Blog Postcard from Europe 2011--Mykonos Greece!!!

Yasas Mykonos!!!

Paradise Nick: Nick Verreos, Paradise Beach Mykonos Greece (in my Brian Lichtenberg tank top, Andrew Christian swim shorts and Zara sandals)

Continuing with my "Europe Summer 2011" Blog Postcards, after our lightening-speed two day London visit (Click HERE for London)...David and I decided to have some much-deserved R & R in the Greek Island of Mykonos. Two years in a row, we had spent our "Summer Holiday" in the Amalfi Coast in the heavenly cliff-side resort town of Positano but this time, we wanted to try something "different". So, why not Mykonos? My dad is Greek so I thought it would be like going back to my "people's homeland" (kind of) and well, neither David nor I had been there (I'd been to the Greek mainland of course and enjoyed plenty of fun times in Athens-- Kolonaki, Glyfada, Vouliagmeni--and the city of Ioannina in North-West Greece). After a 2 hour flight via EasyJet from London (filled with my UK Gays naturally!!!), we arrived in the tiny Mykonos Airport. The runway is so tiny that the A300 made a very quick landing and Oh Dear-that's-the-end-of-the-Runway stop.

Theoxenia Hotel Mykonons, Lobby area

Quick disembarking and then we were on our way to our FAB Theoxenia Hotel, located right behind those iconic Mykonos Town Windmills. The hotel was AMAZING! So chic, very post-modern Retro and "Boutique-y". We were greeted with a Smoothie and our bags were whisked away until our room was ready.

After checking out our "Deluxe" accommodations, and seeing our very nice "Welcome to Theoxenia Hotel" wine and fruit plate (above photo)...

I went to the balcony of our room, and soaked in the Mykonos ocean air and then I headed straight to the pool:

We had four entire days of relaxation in Mykonos before our NIKOLAKI Florence Italy Fashion Show, so the Theoxenia Hotel pool was a great beginning (photo above). The next day, we promptly headed out into Mykonos Town, sightseeing, and well, enjoying the island.

Mykonos Windmills

The Crowds: Lots. There are LOTS of 19-22 Italian and Australian kids!!!! (Gosh, we felt OLD!) The island was--and I'm not kidding--an Italian "outpost"! Granted it is the Summer and the height of Euro Holidays but seriously, I didn't realize it was such a popular destination with the Italianos--and Australians. They love themselves a vacation as much as we do I guess-- Good for them!

The Scenery: Gorgeous. Of course: What part of Mykonos did you not understand? The chapels, those windmills, the roads, the winding Mykonos Town streets, the ABSOLUTELY stunning orange sunset (there's a "Sunset Show" where people clap when it happens!).

Niko's Wine--Niko's Taverna Mykonos Greece

The Food: Delicious. But again, it was a bit of a challenge finding Greek-food places in that every other restaurant catered to that HUGE Italian influx of visitors and everywhere we looked it was Spaghetti Carbonara, Pizza and Caprese Salads. We were going to be in Italy in less than a week so we wanted to wait to eat Italian food...until we were in Italy.

Pastitsio, Niko's Taverna Mykonos Greece

But... we did find some good Greek places after a process of Italian Restaurant elimination, I had the most DELICIOUS Pastitsio (a Greek baked pasta dish--similar Lasagna--including tubular pasta ground beef, cinnamon, nutmeg and béchamel sauce) and Greek Salad on my final night!

Scooter David: David Paul on scooter, Mykonos Greece

Scooter Nick: Nick Verreos, on a scooter Mykonos Greece

Of course, we also hit the beaches! After all, when in Mykonos...We did Paradise, Super Paradise and Elia...One day we even rented scooters and took a ride to the beach and back (taking side-trips through the island). This was one of my favorite memories for sure. Loved the scooters and seeing the island like this. Now, speaking of the beaches...

Mykonos Beach View

They were beautiful and serene. But, just a warning for anyone over 30: Post 4 PM, Paradise and Super Paradise Beaches (a couple of the beaches we were at) become a 19-22 year-old Italian-Australian drinking-and-Lord-Knows-What-Else Fest with an Italian DJ playing loud thumping music and Champagne-bottle swigging kids. If you think I'm kidding, click HERE.

Welcome To Tropicana: Nick Verreos, Paradise Beach Mykonos

I just wished I would have known this back when I was 22!!!! I missed the "Mykonos Boat" I guess "back in the day". But we still had a BLAST! All in all, David and I had a wonderful time in Mykonos: It was GORGEOUS and a nice way to take a respite from our very hectic lives.

Postcard from Mykonos: Nick Verreos and David Paul pose in front of a HUGE Cruise Ship!, Mykonos Town

Week in Review: Princess Tatiana, 3-9 July

Here's what Tatiana wore from 3-9 July:

1. Holidaying in Greece. Yes, I suppose this is precisely what you would wear for a Grecian break.

Week in Review: Princess Marie-Chantal, 10-16 July

Here's what Marie-Chantal wore from 10-16 July:

1. a - c) Opening a new branch of her children's clothing boutiques in Hawaii in d) Stella McCartney and Gucci shoes. I know we have some Stella haters in the house, but I think that lace dress would look grand on some of our British royal ladies...

Photos: FL Morris/Star-Advertiser/Honolulu Pulse/Malie Moran/Hawaii Red Magazine/Stella McCartney

Week in Review: Princess Tatiana, 3-9 July

Here's what Tatiana wore from 3-9 July:

1. Holidaying in Greece. Yes, I suppose this is precisely what you would wear for a Grecian break.

Week in Review: Princess Marie-Chantal, 10-16 July

Here's what Marie-Chantal wore from 10-16 July:

1. a - c) Opening a new branch of her children's clothing boutiques in Hawaii in d) Stella McCartney and Gucci shoes. I know we have some Stella haters in the house, but I think that lace dress would look grand on some of our British royal ladies...

Photos: FL Morris/Star-Advertiser/Honolulu Pulse/Malie Moran/Hawaii Red Magazine/Stella McCartney

Week in Review: Princess Tatiana, 19-25 June

Here's what Tatiana wore from 19-25 June:

1. At a lunch to celebrate the Lulu & Co. Autumn/Winter 2011 collection, 21 June. I don't know if it's the angle of the photograph, the fact that she's wearing flats, or what, but something's not right here.

Photos: Getty Images

Week in Review: Princess Tatiana, 19-25 June

Here's what Tatiana wore from 19-25 June:

1. At a lunch to celebrate the Lulu & Co. Autumn/Winter 2011 collection, 21 June. I don't know if it's the angle of the photograph, the fact that she's wearing flats, or what, but something's not right here.

Photos: Getty Images

Week in Review: Princess Theodora, 12-18 June

Here's what Theodora wore from 12-18 June:

1. Attending Prince Philip's 90th birthday service, 12 June.

Theodora also gave an interview to Hola recently:

Well, I think she's clearly moved out of princess territory and into the starlet realm, which is understandable given her career ambitions. Problem is, I'm not sure it's working on either level...

Photos: Isopix/Hola

Week in Review: Princess Tatiana, 5-11 June

Here's what Tatiana wore from 5-11 June:

1. At a cocktail party celebrating 35 years of Taki's 'High Life' column, 8 June. Bad picture there. Sorry Tatiana, can't concentrate on the dress in these circumstances.

Photos: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Week in Review: Princess Tatiana, 12-18 June

Here's what Tatiana wore from 12-18 June:

1. Princess Nathalie's wedding, 18 June. And the prize for the best description of this gown goes to lovehgss1 for calling it a "hairy muppet." Well done, well done.

Photo: Daylife/Getty Images

Week in Review: Princess Marie-Chantal, 5-11 June

Here's what Marie-Chantal wore from 5-11 June:

1. At a cocktail party celebrating 35 years of Taki's 'High Life' column, 8 June. 
2. Attending the ARK Gala, 9 June (yes, alongside some other people). Just lovely, this.

Also, excuse me, when did Maria-Olympia grow up?

Just makes me feel old, that.

Photos: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images/Chris Jackson/Zimbio

Week in Review: Princess Marie-Chantal, 12-18 June

Here's what Marie-Chantal wore from 12-18 June:

1. Attending Prince Philip's birthday service, 12 June, a) on M-C and b) from Chanel. The shoes she wore may have been overkill, but at least she didn't go the runway route...
2. Princess Nathalie's wedding, 18 June. Many of you had comments on the hair here - I liked it. Helped keep the conservative gown from being too aging. But then, I loved the whole thing, so I'm biased as can be.

Photos: Isopix/Getty Images/Daylife/Style.com

Week in Review: Princess Theodora, 12-18 June

Here's what Theodora wore from 12-18 June:

1. Attending Prince Philip's 90th birthday service, 12 June.

Theodora also gave an interview to Hola recently:

Well, I think she's clearly moved out of princess territory and into the starlet realm, which is understandable given her career ambitions. Problem is, I'm not sure it's working on either level...

Photos: Isopix/Hola

Week in Review: Princess Tatiana, 5-11 June

Here's what Tatiana wore from 5-11 June:

1. At a cocktail party celebrating 35 years of Taki's 'High Life' column, 8 June. Bad picture there. Sorry Tatiana, can't concentrate on the dress in these circumstances.

Photos: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images

Week in Review: Princess Tatiana, 12-18 June

Here's what Tatiana wore from 12-18 June:

1. Princess Nathalie's wedding, 18 June. And the prize for the best description of this gown goes to lovehgss1 for calling it a "hairy muppet." Well done, well done.

Photo: Daylife/Getty Images

Week in Review: Princess Marie-Chantal, 5-11 June

Here's what Marie-Chantal wore from 5-11 June:

1. At a cocktail party celebrating 35 years of Taki's 'High Life' column, 8 June. 
2. Attending the ARK Gala, 9 June (yes, alongside some other people). Just lovely, this.

Also, excuse me, when did Maria-Olympia grow up?

Just makes me feel old, that.

Photos: Dave M. Benett/Getty Images/Chris Jackson/Zimbio

Week in Review: Princess Marie-Chantal, 12-18 June

Here's what Marie-Chantal wore from 12-18 June:

1. Attending Prince Philip's birthday service, 12 June, a) on M-C and b) from Chanel. The shoes she wore may have been overkill, but at least she didn't go the runway route...
2. Princess Nathalie's wedding, 18 June. Many of you had comments on the hair here - I liked it. Helped keep the conservative gown from being too aging. But then, I loved the whole thing, so I'm biased as can be.

Photos: Isopix/Getty Images/Daylife/Style.com

Royal Fashion Awards: Princess Nathalie's Wedding

Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg married Alexander Johannsmann on Saturday (religiously - they were civilly married last year). Though her wedding was a white tie affair just like her sister's, Nathalie's was sadly lacking in tiara power. Gowns, however, were plentiful, and so we'll get on with our show:

Best in Typical

Queen Margrethe

Left to Right: Princess Christina of Sweden, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece

Princess Christina turned up in pink, as she tends to do, and both Queens turned up in repeats, as they tend to do. Anne-Marie wore this floral number for Nikolaos and Tatiana's wedding, and Margrethe looks to be wearing the blue dress she wore for that event, this time with a new top. I'll give her the prize since this is rather flattering - certainly more so than some of the other things she trots out time and again...

Worst in Big Hair

Crown Princess Mary

This repeated pink number from Mary is fine, but I'll never fall in love with it if I can't get past the hairdo. Harsh center parts with hair plastered to the head on either side are just not a flattering affair, and this one is calling to mind another major 'do I didn't care for: her wedding hair.

Best in Fancy

Princess Benedikte

This is a tad Carmen Miranda, minus the fruit hat, no? Nevertheless, she gets an award because she wore a tiara: that's the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg fringe around her neck. Extra sparkly, just as a mother of the bride should be.

Worst in Shiny and Sparkly

Princess Alexia

L to R: Carina Axelsson (girlfriend of Prince Gustav, brother of the bride), Princess Tatiana of Greece, Princess Alexia of Greece, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her children Ingrid and Richard

You know how I love the sparkle and the shine, but it doesn't always go well. Carina's just sort of...there. And Alexandra is almost not there, she's so washed out by her beige gown. Tatiana, on the other hand, is probably more there than she should be: that's some dress. It's like something rejected from Tina Turner's closet, thrown out for covering the legs too much. None quite matches Alexia's sequined game, though. So sad she decided to repeat the sack she wore to Victoria and Daniel's wedding. So, so sad.

Best in Regal

Princess Marie-Chantal

So chic it hurts, M-C is. Regal royal blue, appropriate but flattering. And those clips stuck on the side are just the cherry on top: infinitely more fashionable than a regular old brooch, but still bringing the royal bling. Best dressed of the day, by far.

Biggest Smile

Princess Nathalie

Last but not least: the bride. In a gown that is...interesting. This is a creation from Danish designer Henrik Hviid and is made of heavy ivory satin with a silk organza lining. The top is lace, the waist is cinched with a pleated satin belt, and the train is three meters long and two meters wide with the monogram of the bridal couple embroidered in pearls and crystals at the bottom.

Princess Nathalie carried on all the appropriate Danish royal family traditions: she wore the same lace veil and Khedive of Egypt tiara as the rest of the women in the family have done (a bit more history on those traditions can be found here). This is one of the best outings of this veil we've seen, but I'm not so sure about the tiara. I can't much stand visible tiara bases, though I may possibly be in love with the floating crown effect she's created. Definitely looks much bigger on Nathalie than it has on anyone else!

First impression? Well, I may have called the dress "homely" on Twitter. (I'm mean. Though to be clear, I was only talking about the dress, not our dear bride.) It's almost more of a crochet top than a lace one, the pattern's so big. And the scattered baubles over the front seem like a last-ditch effort to tie the lace in. But now that I've thought about it for a while, here's what I've come up with: it's not like Nathalie's a terribly traditional bridal type in the first place. She's an Olympic medalist and star equestrian, like the Zara Phillips of the Danish royal family. (Read: would rather be in the stables.) And she and Alexander aren't exactly a traditional couple; they were civilly married last year because Nathalie was pregnant, and now have a son named Konstantin. She's more the kind of bride that forgets her bouquet (as she did, having to wait 7 minutes at the door to the church while it was brought to her). 

So with all things considered, while I'm still not a fan, I'm giving her the most important bridal award of all: biggest smile. Giant lace and all, that's still the stand out feature.

Who was your best dressed at Nathalie's wedding? And what did you make of the bridal gown?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Billed Bladet/wittgenstein-berleburg.net/Ron Allen

Royal Fashion Awards: Princess Nathalie's Wedding

Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg married Alexander Johannsmann on Saturday (religiously - they were civilly married last year). Though her wedding was a white tie affair just like her sister's, Nathalie's was sadly lacking in tiara power. Gowns, however, were plentiful, and so we'll get on with our show:

Best in Typical

Queen Margrethe

Left to Right: Princess Christina of Sweden, Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Queen Anne-Marie of Greece

Princess Christina turned up in pink, as she tends to do, and both Queens turned up in repeats, as they tend to do. Anne-Marie wore this floral number for Nikolaos and Tatiana's wedding, and Margrethe looks to be wearing the blue dress she wore for that event, this time with a new top. I'll give her the prize since this is rather flattering - certainly more so than some of the other things she trots out time and again...

Worst in Big Hair

Crown Princess Mary

This repeated pink number from Mary is fine, but I'll never fall in love with it if I can't get past the hairdo. Harsh center parts with hair plastered to the head on either side are just not a flattering affair, and this one is calling to mind another major 'do I didn't care for: her wedding hair.

Best in Fancy

Princess Benedikte

This is a tad Carmen Miranda, minus the fruit hat, no? Nevertheless, she gets an award because she wore a tiara: that's the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg fringe around her neck. Extra sparkly, just as a mother of the bride should be.

Worst in Shiny and Sparkly

Princess Alexia

L to R: Carina Axelsson (girlfriend of Prince Gustav, brother of the bride), Princess Tatiana of Greece, Princess Alexia of Greece, Princess Alexandra of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and her children Ingrid and Richard

You know how I love the sparkle and the shine, but it doesn't always go well. Carina's just sort of...there. And Alexandra is almost not there, she's so washed out by her beige gown. Tatiana, on the other hand, is probably more there than she should be: that's some dress. It's like something rejected from Tina Turner's closet, thrown out for covering the legs too much. None quite matches Alexia's sequined game, though. So sad she decided to repeat the sack she wore to Victoria and Daniel's wedding. So, so sad.

Best in Regal

Princess Marie-Chantal

So chic it hurts, M-C is. Regal royal blue, appropriate but flattering. And those clips stuck on the side are just the cherry on top: infinitely more fashionable than a regular old brooch, but still bringing the royal bling. Best dressed of the day, by far.

Biggest Smile

Princess Nathalie

Last but not least: the bride. In a gown that is...interesting. This is a creation from Danish designer Henrik Hviid and is made of heavy ivory satin with a silk organza lining. The top is lace, the waist is cinched with a pleated satin belt, and the train is three meters long and two meters wide with the monogram of the bridal couple embroidered in pearls and crystals at the bottom.

Princess Nathalie carried on all the appropriate Danish royal family traditions: she wore the same lace veil and Khedive of Egypt tiara as the rest of the women in the family have done (a bit more history on those traditions can be found here). This is one of the best outings of this veil we've seen, but I'm not so sure about the tiara. I can't much stand visible tiara bases, though I may possibly be in love with the floating crown effect she's created. Definitely looks much bigger on Nathalie than it has on anyone else!

First impression? Well, I may have called the dress "homely" on Twitter. (I'm mean. Though to be clear, I was only talking about the dress, not our dear bride.) It's almost more of a crochet top than a lace one, the pattern's so big. And the scattered baubles over the front seem like a last-ditch effort to tie the lace in. But now that I've thought about it for a while, here's what I've come up with: it's not like Nathalie's a terribly traditional bridal type in the first place. She's an Olympic medalist and star equestrian, like the Zara Phillips of the Danish royal family. (Read: would rather be in the stables.) And she and Alexander aren't exactly a traditional couple; they were civilly married last year because Nathalie was pregnant, and now have a son named Konstantin. She's more the kind of bride that forgets her bouquet (as she did, having to wait 7 minutes at the door to the church while it was brought to her). 

So with all things considered, while I'm still not a fan, I'm giving her the most important bridal award of all: biggest smile. Giant lace and all, that's still the stand out feature.

Who was your best dressed at Nathalie's wedding? And what did you make of the bridal gown?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Billed Bladet/wittgenstein-berleburg.net/Ron Allen