SANTORINI

SANTORINI

The fast ferry system in Greece is very efficient and a pleasure to be on. As we approached Santorini, it appeared like a glimmering jewel against the deep blue sea. The views were breathtaking.

According to Wikipedia, “ Santorini is essentially what remains after an enormous volcanic explosion that destroyed the earliest settlements on a formerly single island…..The island is the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history….and may have indirectly led to the collapse of the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete through a gigantic tsunami. Another popular theory holds that the eruption is the shource of the legend of Atlantis.”

Once we landed, we were picked up by the hotel shuttle and taken up the winding road to the top. Our room overlooked the pool and had a panoramic view of the countryside and sea. Once again, breakfast was included and I developed another addiction, Greek yogurt with Greek honey.

I would recommend that you rent a vehicle; in fact, it is almost essential.

The first evening we went to the other side of the island to see, as the locals put it, the sun dive into the sea. We found a charming little restaurant,   it had a perfect view, good food and the nicest family who owned and operated it.

Mom: Eugenia
Dad: Stephanos
Son: Giann’s age 9
Son: Panayiotis age 15
Son: Dimitris age 17 who is not in the picture. We were pretty sure that mom said he was working at her families other restaurant.The next day we went to the “old town” where there is a working archeological site enclosed in a building. The site is the ancient city of Akrotiri and is the most important prehistoric settlement found anywhere in the Eastern Mediterranean.

First toilet seat?

On the way to the old town, we stopped at a local bakery where we met this man, a Maori from New Zealand. We could not help but notice his tattoos, all of them representing something significant to him and his culture.

On our return, we stopped at a winery; after all, we needed refreshment after a day of exploring. We had a wine sampling. You could choose 6 or 12 sample tastings. I felt I could only handle six. Then of course, off to the store to purchase wine. I could not believe that this land which looked as though it was only rock, could produce such fine wine.

Santorini is very beautiful but after seeing the main tourist sites, we felt it was time to move on.