Final Thoughts on a Dreamy Grecian Vacation

I feel like I could go on and on about Santorini.  It was just one of those trips that was perfect - perfectly beautiful, perfectly relaxing, perfectly everything.  The people were some of the friendliest we've ever encountered while traveling and the food quite literally, scrumptious.  From day one until day eight, I couldn't help but grab my camera, trying to capture every corner of the island.  I never tired of the views.

There is something so magical about Santorini.  A delicate fog enveloped the island even on the clearest of days.  As we watched the ships sail away from Santorini, it looked like they might just sail into an abyss.  I kept trying to put it into words when we were there but it just seemed impossible.  Today, it's still impossible and it feels positively dreamlike.  Perhaps that's exactly what it is - dreamlike.

I'll leave you with a random collection of photos that I just couldn't help but share.

Restaurant Recommendations:
+Ambrosia - If you're going to choose one night to splurge on a romantic dinner in Oia, this should be it.  Make reservations (it's small) and try to get one of the tables right on the edge for a more private dinner.
+Vanilia - Located between Fira & Imerovigli right along the walking path, this was a great little garden to stop for lunch in.  There's also seating on the roof for sunset dinners.
+Cafe Galini - Also located on the walk between Fira and Imerovigli, the terrace overlooking the caldera was stunning.  The sandwiches and salads were great for a light lunch.
+Imerovigli Tavern - A casual setting with amazing Greek food, we ate here twice and it was delicious both times.  The service was always good and the view is pretty nice too!
+Anogi - The food at Anogi was really, really good and the pricing was so reasonable!  Every night it was packed (definitely reserve a table unless you plan on eating early!)  It's not a restaurant with a view but the food makes up for it and it's a great place for a casual meal.
+Selene- This restaurant is located on the other side of the island at Pyrgos but it was certainly one of our better meals.  It's the perfect place to get away from the crowds on the popular caldera side of the island and the food is so wonderful that it's been recognized internationally.
+Kapari Wine Restaurant - Found in Imerovigli, not far from Absolute Bliss, this restaurant is a gem.  It's in one of the fancier hotels and it might be a bit of a splurge but the food and service was impeccable.

Other Santorini Posts

A First Glimpse  |  Absolute Bliss  |  Santorini Island  |  Santorini Sunsets  |  Akrotiri

The Ancient Village of Akrotiri

The purpose of our trip to Santorini was to relax and soak in some sun.  We knew we'd do a little exploring but we were also aware that this trip probably wouldn't be the cultural peak of our 2013 travels.  I was prepared to spend the majority of our time on the terrace, reading a book from a sun lounger but was quite excited when we stumbled upon Ancient Akrotiri while exploring the island.

Part of the grade 6 Social Studies curriculum in Alberta featured Ancient Greece.  In fact, up until recent years, it accounted for one third of the entire year's program.  I spent a lot of time talking about Greece and the many, many ways our society has benefited from that ancient and advanced civilization (*ahem, democracy.)

While they've traced settlements back to 4000 BCE, it was around 3000 BCE when a more substantial settlement was founded on Santorini Island.  It continued to grow and essentially became one of the main hubs of the Aegean sea.  At the end of the 17th century, a major volcanic eruption covered the entire settlement preserving the town below the new island surface for thousands of years.  Speculation says the entire event may have been the inspiration for Plato's Atlantis.

In the 1960s, the site was discovered and excavation began.  The absence of human remains have lead researchers to believe that an evacuation must have happened before the volcanic eruption and the amazingly well-preserved site has been compared to Pompeii.  It's stated that only 3% of the site has actually been excavated meaning that there will most certainly be more to see and learn in years to come.

The city itself is quite literally, fascinating.  Multiple story homes, a pretty clear grid system, an advanced drainage system, pottery & furniture all provide insight into the ancient civilization.  While it's a little difficult to see in the photos, it was quite clear onsite that this was a fully functioning and advanced city.  I was amazed to see well preserved artifacts sitting in rooms like nothing had happened - designs and paintings still fairly evident.

The majority of the smaller items have since been moved to a museum located right in Fira including enormous and elaborate wall paintings.  Tea cups and frying pans look almost exactly as they do today and dainty and intricate appliances survived the thousands of years below all of that sediment.  It really was quite an amazing site to experience.

Notes:

+The archaeological site of Ancient Akrotiri is located at Akrotiri near the Red Beach.  The site costs 5€.  The man at the gate didn't give us any information when we arrived and we had wished to either join a guided tour or at the very least, use the audio guide as signs inside are few and far between.

+The museum housing the majority of artifacts found at the site is located in Fira.  The entrance fee is 3€ and can quite easily be done in 1-1.5 hours, reading at all of the exhibits.

+All of the photos above are mine except the wall mural which was borrowed from Wikipedia.

Santorini Sunsets

It's a little bit difficult to sum up the Santorini sunsets.  They're a big deal on the island and as that golden hour approaches, the excitement and anticipation in the air is palpable.  The cameras come out while visitors document the descent of the sun into the Aegean sea until it finally disappears into the horizon.

Oia has long been pegged the place to view one of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.  Taking advantage of our rental car, we spent 2 nights in Oia.  The first, we went armed with a list of recommended restaurants and the hope to stumble into one of them before the sun disappeared.  We ended up with a great table and uninterrupted views and the sun set just as it was supposed to.  It was nice but it didn't feel special.  For me, the beauty of the sunset lies not just in the sun melting away for the night but within the colours it casts on everything else.  The second night in Oia, we found that beauty ... with plenty of others.

Beautiful it was but it was also crowded.  The small, cobblestone paths were lined with tourists, occasionally 3 or 4 deep.  Photographers had tripods set up and everyone was searching and fighting for a spot to watch.  It was pretty and I was fascinated by the changing colours cast over the white, concrete buildings but it was busy and while the anticipation of the crowd was something in itself, I preferred a quieter, more relaxed setting.

The rest of our Santorini sunsets were spent in Imerovigli.  Occasionally we were out for dinner but more often than not, we were on our terrace pouring a glass of wine and stepping into the jacuzzi.  It was peaceful and just the two of us.

Six Hours in One of the World's Oldest Cities

While there are several flights a day from Athens to Santorini, the connection with our carrier left us with a lengthy layover.  We had talked about heading into the city but with our 3:40 am wake up call, I wasn't sure we'd be up for much so we decided to play it by ear.  Upon arrival in Athens and one quick look around the airport, we knew 6 hours was going to be far too long to do nothing so we picked up the pace and put the plan to action.

At the end of the Arrivals hall, we checked our carry-on bag for 3€ with Pacific Baggage Services and then followed the signs to the Metro where we bought 2 tickets to Central Athens (Syntagma Square) for 14€.  The train departs every 30 minutes and it takes about 40 minutes to the centre.

Originally, we talked about immediately walking to the Acropolis in hopes of taking in one of Athens most famous sites but by the time we got everything sorted and into town, we knew we'd be too rushed for time.  Instead, we perused the streets and stopped in awe every time the Parthenon & Acropolis came into view, perched high above the city.  We stumbled upon other Ancient ruins scattered throughout the city centre and after a late lunch, we returned to the airport to catch our final flight.

A few hours definitely wasn't enough to take in one of the world's oldest cities and the birthplace of democracy.

Santorini Island

Map of Santorini via About.com & James Martin

Greece is one of those places where there seems to be several names for everything and it can be a little confusing.  Santorini is generally how the tourism industry refers to the island however officially, it's actually called Thira.  (Sometimes we see the classical name of Thera as well.)  The actual island is the product of an enormous volcanic eruption which created the Caldera that we see today.  The volcano rests under water in the centre (Nea Kameni above) and theories suggest that it's eruption was the source of Plato's Atlantis.  

The island itself is bigger than I had expected with quite a few little towns dotted all over the place.  The Caldera view (the interior) tends to be the most popular sites for tourists to visit because, let's face it, it is pretty stunning.  

Fira is the landing spot for the majority of cruise tourists and it's a busy little town full of your typical tourist shops and restaurants.  There are plenty of hotels and plenty of tiny alleyways to explore and spend your money.  It was probably our least favourite site on the island - just a bit too crowded and a bit too touristy for us.

Imerovigli was where we stayed at Absolute Bliss.  My masseuse explained to me that because it's the tallest point on the caldera, the guards used to keep watch for pirates approaching the bay.  The village is tiny and much, much quieter than it's counterparts, Fira & Oia but it's also home to a handful of hotels & restaurants.  It was our favourite spot to take in the sunset.

Imerovigli just after sunset with Oia in the distance

Oia, known as Ia (Ee-ya) to the locals, is most famous for it's gorgeous sunsets.  Literally, hordes and hordes of people line the streets of Oia every night to watch the sun dip into the Aegean sea.  The town itself almost felt like a bit of a cross between Fira and Imerovigli with quite a few hotels, restaurants and  shops but we felt it to be a bit more charming than Fira.

Looking at Oia from Imerovigli

A couple of days into our stay, rain was in the forecast and it gave us the perfect excuse to rent a car and explore the other side of the island.  The terrain plateaus behind the steep hills of the caldera to make way for wineries, fields & beaches and it's beautiful in a completely different way.

We stopped by Kamari, known for it's black beach.  There were several restaurants and hotels lining the shoreline and we were told on hot days, it's packed full of people who rent sun loungers and swim in the sea.

We also visited the Red Beach near Akrotiri which was quite stunning to see the deep, red juxtaposed against the bright, blue sea.  We stopped for a beer nearby and sat right along the water and watched the waves crash over the seawall, splattering the tables.

Touring the majority of the island can easily be done in one day and while we chose to rent a car, many others decided to rent Quads or scooters to zip around.  There are quite a few wineries to visit as well as the site of Ancient Akrotiri, which we returned to the following morning.  Both evenings, we took advantage of the car and had dinner and viewed the sunset in Oia, which was a bit too far to walk to at night from Imerovigli.

In the end, I was quite happy to have the time to explore Santorini further - had it been hot and sunny, I'm not sure Joe could have convinced me to leave the terrace.

Notes:
+Car/Quad/Scooter rentals are a dime a dozen on the island.  Our hotel arranged for our car - it cost 30€/day (certainly much cheaper than a taxi) and it was dropped off and picked up directly from our accommodation.
+Parking lots are found all over the island and the majority are free of charge.
+While the island is small, traffic can be a bit slow due to extremely large tourist buses navigating narrow roads and corners.
+After touring the majority of the island, we were so happy to have chosen a hotel in Imerovigli and if we returned, we'd stay there again!

{PS. Our Stay at Absolute Bliss & First Glimpses of Santorini}