Sonia Writer: 01/04/2014

We all have our own, personal view of what heaven should look like, and if heaven for you is a Greek island soaked in sunlight and bathed in idyllic charm; then Mykonos may be the holiday destination that you have been dreaming of.

Your first impression of the traditional whitewashed houses, their shutters and fences painted a Mediterranean deep blue, could lead you to believe that Mykonos Town has been decorated, according to a town hall approved colour scheme. But the truth seems a little more dramatic, when you learn that the traditional lime whitewashing used to be a mandatory method of keeping infectious diseases at bay!

Mykonos town is incredibly pretty with a myriad of exciting alleyways and cobbled streets, each containing hidden treasures from traditional Greek restaurants to sleek and expensive designer clothing shops. The island has a wonderful peaceful feel during the day, turning into an exciting beach bar vibe at night. For sun soaked bliss it is very hard to beat this!

The island has a very checkered history having been ruled by the Roman and Ottoman Empires, before gaining its independence in 1830. It was once a very prosperous port as well as a mecca for artists, poets, musicians and writers in the 1930’s.

Today its most famous inhabitant is undoubtedly Petros the pelican! A wounded pelican was originally rescued by a sailor in 1958 and nursed back to health by locals. Since then there have been another three pelicans, but the guy with attitude in the photo, has been given the honorary name of Petros and he is definitely the towns’ most sought after attraction.

Petros is quite a character and seems to enjoy posing for photos with tourists. In return he is fed a huge amount of fresh fish which is paid for, from a special budget approved personally by the mayor. Catching a glimpse of Petros is said to be a sure sign, that one day you will return to Mykonos… as if we would need any more encouragement!