Milos

Milos: Surprises at Every Turn and Taverna

Published July 27, 2016 | By Clark Norton

Fourth in a Series:

The entrance to one of our favorite tavernas on Milos, Merthismeni Politeia. Photo by Clark Norton

During my week on the Greek island of Milos, I saw no Mexican restaurants, no sushi bars, no French bistros, or even a Chinese take-out joint.

Yes, there were casual cafes that served pizza, burgers, or crepes as part of their offerings, but no dedicated ethnic eateries or American fast-food places.

All this was fine with me. My family and I ate Greek food three times a day — more if you count the occasional snack — and never got tired of it.

Not only was it almost invariably fresh and delicious, but the variety in selection and preparation far surpassed what you might expect to find in a Greek restaurant in the United States. Our diet went way beyond the familiar gyros,… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Beaches, Europe, Family travel, food, Restaurants, vacation rentals | Tagged Adamas, Greece, Greek food, Greek Islands, Greek Isles, Milos, Plaka, tavernas, Tripiti, volcanic food | Leave a comment

Milos: Greek Isle Where Beaches Beckon

Published July 26, 2016 | By Clark Norton

Third in a Series:

Swimmers at Paliochori Beach, Milos. Photo by Clark Norton

During my recent week’s stay on Milos, one of the most beautiful of Greece’s Cyclades islands, I sampled several different beaches. And when I say different, I don’t mean merely separate — I mean distinctly different from each other.

Along with notable history, scenery, whitewashed villages, and food, Milos excels in its beaches.

Dozens of them are scattered around the island, some of them accessible only by boat, others by rough road, still others easy to reach by any vehicle, including bicycles. One long stretch of sand, along the inner harbor, is close to the island’s largest town, Adamas, and features calm waters, a beach bar, and even a touch of thermal warmth left over from Milos’ volcanic past.

Colorful cliffs form a dramatic backdrop to Paliochori beach on Milos. Photo by Clark Norton… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Beaches, Countries, Europe, Family travel | Tagged Beaches, Fyriplaka Beach, Greece, Greek beaches, Greek Islands, Milos, Paliochori Beach, Sarakiniko Beach | Leave a comment

Exploring Milos, Greek Isle of the Venus

Published July 21, 2016 | By Clark Norton

An ancient Roman amphitheater on Milos comes with water view. Photo by Catharine Norton.

Second in a Series:

Driving on a Greek island is easy — if you let your spouse take the wheel.

I’m fortunate, in a way, that my wife, Catharine, gets a bit nauseous if she tries to read anything — such as a map — in a moving car. That means that in unfamiliar territory without a GPS, I get to navigate, and she has to drive.

Getting to our house on Milos — which we had rented for a week’s vacation with our son, daughter-in-law and six-month-old grandson — was something of an adventure.

Driving up from Adamas, the largest town in Milos and site of the ferry terminal and waterfront marina, required following a winding road up through the hills while cars zipped around us, passing on blind curves. Catharine stuck… Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Baby boomer travel, Countries, cultural travel, Family travel, food, History, rental cars | Tagged catacombs, Cyclades, driving in Greece, Fiat Panda, Greece, Greek Islands, Milos, Plaka, Tripiti, Venus de Milo | Leave a comment

Milos: Greek Isle Steeped in Beauty, History

Published July 19, 2016 | By Clark Norton

A whitewashed church overlooks Milos’ harbor. Photo by Catharine Norton

Milos — one of Greece’s sun-soaked Cycladic islands that include the better known Mykonos and Santorini — had not been on my radar until a Greek-American friend of ours suggested it might be the perfect place for a three-generation vacation.

The three generations? My wife, Catharine, and I — first-time grandparents as of six months ago — our son, Grael; daughter-in-law, Nona; and our young grandson, Conrad, making his first trip abroad, brand new passport in hand. (Well, not in his hands — though he would have liked to have gotten hold of it, along with anything dangling and shiny.)

Because we’d all be traveling with a baby, we didn’t want anything too hectic and crowded — that eliminated Mykonos and Santorini — but we did want a good choice of lodgings, restaurants, cafes, and beaches, as… Continue reading →

Posted in Baby boomer travel, Beaches, Boat travel, Countries, cultural travel, Europe, Family travel, food, History, Islands, rental c ars, Restaurants, vacation rentals | Tagged Aegean Sea, archaeology, Greece, Greek ferries, Greek Islands, Milos, Mykonos, Piraeus, Santorini, Venus de Milo | Leave a comment

According to government and private surveys:

Leading-edge baby boomers (born between 1946 and 1955) and seniors account for four out of every five dollars spent on luxury travel today.
Roughly half the consumer spending money in the U.S.--more than $2 trillion--is in the hands of leading-edge baby boomers and seniors.
Baby boomers (born 1946-1964) travel more than any other age group.
When asked what they would most like to spend their money on, baby boomers answered “travel” more than any other category, including improving their health or finances.