Mykonos Madness

When our class selected (ironically, by democracy) to go to Mykonos Greece for the Grad trip, I had nightmares of Cancun and Palma Mallorca and party destinations like that; devoid of culture and character. News articles were circulated about how the island has become a destination for alternative tourism and how that has permeated the nightlife on the rock.

But, Mykonos has been wonderful. Yes, there is party central, which we have come to know well; however, to my surprise, there are also signs of life outside of the tourist industry.

Our adventure began with a pre-sunset visit to the Acropolis in Athens. Situated on a hill in the middle of the sprawling city, the ancient structure somehow still seems to fit the landscape. Our Athens experience was brief and we were quickly off to Mykonos by ferry early the next morning.

We wasted no time finding the nightlife; indeed as exciting as the reputation would suggest. But, by day, the island has a lot to offer, and we were among the few to head out to see it.

 

So, while many of our friends were passing the day on the sand under the cancer rays, I rented an ATV with some others and we explored the island. ATVs are a popular way to get around - and every now and then you'll find one doubled up with two shirtless, tanned and buffed out dudes in tow.

Armed with a New York Times '36 Hours In' article, we hit every corner of the island in search of the finest cuisine and sights. Despite the wide readership of the NYT, the suggested destinations were surprisingly unspoiled.

And, in a small restaurant off the beaten path, I ate the most spectacular octopus I've ever had.

We worked off lunch going up to an old lighthouse overlooking miles of ocean. Breathtaking.

And played around in the sun. While everyone was nursing hangovers, we discovered the magic of Mykonos by day.

Though there were more than 300 of us that came out to celebrate graduation here, my time in Mykonos will stand out as some very special days with my closest friends from INSEAD. I guess that all good things must come to an end.