we started our trip...

...to mykonos like this:


with m saluting...well...we don't really know what.

















me looking kinda evil and m looking suspicious of the camera altogether...







and me doing my best 'top of the pyramid' pose.





















we stopped at the first internet espresso cafe we liked, where m quickly got checked out and commented on by a group of beautiful men in spanish...little did they realize...he might know a word or two of it. nice fellas! we found the location of a hotel we'd looked at and made our way there. we accidentally took, well, the long route. when we arrived at Galini Hotel no one was home. the man that lives across the path said we'd have to call the number on the sign. after doing so to no avail, he came back and said she would be on her way there in a few minutes. (apparently she lives a few meters from the hotel, he had walked to her place to inform her of new guests) while we waited i found this beautiful man to take pictures of.




































once she arrived we unpacked our belongings and set off to rent our 4-wheeler. yesss!!















































we pitter putted up some hills but it was still a fun, open-road trek. we had fun with it.

we headed to Super Paradise beach first. we start big, kids. we were 2 of 4 people on the beach. the water was too cold to pee in so i searched for a toilet in the abandoned bar. no luck. i found some outdoor shower stalls and deduced they would do. i did not count on the water being shut off. oops. traveler's tip: if you venture to mykonos, super paradise beach, don't use the showers as toilets during the off-season. *sorry no pictures for you* as we were leaving m opted for the better 'pee on the foliage' option. unfortunately a construction worker surprised us which forced a 'cut the line off' procedure and resulted in a 'get a little pee on yourself' situation for m. fun was had by all.

on the way back to town...




























we wandered the windy streets of our neighborhood and over the next couple of days realized that the daytime street wandering was the way to go since at about 17:00 the cruise ships anchor and the island is invaded by these ships' patrons. and as i've mentioned before i don't do well in tiny streets filled with dumb people and their fanny packs.

we found some delicious dinner. and we ate it.

we geniuses thought it would be a good idea to take a nap since we were going to be going out that night. we were tired and figured this to be a perfect fix. set the alarm for 23:30 and we'll be set. don't ever do this. it rarely works. i woke up around 4:30 the next morning confused, tired, and a little bummed. too late to salvage the night, too early to actually wake up and start the day. ha.

day 2 started with yummy greek yoghurt, nuts, and honey and disgusting coffee. 1 out of 2 ain't bad. wait, that's not right.




we headed for Platos Yialos beach and the opportunity for a 'Davidoff' spot sponsored by Coca-Cola presented itself.








































once back in town this beauty location presented itself. we thought a female 'Davidoff' campaign should be added.














































who can resist? more davidoff!!




































i feel it must be said this day was one of my favorites.





































we eventually ended up by the water, near 'little venice' for reading, coffeeing, and sunsetting.
































this time we did not try to take naps. instead we took shots. it worked out much better for us. we club/bar hopped bopping and weaving our way through various crowds of young americans (why are we so glaringly distinguishable?) some locals had given us the heads up to some, uh, local bars. we headed there and enjoyed being stared at. haha. the rest of the night was spent singing obnoxious songs to one another (ones that the bartenders must have liked us singing...or hated...because they bought us shots)

we woke up the next day, had crepes and cappuccinos, and as we were leaving the island of mykonos we shot what would be our last 'Davidoff' spot of the trip...

....upload was taking too long...try later.

after watching...

...an nyc sunrise rounds abouts 6am this morning from some les rooftop i am now in the midst of watching an 8pm-ish sunset from my gpoint rooftop. a sweaty, dancy evening led to a rooftop gathering of strangers and friends. a fun time all around. after sleeping for a few hours i awoke to meet s.f. for brunch at my new favorite place, Moto. we caught up and shared splendid food. it's beautiful again today so i thought i would ascend my ladder and update this thing from the outside. i love wireless internet.

so ready again, if you will, for time travel. for this i will take you all the way back to around April 8th in greece.

m and i headed for the island of tinos, which had been recommended for its natural beauty and small villages by many locals. but first another oddly detailed sign from the greeks. this was on the ferry.


















once off the ferry and very hungry we looked for a good place to eat. being veteran travelers as we are we did not stop at the first places we saw, nearest the port. we wandered further in and sat at a nice table outside. we made scrumptious selections, palates moistening, only to be told they didn't have most of what we wanted. bummer to the max dude...yeah, i'll let you sit with that a moment.

the man kept telling us 'it's okay. it's no problem.' when he would suggest alternative menu items. we would ask if they had something, 'it's no problem', then he would come back and say 'we have this (anything you can think of that is as far from what we wanted). it's no problem'. it was hilarious...in a frustrated, hungry people way. ha. we just went with it. luckily, everything he did bring us was delicious. our tummy's full, our caffeine juiced batteries charged we went about renting a car for the day.

we stopped in one place, weren't happy with the prices, went to the next and i am happy we did. we walked into a group of older men sitting around...well...sitting around. i think only one of them worked there. one of the non-workers asked where we were from "new york" m answered. "oh my wife has been there. she is in california right now. i am going to go there some day. to america." another non-worker on the other side of the worker's desk responded sarcastically, dryly "is this the truth? will you go? will you go to america?" the energy amongst them all was great, familiar, comfortable. the conversation eventually turned to hunting dogs, as all of them were hunting men. i told them my father used to breed amc purebred bluetick hound dogs. excellent hunting dogs. the next thing you know 3 men are scouring the internet trying to find information and pictures about the breed. haha. we left with a car and m drove us around the island.

there was only a bit of traffic...


















the clouds that day were so gorgeous (and the high winds kept them ever changing)...




































as were the villages...
































































and the light in them...


























m also takes pictures.

























the local brick oven pizza cooker??










we ended up in the port town of panormos right around golden hour. it was serene and crisp there. we walked around, but mostly took pictures and then opted for some local red.
(also, most of these are m's)





































































































































m drove us back to tinos town, stopping along the way for pictures of goats and sunsets behind churches and beautifulness.

























































































that night in tinos town we searched small streets for a restaurant and found a pretty good one that i don't remember the name of. afterwards we goofed around in the square and on our balcony. you had to be there.










































the next morning m was taking pictures of my butt.
what can i say? he has a good eye. :)






i came across these:

















also, to our own astonishment, we almost forgot to return the car. haha. i take it as a sign we were both so relaxed no responsibilities existed. we bought our tickets to mykonos, sat for cappuccinos and ran into a guy we had met the day before in the village of piergos. he joined us and eventually we got into a conversation about him. seven years prior he was hit by a bus while riding his motorcycle. he walks and speaks slowly. his memory, he says, fails him often. neither of us had the heart to ask if he was wearing a helmet, but i assume not. he's spent the years working very hard in rehab (in germany and athens-which he hates) in order to walk and speak again. he was very nice and genuinely happy to be on tinos (where his parents live) for the summer months.

it was a perfect reminder as we headed to mykonos, where we rented an atv.

i'll save another adventure for another day.