Luxe Beat Magazine APRIL 2015 | Page 52

O f all the unique architectural features that distinguish St. John Mykonos Hotel, the stunning five-star luxury resort on Mykonos, none is more iconic than the graceful, chalk-white bridge that begins at poolside and takes you into the Aegean Sea. Through the morning mist, I could see the figure of a slim young woman in white standing on the crescent-shaped overpass. Like Aphrodite, she seemed to be rising from the foam of the sea. She was framed against the rosy-fingered dawn, rising in slender waves of orange and purple ribbons, tossed across the sky. Thus was the serene view that r t m on my r t mornin in my commodious suite at St. John, the relatively young resort hotel that is the jewel in the crown of luxury accommodation on Mykonos, the most cosmopolitan of the Cycladic islands in Greece. Its location, accommodations, spa, cuisine and services are the best th i an ha to off r Surely, the gods have smiled upon me, I thought. Mykonos is my favorite of all the islands and here I was on a hillside where the land cascades into the sea. The location provides a panoramic view of both Agios Ioannis and the Aegean; it i a Th hot a h a chosen as the setting for the cult classic movie, Shirley Valentine, one o th mo t n arin m a o t Greece. It is the story of a bored woman from a dreary town in England who comes to Mykonos and discovers sunshine, living in and relishing the moment, and love. Each morning, the view from my balcony was distinctive, and on my second day I saw a shadowy outline in th a i ta th mornin mist rose, the grey outline of the sacred island of Delos was revealed and it beckoned me. I learned I could arrange a private tour of both Delos, the sacred island where warriors fought heroic battles centuries ago, and also of Rhinia, its sister island, where the bones of the warriors are buried. By Greek law, no one is allowed to build on either of these islands. The boat trips sounded appealing, but I was feeling mellow and decided that after breakfast, I would spend at least the morning at the Aphrodite Spa and Beauty Center, the tranquil space that is the very heart of the hotel. After t yin th i t o th a extensive services, I promised myself a day of relaxation and revitalization and was not disappointed. 52