Mykonos. The word slides off my tongue, chunky and yet smooth, like a hokey pokey ice cream. The exotic name describes the Greek island perfectly: a paradise in the middle of the Aegean Sea. Accessible only by boat and plane, Mykonos is truly the hidden gem of the Mediterranean. When there, I felt free and joyful, trivial problems fading into the back of my consciousness as we explored the narrow streets and cobblestone alleyways of Chora, the main town in Mykonos. I held onto my white fedora as we traversed the maze of whitewashed houses, contrasting against the summer blue sky in a beautiful array of sea and sand. We polished off a delicious brunch at a small cafe overlooking the water, and walked to the famous windmills at the top of the hill.

Of course, there was a complication.

When we travel, there always seems to be some snag, whether it be as small as a cockroach sunbathing in the kitchen, or as large as being escorted away by five policemen in the Middle East.

And this hitch had to do with the windmills - or more specifically, their power source. Mykonos is known for the sunny, cloudless sky, and also for the wind.

We came across an alleyway early on in the day, and, feeling a bit adventurous, took a little detour to see what was at the end. We walked down the cobblestone path and turned left. Along the water was a thin stone pathway. A sharp ledge on the pathway caused the waves to create a wall of water that, unless at the edge, would only wet the tips of one’s toes. Feeling a tad brave, I advanced along the slippery surface.
I suppose it was a combination of a rather large wave and the wind, but my hand must have opened for just a second as the wind grabbed my white fedora and tugged it away.

I hope that one day I will be able to return to Mykonos and spend more time exploring the cobblestone alleyways and swimming in the ocean. Maybe when I journey back I'll even find my fedora washed up on the white sands.

Sarah Albom is a member of the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program

All photos courtesy and copyright Sarah Albom