to my health when consumed without moderation, however, you cannot have a complete gastronomic experience if you don’t try the most traditional dessert: Baklava. It is like heaven in a bite.
My favorite restaurant so far is Joanna’s Niko’s Place at Megali Amos beach. The food is amazing, the ambience, the view of the sunset in front of the ocean, and live Greek Traditional music. There are two more restaurants that I definitely recommend. One is called Maria’s, in town, where the owner surprised me with his knowledge about Costa Rican futbol players. The other is Kikis Tavern, at Agios Sostis beach, where I found the most delicious salad bar I have ever tried. The place is small and very familiar. There are no reservations and all the food is cooked on the grilled, no electricity and no credit cards. If you want to have a table for eating you might have to arrive 1 hour in advance. But the waiting is worthy, not only because they give free water and wine to the people waiting outside, but because of the amazing view of the ocean.
(Photo credits: Brian Wcislo)
My yoga trade/working experience
During all this time in Mykonos, I have been teaching yoga at a cosy beautiful studio at a Bed & Breakfast called Villa Konstantin, and the experience has been self rewarding. This is the first time I actually work in an exchange modality, but I have to say I like it a lot. I have learned so much about myself, and about the value of working and collaborating. By observing the lovely owner of this place, Sharon, taking care of her family and her business, finding solutions for the daily challenges, listening to people’s needs and always looking to do the right thing, I have learned so much about commitment and dedication, about consistency and patience. If I come as a tourist to this island, I will chose this place, not only because it is beautiful, but because you can feel the heart of its story and the love that has been put in each corner of its space.
(Photo credits: Brian Wcislo)
It has been quite challenging to teach regular yoga classes, specially after the last couple of years teaching workshops only. And it has been even more challenging to find ways to transfer and communicate the message I want to share through a yoga class, to keep my beliefs, the teachings I have received, and my whole life paradigm transformation in terms of how to live through yoga. I don't feel comfortable teaching on the same line I used to teach before. But we always attract the people that can reflect what we need to keep growing or expanding, and usually those people are vibrating on a similar frequency. Each student that has come to the class, has made me grow in so many different ways. More than students, each person that joins me on the mat becomes also a teacher and a friend. Each day of my life I understand more how nothing in this life happens by chance or by accident. I feel more than grateful with the whole experience of sharing yoga in this place.
(Photo credits: Brian Wcislo)
Love in Mykonos, the best first date ever
I found my soul-fire-mate. We actually found each other. I am not going to write about our love story because for that I will need another and even longer blog post. But I will say that before arriving to Mykonos, we realized we were in each other for such a long time, and it took us some time to realize about that. After some time of a lovely friendship, we found each other’s soul. Mykonos has been the place where we met for the first time as partners and lovers. The most romantic first date of the most fascinating love story I have ever lived or heard about.
(Photo credits: Brian Wcislo- iphone only)
Is it possible to ask for more?
I don’t think so. But as if it was not enough, in one week I will have the honor of receiving the visit of my mother in this magic land and share with her all the beauty I have experienced here. Life is fabulous! We just have to learn to see the things we want to see. What I have seen in Mykonos is not less than peace, beauty, quietness, love and happiness. The power of intention is bigger than what we understand!