Well... Day 5 of our cruise didn't go as planned. We were supposed to dock in Mykonos around 10am, but due to strong winds our ship was slightly delayed and this meant that the more protected parking spots in the lee of the island were already taken. This left the channel between the islands which on this particular day with the extremely strong wind, just was not an option.
I had been so excited to visit this special island and visit the windmills my aunt had spoken about, but it was not to be. We got the announcement, that due to the conditions anchoring and tenders would not be possible... And so instead, a day at sea followed.
The NCL Getaway cruise ship was choc-a-block full with every person heading to the pool deck. Within minutes every lounger was taken and the band picked up to entertain the masses whose plans had all been cancelled.
We made the most of our sea day resting, swimming, reading and eating lots of food from the buffet.
The next morning we were ready for a full day on land as we headed to the island of Kos.
Kos
Kos is the 3rd largest island of the Dodecanese group of islands in the South East Aegean Sea. It is the 2nd most visited and is well positioned for tourism. It's next door neighbour is Kalymnos, as Greek mecca for rock climbers from around the globe who all use Kos as their landing place in order to catch the ferry across to Kalymnos.
Our boat docked in the bay and we got a tender across to the shore. As we landed on shore we were greeted by the Nerantzia Castle and the bridge leading to the castle. It is actually the ruin of a fort which is open to the public.
The bridge to Nerantzia / The tree of Hippocrates / Plantanos Square
In Platanos Square we came across the Plane Tree of Hippocrates. Hippocrates is considered the father of medicine and founder of the hippocratic oath - to do no hard. This tree which is a sibling of the original Plane tree is the place where Hippocrates would teach his pupils. The tree today is over 500 years old and hollowed out over time. The municipality has gone to great lengths to support the branches with scaffolding to prevent the long branches from breaking. They have also installed a low wall to keep visitors at a safe distance.
Just around the corner is the Statue of Hippocrates teaching. An inspiration to the sharing of knowledge and discussion.
We walk the narrow alleys and pebbled streets of the old town until we found the ruins of the Ancient Agora. There is not much left and what is there is overgrown with long grasses. The Agora is free to visit if you are in the town.
The pink bougainvillea explode over the streets of Kos bringing vibrant colour throughout the year.
We continued our walk along the yacht basin and stopped in at some of the shops with their typically beachy holiday wares. There were stack of bicycles and scooters, but we were determined to find the closest beach for a swim.
As we followed the coastal road we soon came across Lambi Beach. The shore is pebbly, just like the streets in the old town. Each hotel and beach front restaurant have their own section of beach populated with umbrellas and deck chairs for visitors.
We found a deck chair at the waters edge and quickly dropped our towels and clothes to take a swim in the warm Aegean Sea. The sea was calm with a gentle swell and cordoned off areas for swimmers.
We lounged in the water for a couple hours before we eventually decided to take a slow leisurely stroll back into the old town. Thirst had set in and we didn't feel the need to join the crowds by the beach bars.
The restaurants and bars were stylishly decorated and were inviting, but we kept on walking until we found a small cafe in the old town that served gelato by the scoop and cold local beer.
We made one last pass by the marina on our way to the tender boats and joined the cue. Our swimsuits were still wet even though it was hot.
That evening was a treat as we headed to the Spice H20 deck to watch the Soccer match between the Netherlands and England. We lay on deck chairs watching the match, me cheering for the Netherlands and my husband cheering for England.
There is so much more to see on this gorgeous island including Thermos beach with its thermal springs, more ruins and ancient towns, and its lush surroundings. It is one of the islands I would love to go back to and spend some more time, or may we make it a stop on the way to Kalymnos one day with my climber son.
The world is our oyster and we are eager to explore it.
Follow along for a day in Rhodes with its epic diving boards and castle.
All photos are my own.
[//]:# ([//]:# (!worldmappin 36.89501 lat 27.29138 long The Greek Isles: Kos d3scr))