Andros Greece Cyclades is a 3.5-minute video published June 21 by click
Andros revisited: If you’re a regular reader of my blog, you probably have seen some of the photos and posts I published following our visit to Andros in late May 2015. (If you missed them, click here for a quick link to the articles.)
I haven’t looked at any of my Andros posts or photos for a few months, but this morning discovered a newly-published video that instantly made me feel like I was right back on the island, enjoying it all over again.
Andros Greece Cyclades is a short video that Epameinondas Marmaras filmed, in part, with a drone. His camera captures many of the beautiful sights and scenes that we got to see during our holiday last year, as well as some that we just didn’t have enough time to experience for ourselves.
Take time to watch the clip to see the impressive Andros landscapes and coastal scenery. Andros isn’t one of the mainstream tourist islands of Greece, but one viewing of the video may make you wonder why more people don’t go there– and why you haven’t yet gone yourself.
Best of Mykonos ♥ – Greece 2016 is a short but sweet personal travel film that spotlights some of the gorgeous sights and scenery a couple and their young son enjoyed during a visit to Mykonos this spring
Age appropriate: Here’s a newly published video I’m sharing on the blog primarily for any parents out there who might be wondering: Should we take our kids to Mykonos?
Concerned by its well-established reputation as a “party island,” readers regularly ask me if Mykonos is suitable for families with toddlers, young kids and teens. These parents say they would love to visit the island, but they’re worried about exposing their kids to the drunken debauchery, street brawls and public sex they’ve heard about or seen on television shows like the What Happens in Kavos series on Britain’s Channel 4 several years ago.
Although Mykonos is justifiably famous for its adult-oriented attractions of restaurants, shopping and nightlife, the island does have attractions and activities suitable for people of all ages — and its popular party scene can easily be avoided.
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True, Mykonos has a few beaches where celebrations can sometimes turn wild, crazy and salacious — Paradise, Super Paradise, Paraga and Psarou among them — but the parties usually don’t start until 4 p.m. That means mornings and early afternoons are ideal for families to enjoy the sun, sand, sea and sensational scenery at each of these picturesque beaches. Moreover, there’s plenty of “non-party” beaches that are perfect to take kids, including Platis Gialos, Ornos, Agios Stefanos, Kalo Livadi, Kalafatis, Agia Anna/Kalafatis and Agios Ioannis, some of which offer a variety of water sports activities in which children can participate.
And unless they take the kids on a midnight (or later) stroll through the labyrinthine streets of Mykonos Town, parents probably won’t even notice the night-time party scene at the dozens of bars and clubs scattered throughout the town center. (Families can avoid peak party season altogether — and peak crowds and prices — by travelling to Mykonos in late April, May, the first half of June or during September and early October.)
Getting back to the video, you’ll join the Pfeifer family — Vanessa and Ben, and their young boy, Vincent — as they experience picture postcard-perfect places like the Little Venice seafront and the charming lanes of Mykonos Town, as well as the impressive coastal scenery and stunning turquoise sea at Agios Ioannis (better known to many people around the world as “The Shirley Valentine beach”).
Ben is a professional photographer with Fotostudio Lichtecht in Annaberg-Buchholz, Germany, and his skills are on full display in the video as he captures beautiful scenes and images from around the island and at their accommodations, the luxurious Mykonos Grand Hotel at Agios Ioannis– one of the island’s top resorts.
The video is only three and a half minutes long, so it offers a rather quick glimpse of Mykonos. But besides highlighting some of its most popular attractions, I think it shows parents that Mykonos is a place their kids will be able to enjoy, too.
Naxos: The island that will enchant you is a mesmerizing 4-minute area film by Naxos Times
Here’s an intriguing video of Naxos that’s unlike any I’ve seen before. Released just this week by Naxos Times, the 4-minute film features breathtaking aerial views of Naxos Town as well as Cape Agios Prokopios in the Stelida district of the island’s northwest coast.
What’s unusual is that the film captures Naxos in the golden light of daybreak and sunset, when the seas are smooth as glass and barely a soul is in sight anywhere in the town. There’s an eerie and almost haunting, mysterious atmosphere to the video, but that’s what makes it even more captivating and fascinating.
A typical party scene from Super Paradise beach is seen in a photo from the club’s Facebook page
What’s happening on Mykonos in August
This post features promotional flyers for parties and special entertainment events taking place on Mykonos during August only. To see events for other months during summer 2016, click here.
I add events to this post whenever they are announced, so check back regularly for updates. Note that most bars and clubs don’t post their full party schedules for the summer, and often announce events as little as one to three days before they take place. To see events that have been announced for September, click here.
Daily party events
The island’s main party beaches are Paradise, Super Paradise and Paraga, where beach parties start in the afternoon and continue into the evening. At Paradise, parties start around 4 p.m. at Tropicana Club and at Guapaloca, while partying can begin as early as mid afternoon at Super Paradise Club at Super Paradise beach. Guapaloca also throws a body painting partyk every night at 10 p.m. At Paraga, you’ll find afternoon beach parties at Kalua, daily pool parties at 5 p.m. at Sueno Village, and music entertainment events most days of the week at Scorpios. Parties can spontaneously erupt at Psarou beach, as well, when guests at Nammos beach bar and restaurant feel the urge to let loose (and they often do).
In Mykonos Town, Semeli Hotel holds a Sun:Set party at 6 p.m. every day in its Semeli Lounge. The Elysium Hotel in the School of Fine Arts district presents its famous Sunset Cabaret on its seaview pool terrace every evening starting at 8:30 p.m., while @54 Club has nightly drag shows starring Roxy Brooks and dancer Matthew Malia at 1 a.m. At the 4711 live music club, Dionisis Sxoinas will perform nightly (except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) from July 21 through to August 21.
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Regular weekly events
Besides special one-time events featuring leading Greek and international DJs, some bars and beach clubs hold regular theme parties on specific days of the week. Here are some of the regular events being offered during July and August this summer:
Monday: Kalua holds its Skin Orgasm Party with Ms Lefki starting at 5 p.m., while at Kalo Livadi beach, DJ Maga spins chill tunes at the new Chinawhite by Rakkan, starting at 4 pm.
Tuesday: Scorpios hosts the Yoruba Soul Experience music event, starting at 5 p.m. Madon presents its weekly Propaganda party starting at midnight. Vinos bar features live jazz music from 10 p.m., and Dome Club has its ShowtimeTuesdays party.
Wednesday: Kalua presents its Spirit party starting at 5 p.m.; Pinky Beach at Super Paradise hosts an After Beach Dine & Dance party with music by DJ Thanos starting at 6 p.m.; Toy Room Club hosts Toy Room on Fire, where the dress code is Red and music is by DJ Silence; and Rock N’ Roll Mykonos hosts special parties presented by Sintillate, with hip hop, RNB and house music by DJ Skaterboi.
Thursday: Hippie Fish at Agios Ioannis beach throws its Peace Love Music parties starting at 1 p.m.; and Scorpios presents its weekly Movements music event at 5 p.m. And starting at 10 p.m., Vinos bar presents live jazz music.
Friday: Scorpios holds its weekly Ceremonia music event beginning at 5 p.m.; Kalua holds its weekly Obsessions party with DJ Agent Greg starting at 5 p.m.;Blu Blu Lounge presents its Blu Sunset party with “eclectic” music by DJ Dest starting at 7.30 p.m.; and The Dublin pub at Agios Stefanos presents live Greek rock music with local band the VBros starting at 10:30 p.m.
Saturday: Monarch at Platis Gialos beach holds its weekly Blackrock Sinful Sunset beach party starting at 5 p.m.
Sunday: Liasti beach resort offers live saxophone music and jazz vocals in its restaurant area. The weekly day-to-night Sneaky Sundays music event takes place at Scorpios beginning at 5 p.m.; Toy Room Club hosts its weekly Incognito Masked Ball; and DJ Giannis Zissis from Athens spins at Dome Club. And at Super Paradise beach club, every Sunday features a Super Sunday party with “Greek summer party vibes.”
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Special events from August 1 to 31
Party announcements are added to this listing whenever they are released, so check back regularly for updates. I usually add new events every day, and sometimes more than once a day.
Melanie Ribbe & Micol Danieli headline the all-female DJ lineup for the weekly Skin Orgasm party at Kalua on Monday August 1
Cavo Paradiso kicks off August with Quintino and Argie on the decks on Monday August 1. (Note: Cavo’s original August event schedule had listed Steve Aoki for this date, but the club announced the DJ change on July 27.)
Paradise Club’s 2016 summer DJ lineup, released July 14
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This is Kalua Bar‘s party lineup for July and August. An event for July 21 has been added since this list was released.
Cavo Paradiso‘s international DJ lineup for July and August
The creator of the Cafe del Mar music collections, Jose Padilla, will make three appearances at Liasti Beach Resort in July — on Monday the 11th, Friday the 15th, and Saturday the 23rd
This post features promotional flyers for party events taking place on Mykonos during specific days in July only. If you want to see events for other months during summer 2016, click here.
Daily party events
The island’s main party beaches are Paradise, Super Paradise and Paraga, where beach parties start in the afternoon and continue into the evening. At Paradise, parties start around 4 p.m. at Tropicana Club and at Guapaloca, while partying can begin as early as mid afternoon at Super Paradise Club at Super Paradise beach. Guapaloca also throws a body painting partyk every night at 10 p.m. At Paraga, you’ll find afternoon beach parties at Kalua, daily pool parties at 5 p.m. at Sueno Village, and music entertainment events most days of the week at Scorpios. Parties can spontaneously erupt at Psarou beach, as well, when guests at Nammos beach bar and restaurant feel the urge to let loose (and they often do).
In Mykonos Town, Semeli Hotel holds a Sun:Set party at 6 p.m. every day in its Semeli Lounge. The Elysium Hotel in the School of Fine Arts district presents its famous Sunset Cabaret on its seaview pool terrace every evening starting at 8:30 p.m., while @54 Club has nightly drag shows starring Roxy Brooks and dancer Matthew Malia at 1 a.m. At the 4711 live music club, Dionisis Sxoinas will perform nightly (except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) from July 21 through to August 21.
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Regular weekly events
Besides special one-time events featuring leading Greek and international DJs, some bars and beach clubs hold regular theme parties on specific days of the week. Here are some of the regular events being offered during July and August this summer:
Monday: Kalua holds its Skin Orgasm Party with Ms Lefki starting at 5 p.m., while at Kalo Livadi beach, DJ Maga spins chill tunes at the new Chinawhite by Rakkan, starting at 4 pm.
Tuesday: Scorpios hosts the Yoruba Soul Experience music event, starting at 5 p.m. Madon presents its weekly Propaganda party starting at midnight. Vinos bar features live jazz music from 10 p.m., and Dome Club has its Showtime Tuesdays party.
Wednesday: Kalua presents its Spirit party starting at 5 p.m.; Pinky Beach at Super Paradise hosts an After Beach Dine & Dance party with music by DJ Thanos starting at 6 p.m.; Toy Room Club hosts Toy Room on Fire, where the dress code is Red and music is by DJ Silence; and Rock N’ Roll Mykonos hosts special parties presented by Sintillate, with hip hop, RNB and house music by DJ Skaterboi.
Thursday: Hippie Fish at Agios Ioannis beach throws its Peace Love Music parties starting at 1 p.m.; and Scorpios presents its weekly Movements music event at 5 p.m. And starting at 10 p.m., Vinos bar presents live jazz music.
Friday: Scorpios holds its weekly Ceremonia music event beginning at 5 p.m.; Kalua holds its weekly Obsessions party with DJ Agent Greg starting at 5 p.m.; Blu Blu Lounge presents its Blu Sunset party with “eclectic” music by DJ Dest starting at 7.30 p.m.; and The Dublin pub at Agios Stefanos presents live Greek rock music with local band the VBros starting at 10:30 p.m.
Saturday: Monarch at Platis Gialos beach holds its weekly Blackrock Sinful Sunset beach party starting at 5 p.m.
Sunday: Liasti beach resort offers live saxophone music and jazz vocals in its restaurant area. The weekly day-to-night Sneaky Sundays music event takes place at Scorpios beginning at 5 p.m.; Toy Room Club hosts its weekly Incognito Masked Ball; and DJ Giannis Zissis from Athens spins at Dome Club.
Party announcements are added to this post whenever they are released, so check back regularly for updates. I usually add new events every day, and sometimes more than once a day. Note that most bars and clubs don’t post their full party schedules for the summer, and sometimes announce special events or DJ appearances as little as one to three days before they take place.
Please click on the link below to turn to page 2 of this post, where you will find a day-by-day list of party events taking place throughout July.
In his beautifully-filmed Greece – Cinematic Travel Video, Kris Clark spotlights top attractions and stunning scenery from Athens, Mykonos and Santorini
Trip highlights: Readers of my blog occasionally write to say they found my website helpful or inspiring for planning their own trips to Greece. My favourite feedback message of all arrived just yesterday — and included a link to the wonderful video I shared above.
In a comment posted on my blog, Kristoffer Clark said he, his wife and some friends recently returned from their May 7 – 15 trip to Athens, Santorini and Mykonos.
“We loved it, we used your site to help plan our itinerary. Your site was a big help,” he wrote. “I love to make travel videos of my trips so i wanted to share our Greece one with you.”
It’s such a fabulous film that I can’t resist sharing it here, since I think it superbly captures the essence and tremendous beauty of all three destinations.
And what I like best, besides the gorgeous scenery, are all the smiles, laughs and happy faces in evidence as Kristoffer, his wife and friends enjoy and experience the sights and scenery of three amazing destinations I visited on my own first trip to Greece.
If you’ve been to Athens, Mykonos and Santorini before, watching Greece – Cinematic Travel Video will undoubtedly trigger many happy memories for you as well. And if you haven’t been to Greece yet, I’m sure it will quickly convince you that it’s time to go. What are you waiting for? Start planning!
Wines produced by Manalis Winery on Sikinos (pictured below) are displayed on the winery’s open-air restaurant and events terrace, which offers spectacular views of the sea and nearby islands. Both photos are from galleries in the Manalis Winery website.
Cycladic vintners: Winery tours and tastings will be on the agenda for thousands of tourists visiting Santorini this year, no doubt because of the island’s worldwide fame for its local Assyrtiko varietal.
As I reported in a post on January 21 2014, Wine Enthusiast magazine cited Santorini and two other Aegean islands in its listing of the world’s top 10 wine travel destinations for 2014. Not surprisingly, winery tours have long been ranked among the leading attractions on TripAdvisor’s chart of Things to do in Santorini. In fact, as of May 17, Santo Wines was the #5-rated attraction on the island, while the Venetsanos Winery and the Koutsoyannopoulos Wine Museum ranked in the top 20 out of almost 300 key attractions on Santorini.
But while the Santorini wineries are attracting the warmest glow of international attention for now, several small wineries on nine other Cyclades islands could be basking in the limelight soon.
Earlier this year, the excellent culture and gastronomy website Greece Is published an informative article entitled 11+1 Unknown, Small Wineries in the Cyclades. Written by Nikoleta Makryonitou, the article notes that the wineries she mentions are among the smallest in the world, so they aren’t top destinations for wine lovers just yet. “Still, there has been a rise in the production of bottled wines and a turn to quality, which are creating high expectations for the near future,” she observes.
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Her article profiles the following wineries, most of which will arrange tours or visits if contacted in advance:
♦ Moraitis Winery on Paros (the only one of the bunch that I have personally visited for wine tastings)
Click here to read Nikoleta’s full article, and be sure to bookmark it for reference should you happen to be island-hopping in the Cyclades this summer. The article provides contact telephone numbers for the various wineries so you can call them directly to inquire about available tours or to arrange visits.
Also take a good look around the Manalis Winery website, where you can view dozens of photos showing the breathtaking, to-die-for views from the winery’s restaurant terrace and special events veranda. People rave about the amazing views from Santo and other wineries on Santorini, but I think the images show that the views and scenery from Manalis are equally impressive.
The hillside terrace at Manalis Winery on Sikinos has spectacular views of the Aegean Sea and other islands (Photo from the winery website.)
Santorini’s Red Beach is seen in an image from EscapeGreece.com
[Editor’s Update: If you plan to visit Santorini in 2018, please beware that Red Beach is officially closed to the public. Click here to read about a landslide that occurred on Red Beach in April 2018 and led island authorities to re-issue warnings that the beach is off limits because it’s too dangerous to visit.]
Rockfall risk: Since Santorini enjoys a worldwide reputation for superlative natural scenery, it’s not surprising that the island’s remarkable Red Beach regularly garners glowing accolades from international travel publications and leading lifestyle websites — along with ample attention on social media, where thousands of people have posted selfies that they shot on and near the colourful coastal attraction.
During my routine online work and research, I frequently find articles in which travel magazines and websites declare Red Beach to be one of the world’s “best,” “most beautiful,” “most unusual” or “most colourful” beaches, and recommend it as a “must-see” for anyone visiting Santorini. Photos of the distinctive strand, which is also known as Red Sand Beach, appear even more often on websites and social media pages dedicated to travel in Greece, and in particular for hotels and tour companies operating on Santorini.
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What the articles, posts and photo captions rarely mention, however, is that Red Beach is a veritably perilous place to sunbathe, swim or stroll. In recent years, there have been several significant rockfalls and landslides from the crimson-coloured bluffs that rise behind the narrow strip of scarlet-tinged pebbles and stones, and geological experts believe it’s possible that more cliff sections could collapse onto the beach at any time. (There are anecdotal claims that two beachgoers were killed by a landslide a few years ago, but I couldn’t find any news reports confirming the fatalities or date of the accident.)
Red Beach is seen on a sunny April afternoon in a photo by TripAdvisor review contributor Chris B
During peak season in past years, sunbeds have been available for rent, as seen in this photo from the Santorini Hotels Facebook page
In April, Facebook member Cecil Ramirez captured this photo of the imposing red stone cliffs that tower above Red Beach
Major rockfalls have occurred at Red Beach several times in the past decade. Two of the larger landslides are clearly visible in this photo shared on Facebook by Daena K Nicholas
Red Beach has been “closed” since August 2013 because of fears more landslides could occur, and since stones and boulders loosen and plunge from the cliffs on occasion. But warning signs like this one, shown in a Facebook photo by Jc Male, have not deterred thousands of people from going to the beach.
Sunbathers sit near the foot of one of the larger landslides, seen in a Facebook photo by Daniel Dias da Silva. Fences were installed to keep people from climbing the cliffs and landslip rubble because that could trigger further collapses of the rock face.
The safest way to see Red Beach is from the sea or from a distance on a hilltop vantage point like this one captured in a Facebook photo by Nikky Dudek
Please click on the link below to continue reading about Red Beach on page 2 of this post, where you can view videos and dozens more photos of this singular Santorini beach.
