Crowd Gathers Around Shop in Mykonos, Greece for a Truly Unexpected Surprise
With its classic Mediterranean beauty and a mix of attractive beaches and lively nightlife scene that bring in hundreds of thousands of tourists each year, Mykonos is one of Greece's most happenin' spots. However some of the island's surprises are found not on the beaches or in the clubs, but in its quiet alleys.
TikTok vlogger @international.alina was taking a stroll through the streets of Mykonos when she stumbled on a crowd that had gathered in a narrow alley by a small shop. Joining the crowd, she got a look at the surprising thing that had captivated its audience.
Now that's something you don't see every day- a pelican hanging around in a boutique! And not just any pelican, either. This is Petros, the beloved mascot of Mykonos himself! Guess he was looking to buy some pelican-friendly footwear.
I had to learn more, because this was the first I'd ever heard of Petros- much less the island even having a mascot at all. Funnily enough, the type of pelican shown here isn't originally native to Greece, either. But Petros isn't a new addition to the island's lore- he's actually been a revered figure on Mykonos since the 1950s!
According to the Greek City Times, a local fisherman rescued a wounded white pelican off the coast of the island in 1958. The locals of Mykonos brought the pelican back from the brink and took him in permanently, naming him Petros, a name which can be interpreted as "tough" or "grumpy."
While the original Petros lived a happy long life on Mykonos, he is sadly no longer with us. The original Petros was tragically hit by a car in 1985 and died. However, after his death, a few more pelicans were donated to the mourning island, and Petros' lineage continues on in his adopted descendants.
The new mascots are still beloved by the locals and visitors to Mykonos, as this video makes plainly clear. So if you see a pelican while visiting Mykonos, greet them kindly and treat them with respect. You're looking at the island's mascot!
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