When anyone hears the words "Greek Islands" the first thought that pops into their heads are the beautiful beaches, white buildings, and adorable winding roads. Mykonos is no exception to this. This island has picturesque landscapes around every corner, with the mountains lining the horizon of the oceans. Most of the island consists of hotels and residential areas, and because of this there is one town that many people are drawn to. The town of Chora is located right along the water of the Aegean Sea, and this location allows you to have a breathtaking view of the sea, and the island, from anywhere you look.
When you approach the town of Chora, you follow the water on your right and the restaurants lined up on the left. When you turn the corner of the first restaurant, you can see this amazing view of the town! This town is the quintessential Greek town. It has cobblestone streets, with small paths that twist and turn, and because of this it is very easy to get lost in the shops, which is not always a bad thing.
When you walk through one of the many side streets to enter into the town, you will find hundreds of adorable shops. Most of them are locally owned, with handmade jewelry and accessories. The shop owners are more than willing to help you find anything you need, and because many of the items are handmade, they are able to adjust them to fit you perfectly. As you walk through the streets you can find anything you may want: jewelry, shoes, clothing, purses, and souvenirs. A lot of the items you can find in Chora are very fairly priced, and if you search hard enough you can even get a great deal. A couple of the store owners have allowed us to negotiate the price lower, because they understand the exchange rate is not in our favor. As you walk through the side streets you will see all of the smaller-owned shops, but if you find your way further back, you can find some brand name stores. I unexpectedly came across a Victoria's Secret, Louis Vuitton, and Longchamp! While in Mykonos, I suggest trying to shop at the smaller stores, because you can always shop at these other stores while at home.
All of the stores have the iconic white buildings with blue doors and window panels. Many stores have stairs with beautiful flowers hanging in every direction. You can turn around some corners and have the most beautiful view of the oceans situated between the many shops and restaurants. Shopping in this town is so exciting, because you can find the most beautiful and exotic items. A lot of the jewelry has blue stones, and pops of color. The necklaces are oversized and so much fun to pair with any outfit. One very popular piece of jewelry that you will find in almost any shop you walk into is the evil eye charm. This symbol has been linked back to the Mesopotamians about 5,000 years ago. Many religions believed receiving the evil eye glare from someone casted a curse on you, bringing misfortune and bad luck. Through this fear, the evil eye pendant was created to protect people from this curse. Now this charm can be seen in many cultures and in a lot of jewelry around Greece. Many styles originate in Europe and slowly make their way to America. One of the styles I have noticed popping up a lot are platform shoes. If you happen to go shopping in Chora, make sure to grab a couple of styles you haven't noticed at home so you can be ahead of the trend!
(This set of pictures was taken by Jaylene Murillo)
Chora is not just known for its amazing stores, it also has some really beautiful views. You can get a wonderful view of the island, where you can see the white houses lined along the mountainsides. Greece is home to many stray cats. Cats in Greece are not kept as house pets like in the US, but they are allowed to breed naturally and live on their own. Since Greece has mild winters, and a lot of food, these cats are easily able to survive without the need to live in a home. Many Greeks like having the cats around because not only do they kill off the mice, but they also can kill snakes and scorpions. These cats are very friendly, and willing to come up and allow you to pet them. The last picture above, is on the other side of the town of Chora, and it is Little Venice. This beautiful section of the town is home to many restaurants and romantic views. You can also get a great view of the well-known windmills in Mykonos.
When in Mykonos, you have to shop in the adorable town of Chora. Make sure to pick up a couple of souvenirs, blue stoned jewelry, and a new evil eye necklace! Tomorrow we are leaving this beautiful Island and heading to Santorini! Make sure to stay connected, so you can read about our amazing adventures!
