Woke up in Ermoupoli this morning (don't worry about all the funny names, they are mainly for our reference when we get home and start sorting photos!!!) - on the island of Syros.
Another day, another island ride but in fact each one is different and with its own charm and beauty. Syros is greener than most of the other islands and is economically quite reasonably well off with industry and tourism and agriculture.
Again had the option of extended or shorter ride and we both opted for the extended ride today and the views were worth it - the "mountain" legs are back and we can face the hills quite well now. We had a morning tea stop-over at Poseidonias beach - really beautiful of course - and then the usual climb up to about 450mteres for the views and mountain top villages. Back to the boat by 1.30 for a boat swim in a beautiful little bay just out of Ermoupoli harbour. Bliss.
Note for any cyclists in the "audience" - would we recommend riding in the Greek Islands?? - ABSOLUTELY. Only to issues to be aware of (1) the bikes are set up opposite to ours - front brake on opposite side so if you brake in the usual left-right sequence you will end up head over heels! (2) you have to get used to the fact that you always start at sea level in a harbour and are immediately faced with 10-15% climbs with no warm-up - somewhat daunting + the roads are built on the old donkey trails so 15-20% inclines are not uncommon. BUT - the downhills are just fantastic!! Summary - some of the hardest cycling we have done but also the most rewarding.
After the swim, lunch while the boat set sail for the famous Mykanos Island with some more windy weather threatening. Fortunately, the wind came to nothing so we anchored in Mykonos harbour late in the afternoon. This is quite a famous tourist spot and "parked" beside us in the harbour was the "Costa Pacifica", sister ship to the "Costa Concordia" - looks exactly the same!!
Great afternoon and night in Mykonos - went to a bar in "little venice" to watch the sunset and had our first ouzo - only mildly impressed but ok. Beautiful grilled fish for dinner. Quite funny as we were transfered to shore via our ship's little dingy while the Costa passengers were being t'fered in much larger craft! Great time had by all.
Trivia: "Mykonos" comes from a Phoenecian word meaning "poor earth" - very barren. Depends largely on the huge tourist industry
Pictures
* us on the scenic view above the beautiful city of Ermoupoli - about 450 metres (30km ride)
*Us (again!!!) at Mykonos - "Little Venice" in the background
* sunset at Mykonos - our little boat anchored in the harbour
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