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 Mykonos was an independent island prince with its own culture, its own dances, its songs, poetry, cuisine, fabrics, architecture, and even its language. All these have evolved and formed carefully over thousands of years, amid wars, occupations, droughts and other disasters. You should not underestimate how isolated the Aegean islands were in the times of sailing and how unique and distinct were the civilizations that were brought to their places.

It is no exaggeration to claim that life in Mykonos has changed more over the past sixty years than it has been for 3,000 years. The island had limited rural capabilities, scarce water, good fishing and few other natural resources. In a way, it represented an untouched example of a highly organized, self-sufficient Aegean civilization. He lived in equilibrium with his available territorial, water and marine resources, completing his income by exporting and trading boats, and by remitting Mykonian seamen and immigrants. How lucky I was when I met the island at that time, when it was on the brink of its future dramatic change.