This cosmopolitan lady of the Cyclades is zealously loved by the winds and by celebrities. Nightlife is the ultimate identifier of the island which welcomes and indulges visitors from every corner of the globe. Yet at the same time, Mykonos has managed to preserve its traditions. White-washed houses with Aegean-blue shutters and wooden balconies adorned with jaunty blossoms in colorful flowerpots frame the town’s cobblestone lanes that have become the catwalk of the rich and famous. Alefkandra, the beloved quarter of the artists and aesthetes, exudes a magical charm with its homes set over the water and lashed by the sea. A row of windmills stands over the town battling the winds. Other sights are the Church of Panayia Paraportiani, the picturesque Ano Mera, gorgeous beaches pulsating to the vibes of beach bars, luxurious seaside sundecks, and all just a breath away by caique from Delos, the uninhabited island where the god Apollo was born. The way to one’s heart, however, is through the stomach—and here Mykonos has to offer its famed louza, salted sun-cured lean pork flavored with savory. There’s also bouboula, which is made from pork tenderloin rather than back. Equally popular is Mykonos’s famed kopanisti, a soft sharp cheese, is stored in a ceramic or glass jar and sealed with olive oil. Other specialties are amygdalota (marzipan cookies), skordomakarona mostra (pasta cooked in a garlicky tomato-olive oil sauce) and served with local cheese.
