We are packing up to leave the island of Mykonos and travel to Athens. We've actually been in Athens twice now on this trip due to air connections and a long, unexpected layover that allowed some sightseeing. We've not yet been into the city proper, though, and are looking forward to seeing the Acropolis later today!Yesterday morning we took a thirty minute boat ride from the Mykonos pier to the island of Delos. Delos is the site of a huge archaeological park, and that's all. No resident population any more, just the remnants of a city of thirty thousand. Looming above the island is a mountain topped by a temple dedicated to Apollo. The whole island is considered one of the most important places in Greek mythology; the twins Apollo and Artemis are said to have been born there.
We wandered up and down the trails on Delos and imagined the large, influential city that once existed there. It's not surprising that the population eventually declined and wasn't replaced. The dry climate cannot support farming, so all food had to be imported. The few natural water sources on the island were diverted into cisterns, but it was a constant challenge to provide food and water for the residents of the island. A museum contains statues found throughout the island and preserves one of the amazing mosaics from the home of a wealthy family.We enjoyed adding Delos to our growing list of important archaeological sites surrounding the Mediterranean. The Acropolis in Athens and Pompeii in Italy are next!
