Monkey Bean-Sprouts: 2 weeks in heaven - aka the Greek Islands Part 1

It's been a week and a half since we got back from our vacation in Greece, and I'm missing it every day! We have so many gorgeous photos to share I've decided to split them into two separate posts, so this first one is just photos of our first night in Mykonos, and then our 3 nights in Kouffonissi.

We had a fantastic (though a little early) direct flight on easyjet from Milan to Mykonos. 2.5 hours later we were standing on a Greek island. That's nice. We stayed one night at the fancy-ish Myconian Imperial Resort and Spa because of an issue with ferry departures. Though it wasn't what we first had planned, it worked out nicely so that we could have a relaxing day at the hotel, enjoying the pool, the private beach right on Elia beach, and adjusting to vacation time. The only downside was that Liam was chewed up by mosquitoes that night.

Here's Liam and I hanging out

Liam with his mosquito-bitten cheeks, eating some cheese

The next morning after a huge buffet breakfast and a swim in the pool we were able to get to the port at a leisurely pace where we took an easy 1.5 hour ferry ride to the tiny island of Kouffonissi.

Let me just say that the highlight of Koufonissi is the water. It is incredibly clear, stunning shades of blue/turquoise, and the beaches are soft light sand or gorgeous round pebbles. Because it's a small island everything is accessible by foot, and it feels really connected to nature. We loved our days of walking to the beach in the morning, staying an hour or two, having some lunch, heading back to our studio for a nice long nap and then heading out again around 3 in the afternoon for more beach and sun and walking. Dinner in the small port town was always good and very low key. We were staying at the Dafnis Studios - very simple and totally adequate - so we had a little kitchenette to prepare food in for breakfast etc. We were also just across the street from a sweet cafe/bar, so one night after putting Liam to bed, we hung out across the street for half an hour having some dessert. (We could see our door and one of us checked in on him every 10 mins!)

Basically one of the biggest excitements of our trip was how well Liam adapted to things. By our second and third nights we were already able to stay out till 9pm so we could have dinner, walk around a bit and head back for bed. And he even complied by sleeping in till 8am, and 9 on the odd morning. So this became the routine of our trip, and worked out everywhere we were. On top of that great success he also became a champion napper and took 2 hour naps most afternoons (a couple of 3 hours were thrown in for exceptional measure!) The best part of it was that for the first time in his life Liam actually ASKED to go to bed "Nap!" is how he said it!

Sunset on our first night on Koufonissi

James and Liam throwing rocks into the water as the sun goes down

Another incredible sunset over the island

Liam became obsessed with his stroller this vacation - but not being in it - PUSHING it! He's unbelievably strong (physically and will power too!) and would push up hills, on rocky roads, in crowded towns...

This phenomenal looking sky made us believe it might rain - hah! Never on a Greek Island vacation!

Liam really started trusting us, especially James, to take him out into the water. It was easy in such calm and clear water for him to relax a bit.

James and I took turns climbing down rocks to get into this (one of many) secluded coves of gorgeous turquoise water

James in the same cove (ps this is at like 6:30pm)

Liam came up with a theme song for himself regarding playing in the water. It did take a little time for him to warm up to it all, but then he would say "na na Na na" and grab one of our hands and he'd be ready to run in. Mostly he loved to run on the hard sand right where the waves lapped in, but he would also occasionally run straight in till maybe his belly before getting nervous (still holding our hand). To get him out properly we would just carry him out and then hold him in the deeper water.