Milos

It is said that when Poseidon, the god of the sea to the ancient Greeks, was angry, he would strike the sea with his trident causing high waves and rough seas. However, when he was in a good mood he would simply stretch out his hand and still the sea. Based on this, my guess is that today Poseidon was simply a bit…grumpy. Because of his morning moods, we headed straight for the sheltered port of Adamas on Milos.

Milos is famous in the Cyclades for its dramatic rock formation and hot springs, but mostly for its rich minerals. The day started with a walking tour of the port town Adamas. Afterwards, some of us opted for a walk and a cold drink along the waterfront. At lunchtime, we all headed back to the Panorama for some Greek style food and drinks as well as some Greek style siestas.

In the afternoon, we departed for more exploration of the island. Our first stop was Phylakopi and Papafrangas, an ancient settlement with “Cyclopean” walls and a beautiful rock formation with waves crashing through. The second stop was Sarakiniko, an absolutely beautiful spot formed of hot welded volcanic ash two or three million years ago. The white cliffs, caves and blue water made it a photographer’s dream. After this, we went to visit the archeological area of ‘”Tripiti”, the spot where the famous marble statue “Venus de Milo” was excavated in 1820. Now, like so many other Greek treasures, it no longer lives in Greece. It was purchased shortly after its discovery as a gift for Louis XVIII and can now be seen in the Louvre in Paris. Our last stop was the beautiful little town of Plaka situated on top of a cliff above the port town, where we walked around and got a beautiful view of the island.

In the evening, we had our traditional Greek cocktail party. Before dinner we mingled, ate octopus and toasted ouzo to Poseidon and wished for fair winds and sea. The sun set on beautiful calm waters in our bay, so I am guessing not only we, but also the god of the sea, ended the day in a good mood.