The Greek isle of Mykonos. (Clipart.com)

Top 10 Mediterranean Islands

MYKONOS, Greece -- Petros waddles leisurely down narrow cobblestone streets in the city of Mykonos, on Mykonos Island, calmly gazing at the amused tourists who stand back out of his way -- or sometimes reach out to pet him on the head.

Sometimes his girlfriend, Georgina, shuffles along with him. If only they could hold hands, they surely would.

I held up a raw fish for Petros and he nudged me with his giant beak and flirted with me until I gave it up.

Petro and Georgina are pelicans who have become permanent guests and the town mascots on this enchanting little Greek island. But they are not the only couple that roam through these winding streets along the sea.

Renowned for its intense nightlife, some say Mykonos is the world's best place to party. Others say it's a place to fall in love, stroll hand in hand on the beaches or roam through the maze of quaint alleyways past open-air cafes, where strains of Grecian music and aromas of delicious grilled foods waft in the air.

At around midnight things start to change and the quaint daytime charm turns into a wild party that carries on until morning in the streets and outdoor pubs.

"It's unbelievable," says Eric Sakawski of Vancouver, who quips that he stayed out until the "responsible hour of 6 a.m." on Sunday night, roaming or dancing from pub to bar, including many that jut out into the sea. "I've never seen anything like it in my life. It was like Mardi Gras. The streets are filled. People know how to party in this town -- and this goes on seven nights a week."

Mykonos is also one of the most cosmopolitan Greek islands and a destination for women who love to shop for unique clothing and trinkets.

You can rent a small scooter or ATV ($25 per day or $15 per day for more than three days) and explore the charming villages and countryside of the 105-sq.-km island. Rugged, winding roads take you past rock fences and white flat-roofed stone houses reminiscent of pictures in a old-fashioned children's Bible.

A guide can be invaluable while touring rural areas. I had the help of Appolos, who was lots of fun and offered excellent suggestions on places to stay and eat.

A 20-minute scooter ride brought us to the Myconian Imperial Resort with its healing spa pools filled with warm sea water. Set on a hilltop overlooking the sea, it is a place for nurturing mind and body.

It's different here. Sitting at the poolside and listening to gentle music waft through the air, the view of rugged volcanic mountains imparts a feeling of peaceful tranquillity. A stroll down the steep hill leads to the beach for a swim in the Aegean Sea.

"It's beautiful here," says Laura Cummings as she lingers in the blue waters. The marine biology student adds that her family came to the island to de-stress while her father, a surgeon, was lecturing at Athens University.

While I had heard much about the economic woes and civil unrest in Greece, there was no sign of it during my time on this care-free island. From partying through the night until the red sun rises over the turquoise waters, to relaxing in a Grecian spa, or just strolling along the maze of alleyways alongside a meandering pelican, Mykonos is an enchanting place to visit.

Water therapy

One day, when baby Nathan grows up to be a worldly young man, his mother will be able to tell him he once floated in the sea waters of the Aegean sea when he was still in her womb.

"I think he loved floating with me," says his mom, Heather Buchan, of Toronto, who was just four months pregnant with Nathan when she made the trip on a Transat Holiday package to Greece and some of its enchanting islands.

Her stay at the Royal Myconian Hotel on the charming island of Mykonos included a treatment at the thalassotherapy spa. Thalassotherapy involves using seawater for healing and relaxation therapies. At the hotel, treatment involves slipping into a series of outdoor pools surrounded by a stunning view of the volcanic mountains. One pool is filled with essential oils that enrich the skin, another filled with mineral-rich sea water, the third has therapeutic jets, followed by a fourth indoor pool with warmed sea water in a glorious candlelit room.

"It was a totally relaxing experience, says Heather. Back at her home in Toronto, she gave birth to little Nathan on Oct. 28.

"We fall in love with him more each day," Buchan says. "I cant wait to tell him that he has been to Greece."

More information

For details on Transat Holiday pacakges to Greece, see transatholidays.com.