Overnight in Hoorn Netherlands

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Avalon Artistry II Docked

Overnight in Hoorn Netherlands

We arrived in Hoorn around 8 PM at the tail end of our dinner.   After dinner we strolled through town taking a few pictures of the town with the sun setting on this harbor town.

 

City of Bold Explorers

Hoorn played an important role in the 'Age of Exploration' and some famous navigators are closely associated with the town.  Probably the most famous was Willem Schouten (1580-1625) who attained eternal fame by being the first person to round the southernmost tip of South America in 1616 and named it "Cape Horn" in homage to his hometown.

Continuing our Own Exploration 

In the morning, the included tour was a visit to the Dutch Villages of Edam & Volendam.  Since we had been there before during our Tulip Time river cruise, we decided to explore Hoorn some more on our own.

Additional photos can be found on our Rhine & Moselle Shutterfly page

 

Evening in Hoorn

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A Man and His Donkey

Mykonos Town

Along the Harbour

It's a beautiful Sunday afternoon as we stroll along the harbour front of Mykonos Town.   This is our final installment, at least for now, in our series about our visit here during our Star Princess 12 Night Greek Isles and Mediterranean Cruise.

Mykonos is one of the most popular islands in Greece, and it is also one of the most famous islands. Many people think that the pictures from Mykonos Town are the symbol of Greece: tiny narrow alleyways lined by whitewashed houses with blue doors and windows. 

The Greek Tourist Office often use photos from Mykonos when they promote Greece. Many of the photos we've shown you thus far could entice you to visit Mykonos.

 

In reality, Mykonos needs little sales promotion. People from all over the world come here to swim and sunbathe at the fabulous beaches, shop in the boutiques, eat in the tavernas and cafes along the waterfront, or enjoy the high-energy night-life.

A Man and His Donkey

But for us, this Greek man riding upon his donkey, dressed in his Sunday best, is one of the images we want to remember.  We've told you about Petros the Pelican and the tradition surrounding him.  Here is another tradition that is still alive today in Mykonos.  We might have seen this same gentleman, with his donkey, selling vegetables in the alleyways early in the morning.   Now he is enjoying the fruits of his labors, along with his donkey, by the harbour.   He is happy to stop for tourists that want to take a photograph.   

This is the true Greece - a land rich in history and tradition, still carried out by its inhabitants and shared with the people from all over the world that explore its shores.   Come explore the shores of Mykonos yourself and spend some time learning about this beautiful country and its people.  We are glad that we had the chance to visit.

Our adventure continues in the ancient city of Athens, Greece.   Continue your virtual cruise through the Greek Isles via our blog and Facebook Fan Page photo albums.   We truly hope you are enjoying the journey thus far and perhaps will be able to visit yourself some day in the future.

Additional photos can be found on our Facebook Albums.




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Meet Petros - Mascot of Mykonos

Petros the Pelican

When you are in Alevkantra, the small sand beach in front of Venetia (Little Venice), or strolling through the harbour area of Mykonos Town, you may notice a local inhabitant that grabs your attention. Of course, we are talking about Petros (Peter) the Pelican who is particularly fond of both of these areas of Mykonos.

An integral part of the island of Mykonos and its folklore, Petros has officially been declared its mascot. Living here since 1954 after the original pelican passed away, following a 30 year residency., Petros wanders the neighborhoods frolicking in the waterways. Everyone in Mykonos, including visitors from abroad, adores and admires the pelican. The children love to play with the pelican, and tourists gather around to take a few photographs.

Legend has it that more than 40 years ago a local fisherman stumbled upon a wounded Pelican whom he decided to nurture back to health. Once the Pelican regained his strength, the fisherman tried to set him free. But surprisingly, the Pelican did not become airborne to his destined abode. Instead he made Mykonos his home. With every passing day, the cute creature became the cynosure of all eyes and became a celebrity.

The sight of the Pelican is a joy to behold, and during our visit as we wandered through Mykonos, we were fortunate to see him perched on a small row boat, enjoying the attention he was receiving. Petros has a good life it seems, as local fisherman offer the choicest of fresh sea fish to the Pelican from their daily catches. Our album, Mykonos Walking Tour, has some more pictures of Petros along with the sights that he sees as he wanders through his home town of Mykonos.

Additional photos can be found on our Facebook Albums.




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