Memories from Mykonos
The sunsetting at the 180° Sunset Bar in Mykonos
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In memory of my amazing dad John.
A couple of years ago, I visited Mykonos for the first time. Of all the memories I have from my time there, the one that stands out the most wasn’t wandering the iconic white washed streets, seeing the windmills on the hill or meeting Petros the Pelican. The memory I think of most often is about a song.
I remember the evening so clearly…. as we sat on the hill overlooking the town below and watching the orange sun slowy setting behind the mountains, the song playing over the loudspeaker was Time to Say Goodbye by Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. It was the perfect song choice for the stunning sunset we were experiencing. As I sat there in awe, appreciating the beautiful moment, I felt the tears welling up in my eyes as this particular song had a much deeper personal meaning….
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Like many visitors to Mykonos my husband and I wanted to make sure we experienced one of the island’s famous sunsets. Our cruise ship was spending the night on the island so we booked ourselves a table at the renowned 180° Sunset Bar to experience the golden hour Mykonos style..
It was a beautiful evening and I was so excited to be in Mykonos! We sat at our table sipping drinks and sharing a selection of delicious Greek mezze as we both took in the surreal view. Around us people were drinking, eating, dancing and laughing and eagerly awaiting the moment we had all come to see.
As the evening light slowly faded, the sky gradually started to change to a stunning golden, orange hue. It was quite surreal to be sitting on a hill overlooking Mykonos and the sparkling Aegean Sea, waiting to enjoy a perfect Greek sunset. It truly felt like a magical experience, and I wanted to enjoy every second of it.
Being in Greece was even more meaningful to me as my dad was Greek and part of me felt like I belonged here. Although I was having an amazing holiday and loving spending time in the Greek Islands, the whole time I was away my mind was thinking about my dad who was back home in New Zealand fighting cancer.
As the sun slowly started to set and move closer to the horizon, Time to Say Goodbye started to play. This was the song that was played each evening at the 180° Sunset Bar as the day gradually came to an end. The song was timed perfectly with the final notes playing as the sun disappeared below the horizon. It really is the perfect song choice for the the experience, however, for me it had a much deeper meaning and as the song started playing I could feel tears welling up in my eyes….
It felt like such a bittersweet moment. Here I was sitting in the stunning Greek Islands watching the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen but at the same time I was fighting off tears and waves of sadness and thinking about my dad.
Time to Say Goodbye is beautiful song and I’ve always loved it but hearing it played at this time and especially in Greece, it had more meaning than ever. Dad loved this song and had previously said he wanted it to be played at his funeral. At this time we didn’t know how successful the chemo would be and the possibility that I would lose my dad soon was feeling very real. As the sun slowly set behind the Aegean Sea, I realised this was more than just a sunset - it was a memory that would stay with me long after I left Mykonos.
Sadly a year later we did lose my dad and although he never had a funeral, this song will always be in my heart and make me think of him.
I recently returned to Mykonos and although I didn’t get to experience the evening there this time, I did find myself looking up at the 180° Sunset Bar on the hill and remembering that bittersweet evening. As I looked out at the sparkling Aegean Sea, I thought about my amazing dad and how grateful I am to have had him, and for the memories I carry of him.
One of the best things about travel is the memories that stay long after you have returned. Sometimes a place and its memories will stay with us forever because of the people we love, and I believe that sunset in Mykonos will always be one of those memories.
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Jennie@Deluxewanderlust xx
