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Mykonos Revives As A Playground For The Rich And Famous
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By: Dana McCauley, Issue 43 – Winter 2010
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(Mykonos, Greece)
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THE LAUNCH OF THE DAVID ROCKWELL REFURBISHED BELVEDERE HOTEL WILL TAKE THE RENAISSANCE OF MYKONOS AS A HOLIDAY DESTINATION FOR HEIRESSES, TYCOONS AND ROCKERS TO A NEW LEVEL WRITES DANA McCAULEY.
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Mykonos is a mainstay of the European elite, its social scene dates back to the 11th century and peaked in the recent past during the era of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. To wealthy Greeks and sun-seeking super models Mykonos never stopped being the St Tropez of Greece but from around 2005, the Hollywood A list returned and the Greek island was once again back at the top of the list for the international jet set. The new list of Hollywood celebrities seen in recent years gracing the island’s white sands include Sharon Stone, Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford. Fashion heavyweights Jean Paul Gaultier and Thierry Mugler have also been seen around town, along with Italian fashion designer Valentino who famously sails in on a regular basis.
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Their endorsement confirms the renaissance of the island as a destination for the discerning, following a period of overexposure. Several revamped venues have succeeded in lifting Mykonos’ game, with the refurbished Belvedere hotel, transformed by a super-team of experts led by New York design legend David Rockwell, topping the list.
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The peak season on Mykonos runs from Greek Orthodox Easter through to September, with the party winding down by October. While the island plays host to plenty of weekend European extravagance throughout this period, the scene really heats up in July and August when the influx of paparazzi-tailed celebrities begins. Star-spotting is almost guaranteed at Psarou beach, where the glamorous congregate at the upscale Nammos restaurant for cocktails and sashimi. Another voyeuristic haven is the exclusive lounge bar Astra in the town centre of Hora.
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Mykonos days are spent relaxing aboard yachts and at poolside parties, with restaurants heating up in the hour before midnight to kick off the after-dark activities. Nightclubs begin to fill up in the early hours of the morning. The small island is a cosmopolitan melting pot where the beautiful, rich and famous mingle and meld. At any time, you might see a drag queen dressed as an orthodox priest, Madonna or a member of the Moroccan royal family among the cacophony of characters on the island’s cobblestoned streets.
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Despite its reputed hedonism, Mykonos retains the charm of a village where the pleasures of life ebb and flow without discomfort or strain. The revelry of the party class is backlit by whitewashed houses and the azure Aegean Sea, highlighted by indigo, jade and scarlet-painted balconies.
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At the new-look Belvedere, launched in July this year just in time for the arrival of the A-listers, all of the pleasures that have become associated with the island are perfectly combined: five star service, world-renowned poolside parties and the not-to-miss dining experience of the Belvedere Club, headed up by Australian George Calombaris. Then there is the Marini Bar, with a cocktail list written by visionary mixologist Dale de Groff, the reputed creator of the Cosmopolitan. The hotel also houses some of the finest culinary establishments on the island, including an outpost of the famous New York Nobu restaurant owned by Chef Nobu Matsuhisa and actor Robert De Niro.
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The interiors reflect the island’s breezy, whitewashed nautical feel; you know you have arrived, but it’s almost like you have been here all along. The continuity of the colour scheme extends to the staff uniform, a whiter-than-white ensemble designed by Neil Barrett, who honed his craft as menswear designer for Gucci and Prada before striking out on his own.
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Mykonos is a stop on most sailing itineraries through the Greek Island group the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea, south-east of the mainland of Greece. The Meltemi wind begins to blow in June, grows stronger in July and August, fading out by early September. Docking is about four kilometres north of town at Tourlos, with the old Harbour being out of bounds and the new marina still under construction. Chartering a yacht to explore the ancient wonders of the surrounding islands is an option for those with ample time and energy.
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