We meet Petros the Pelican on the Greek Island of Mykonos

Note: click photos for larger views. ©2017, David A. Porter

When we were visiting the island of Mykonos, as we sailed with Azamara Club Cruises, we heard a sudden squealing of women about 30 yards in front of us.

Naturally, we looked up and witnessed scores of women with their iPhones in the shooting position chasing a large pelican who decided to take a stroll right through the crowd of folks.  It was quite comical to see folks from all different cultures exhibiting the same behavior as they giggled and chased the poor bird down for a photograph.

Luckily for me, I didn’t have to chase him down.  He walked right by me and then turned around for a nice cameo shot.

According to Wikipedia, “Petros was a great white pelican, who was the official mascot of the Greek island of Mykonos. In 1958 a wounded pelican was found off the coast of Mykonos shore by a local fisherman. The pelican was nursed to health and remained on the island supported by locals. It soon adopted the name “Petros”, as a joke between the locals, as “petro” in Greek means rock, stone but metaphorically Old and Grumpy. To great disappointment by locals and tourists alike, Petros was hit by a car on 2 December 1985 and failed to recover. Subsequently, three new pelicans reside around the main town of Mykonos. One, honorifically, was given the name Petros.”

I don’t know if this was Petros, but he sure walked around like he owned the place.
 
If you enjoyed this article, sign up for our travel newsletter to keep abreast of our best travel tips, on-location reviews, exclusive travel offers, group travel events, and much more.

Roaming Boomers Travel Services is an Independent Affiliate of Cadence, a Virtuoso® member. CST#201120-40