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.

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}

Absolute Bliss - Imerovigli, Santorini

I'm known to be quite particular when it comes to hotels.  Some people will choose to save money in accommodation because 'they only sleep there' but I'm not one of them.  I like to surround myself with nice things and having a well-designed, comfortable room to return to after a busy day exploring is important to me.  Good design also inspires me and fantastic service can most definitely enhance a trip.

When planning a holiday, as opposed to a short stay in a city hotel, I think a great hotel is even more important because you will certainly do more than sleep there.  While there is always the option of spending your days out and about, there will be days where you'll want to stay put and the better the hotel, the more enjoyable the day.

When it came to planning our stay in Santorini, I immediately thought back to Liz's posts about her trip last year.  I remember her raving about the entire vacation and particularly, her hotel.  I did my due diligence and researched further, pricing other options but after a few emails and the glowing review increasing, I knew we had to heed Liz's advice and book Absolute Bliss.

It did not disappoint.

Located in Imerovigli, Absolute Bliss is found away from the crowds in Fira & Oia in it's own picturesque caldera setting.  I loved how quiet and peaceful it was and it was perfect to return to after visiting the more popular towns on the island.  The hotel itself is small - just over a dozen rooms - and personal.  Guests are made to feel special and welcomed without any sort of pretentious undertones making a very comfortable stay.

Our room was simple with white washed walls, crisp, white linens and great windows to take advantage of the gorgeous views.  The terrace was the selling point.  It was massive and where we spent the majority of our waking hours.  A small table for breakfast, 2 sun loungers for midday reading and sunbathing and a hot tub for sunset viewing kept us occupied throughout the day.

What set Absolute Bliss apart from an average holiday was by far the staff.  The manager, Sofia, was seriously amazing.  She had the taxi driver phone her ahead of time as we made our way from the airport to the hotel to make sure she was waiting at the door to our suite when we arrived.  Upon hearing that we didn't have bags, she offered to bring a few clothes with her in the morning just in case I needed something and she left us with her mobile number directing us to call, even at 3 am, if we needed anything at all despite the reception being open 24 hours a day.

Every morning, our pre-ordered breakfast arrived on the dot, the housekeeping staff kept our room immaculate and 2 gentlemen climbed those steep stairs every day delivering food and drinks to us as we soaked up the sun on the terrace.  We were practically forbidden to lift a finger.  When the weather looked less pleasant one day, Sofia hired us a car and had it delivered within half an hour but while we waited, she drew out a map for us directing us to the best sites on the island.  At every little stop, she'd jot down a few recommended restaurants (very much appreciated and resulted in not one single episode of hanger) and both Sofia and her assistant handled making dinner reservations for us whenever we requested it.  Not once did we feel like we weren't being taken care of and everything was always done with a smile.

Staying at Absolute Bliss completely reinforced why we love to stay in small, boutique hotels.  The service is so personal, never having to use a room number or even our name and feeling genuinely well taken care of the entire stay.  As we reluctantly prepared to depart, Sofia asked Joe how he enjoyed the local, craft beer they just began carrying at the hotel and before we knew it, she'd slipped to the back and brought out 1 litre of his favourite brew to take with us telling us she'd even arrange to ship it to us if we wanted.

While the island itself is gorgeous no matter where you stay, Absolute Bliss most definitely contributed to this dreamy vacation.

{Last week, while on vacation, I was featured on Diane's new Expat Chitchat series.  You can check it out here.}