Markos Village Hotel

A Chance For Some Male-Bonding!

by johngayton

The main harbour here on Ios doesn't allow visiting yachts to use their anchors but instead provides chain moorings to which the yachts can be affixed. This however does take a bit of brute stregnth as the chains have to be hoisted from the sea bottom and a line from the boat attached whilst at the same time the boat has to be guided to its berth against the harbour.

Sounds complicated? Yep, it is!! First the mooring ropes are thrown onto the dock to be loosely affixed to the bollards, thus giving the boat a bit of stability. Next the mooring chain has to be dredged from the harbour bottom and hauled to the fixing point at the bow (OK I know I've probably gotten all the terminology wrong, but Ach, I'm no sailor!).

It took the three of us: Allan, Jim and myself, to haul the chain up and affix it whilst captain Vassilli manouvered the boat to make it tight - tho' I do think he was (in his inevitable Greek macho fashion) trying to make it as difficult as possible for us. But yep we did it, humphing and heaving and then BIG Hi Fives all round!!!!!!

Tighten up the dock moorings and that's that -

Then it was beer time!

Beaches

by snorril

We really liked the Myopotas beach on Ios. We were there early in the morning and only a handful of people had arrived. Among them a couple who where taking erotic pictures in the sea.

This beach probably gets really active during high season (and later in the day). It is easily reached by bus from Hora. The Myopotas is not made of fine sand but kind of small stones. We lay there on our towels and it was really comfortable.

The waters are deep. We only tried to swim there but the beach has all the facilities, like the banana etc.

Ios street scene

by snorril

Ios in early June was definately not crowded. During the day you could wander the streets without hardly meeting anyone. The streets are real fun to walk (like in many other Greek Island villages).

These flowers also are a common sight in the Cyclades and make a nice photo oppertunity. Ios was really nice place. It is not for everyone as it is primary a party place and at the age of 24 I seemed to be in the upper agegroup. I would have liked to spend another night there, that is for sure.

Where The Earth Moved For Me!

by johngayton

If you Google Ios you will get the impression that this is "The Party Island" HA!, Perhaps the sight of our 3 yachts' full of old fogeys sailing into the bay was enough to scare the party-goers underground for the day!

Party Island or no tho' I liked Ios, even if it was the most commercially developed of our sail (until of course we hit Santorini) and again some excellent meals - and not just in the restaurants either!!!

It seems that the real party season doesn't kick-off until June and so the Island was still awakening from its winter's slumbers. Sometimes that's the best time to catch a place, whilst it's still a little bleary-eyed, before its had a chance to shower and make itself presentable to the world. Here in late May Ios was just that: the slight tang of previous revelleries still sweet on its skin tinged with that undefinable flavour - "Unami": that special taste of last night's love on a loved one's morning body.

Ach, yep! I liked Ios!

Unforgettable vacation

by Laserone

"The mixture of culture and freedom"

There are many gossips about the Cyclades. From Ulisses to modern scooters in the Chora (centre) of town.. One book on these Islands is surely not enough and photo films are too little whenever you get to these islands... There is some kind of magic in the dust of the barren roads, in the crack of the fisherman's fire on a pitch dark cliff curve in Santorini and in the unbearable heat of red, black and white beaches... People there are as similar to Italians as they resemble them. Phisically if not mentally. It has been a great journey...

"Cylades with friends"

4 friends and I left from the port of Trieste (Italy) and sailed with a huge commercial and civil fright to Patrasso (35hs of boat) and then 4 hs of coach to Athens and 9hours from there to Santorini....unforgettable journey sleeping on the warm windy deck and peeling peaches in the shadows.

"The Ship as your home...for 35 hours"

You start out in a loud excitement when you first step on the ship, lay down your stuff, choose where to sleep and have a sandwich. Then, as hours go by, you feel the silence in yourself and observ the moving horizon and become something that belongs to both the ship and the sea especially when you hear the water being crushed and the white foam gushing up and the wind violating every corner of the deck. Which eventually becomes a friendly and adventurous environment where to sleep with good friends around you. And while you have your "windy dinner" this is the view you get. Extend your legs and relax.