Here are two different views of Paradise Beach on Mykonos. At top is a view looking straight across the beach from a point on the rocky hillside below the Cavo Paradiso entertainment complex. Below is a shot of footprints in the sand and the view looking out to sea from what is arguably the top party beach on the island. Click on the photos to view them in full-size format.
Mid-morning view from Hotel Tagoo of the Mykonos New Port at Tourlos …
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… where the 2,400-passenger Norwegian Jade is docked for the day
Here’s a videoclip showing the morning views from Hotel Tagoo
Wednesday May 16
I awoke to an absolutely gorgeous Mykonos morning. Sunny skies and warm temperatures promised perfect weather for a beach day. From the terrace outside the hotel breakfast room, I could see four cruise ships including the Norwegian Jade docked at the New Port and the Azamara Quest, Windstar Wind Spirit, and Seabourn Quest, all anchored near the Old Port. I made plans to hit the beach for the afternoon then spend the evening in Mykonos Town where, I assumed, the streets would be lively and teeming with tourists from the cruise ships.
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Villas cling to a steep mountainside above Elia beach on Mykonos
Stark contrasts: On Mykonos, I have always loved the stark contrast between the arid, rocky island and the blue sea and sky that surround it. The rugged brown landscape seems to make the Aegean Sea’s shimmering turquoise water look more vivid and vibrant, especially at beaches, than it does at other Cycladic islands, where it has a pronounced cobalt hue.
This trip I did a lot of walking on Mykonos, as usual, but also saw many parts of the island through the windows of buses and cars. I never got bored of the scenery, and always found it exhilarating whenever the vehicle rounded a corner and gave us a glimpse of a horseshoe-shaped bay with alluring blue and green water sparkling under the blazing sun.
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Approaching the northwest end of Paradise beach from a coastal path
Lounge chairs and umbrellas line the stretch of coarse golden sand along Paradise beach in front of Freddy’s restaurant and the Tropicana Club
PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 2 FOR TEXT AND MORE PHOTOS
