Ever since I used to be a baby, I’ve had this passionate need to go to the Greek island of Santorini. After I was little, the dad and mom of certainly one of my mates spent their honeymoon there, and after I noticed their pictures after they returned house, the island grew to become my dream vacation vacation spot.
Nevertheless, time has flown by and circumstances change. I now have a four-year-old daughter, Betsy, and after I began taking a look at resorts in Santorini, I realised that bringing a baby alongside would show tough. From what I may see, the resorts are very a lot arrange for {couples}. It is the best vacation spot for a honeymoon – as my buddy’s dad and mom found all these years in the past.
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Fabulous at 40: Denise raises a glass for her birthday alongside daughter Betsy, Elicia, far left, and Tamara
So regardless of my finest intentions, it was time to give you a Plan B. I requested mates for his or her recommendation and so they all instructed I go to Mykonos as a substitute – and I am so happy they did. I am now its largest fan. It is a unprecedented island – an absolute gem. The whole lot about Mykonos was superb, and I might simply return instantly as a result of I completely fell in love with it.
Earlier than the journey, I had celebrated my fortieth birthday by throwing a celebration in London. It was nice enjoyable however fairly hectic getting issues organised, so afterwards I needed to do one thing extra low-key.
Out of the blue: Denise fell in love with Mykonos and would return to the island instantly
That is the place the thought of a visit to Greece got here in. I travelled with Betsy, my finest buddy Tamara Edward and my goddaughter Elicia (simply to make issues a little bit bit extra sophisticated, Elicia is now godmother to Betsy). I believed it will be pretty to have a girly journey.
Elicia was particularly thrilled after I advised her we have been going to Mykonos as a result of the Kardashians had been there the earlier summer time – apparently it featured prominently on their actuality TV programme. Like many younger women, Elicia is a big fan of the collection.
Heading to a Greek island was additionally important for me as a result of I’ve co-written a one-woman present (at present operating at London’s Arts Theatre) wherein I play a type of Shirley Valentine character having a midlife disaster.
I’ve had a form of Shirley Valentine obsession myself over the previous three years – no, not of assembly a tall, darkish, good-looking fisherman, however of exploring the Greek islands. This was my first enterprise out into that world.
Image good: Conventional fishing boats within the harbour at Mykonos city
The one Greek island I would been to beforehand was Zakynthos, which I would visited after I was younger. My principal reminiscence was that it was very windy – I keep in mind having to pin down all my belongings to cease them blowing away.
However from the second we arrived on Mykonos, I used to be enchanted. The whole lot was nearly good. The meals, particularly, was unbelievable.
We ate the whole lot as a result of I really like Greek meals. I had Greek salads and grilled halloumi, and the contemporary seafood was simply superb – large prawns and glorious sea bass.
One-woman present: Denise pictured in London at the moment and, proper, the spectacular Grace Resort
Usually I am very cautious about what I eat, however on vacation I let myself loosen up a little bit. In Mykonos, I felt I did not want to fret. At lunch, the restaurant workers served a easy tomato and cucumber salad in a scrumptious lemon and olive oil dressing and loads of herbs. After consuming one thing like that, I felt full, but had the satisfaction of understanding I would had one thing actually wholesome.
One other bonus was that Betsy additionally beloved all of the meals. She tried halloumi for the primary time and he or she adored it. I used to be fairly stunned as a result of it may be salty.
All people on the island was ultrafriendly. We have been staying on the ‘quiet’ aspect of Mykonos (there’s a clubbing aspect too), however not as soon as did I really feel uncomfortable having a baby with me. I have been to different locations with Betsy the place some individuals have intimated that we ought to not be there, that it needs to be for adults solely.
Serene: Denise stayed on the Grace Resort, which is located on the hills above Mykonos city
Betsy had such time, particularly strolling across the little city and wandering right down to the port to take a look at all the luxury yachts. She was so energetic that by the night, she was worn out and simply needed to go to mattress.
There aren’t actually any main ‘must-see’ vacationer sights on the island. Mykonos has small but pleasant seashores – I may sit on the sand and simply keep watch over Betsy. There weren’t too many individuals round both, so it was all very relaxed.
Very relaxed: Mykonos has small but pleasant seashores the place Denise may simply keep watch over Betsy
We stayed on the spectacular Grace Resort. It is located on the hills above Mykonos city, with gorgeous views of the glowing Aegean. As resorts go, it is comparatively small, with simply 32 rooms, a lot of which have their very own plunge swimming pools.
In its literature, the resort claims that ‘the overriding environment is certainly one of serenity’, with ‘the one departure from the normal Grecian structure being the set up of flat-screen televisions, iPod docks and outsized rainforest showers’.
For the adults in our group, one of many resort’s nice treats was its signature Grace cocktail – a gin-based concoction that was completely scrumptious. It was virtually like a mojito in that it had mint and a contact of syrup. This grew to become my signature toasting birthday drink of the vacation!
Heading for the West Finish: Denise appeared on Lorraine Kelly’s ITV present ‘Lorraine Reside’ at the moment to advertise her one-woman musical, ‘Some Woman I Used To Know’
Each time we ordered a Grace cocktail, there was a refrain of Glad Birthday – to the purpose that on our final day, I needed to say to all people: ‘Proper, I believe we have established that I am 40 so there isn’t any have to preserve celebrating!’ We had lunch daily within the resort however took the choice to dine out for a number of evenings, simply so as to add a little bit of selection. Having mentioned that, dinner on the Grace terrace was troublesome to beat, particularly with that tremendous sea view.
Mykonos city centre was only a five-minute cab journey from the resort, so it was easy to get to the retailers – at all times an essential consideration throughout a girly vacation.
I knew that after I returned from my journey, I used to be about to enter the West Finish with my onewoman present, so this was the time to loosen up earlier than a busy interval. The remainder of the summer time holidays have seen me juggling entertaining my daughter and rehearsing. Now that the present is up and operating, I am doing my jazz-hands factor, as I usually do.
And nonetheless dreaming of heading to Santorini.
Denise van Outen’s one-woman present, Some Woman I Used To Know, is on the Arts Theatre, Leicester Sq., London (artstheatrewestend.co.uk) till September 13.
