e-flux – When one leaves behind the metropolitan glitter of Mykonos and moves east, it soon becomes clear that one is entering another world. The density of islands and islets begins to thin out, the sea becomes rougher, and the Aegean loses some of its postcard certainty. Ikaria is only two hours away, though rough seas often make it inaccessible. Those who make it there are greeted by an unusual sight. Instead of dry landscapes, whitewashed houses, blue shutters, pools, villas, and carefully curated coastal desires, Ikaria appears as a mountain range in the sea, often wrapped in mist and clouds. Its appearance is rough, its deep green vegetation overflowing. The island evokes something quite different from the Aegean imaginary that travels globally through social media, real estate advertisements, and “best island” rankings.
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