Greece: Santorini

One of the real highlights of our trip so far was the four days we spent relaxing on Santorini, arguably the most stunning Greek Island. In about 1650 BC, a huge volcanic explosion cause the center of the island to sink, producing a caldera that was then filled in by ocean water. Santorini, called “Thira” by the Greeks, is c-shaped and layers of lava are visible from the seemingly endless cliff top views that stretch across the island. Small towns are built into these cliff tops, others are nestled along the black and red sand beaches that line the coast. It is an incredibly charming island that we will undoubtedly return to at some point. Just wandering around the cliffs to take in the views was an entertaining way to pass the day. Our cameras were clicking non-stop.

The day after we arrived, we rented a small car to buzz around the island. We had fun exploring the beaches and towns from one end to the other, stopping for a sunset in the village Oia. Since it’s the off-season, the island was quiet; we occasionally felt like we had the whole place to ourselves.

Our Greek improved a little thanks to some friendly locals at our excellent hotel, which was in the island’s main town, Fira. We tried Greek coffee (never again) and drank plenty of wine and Ouzo. We ate ALL of our meals at a small taverna down the road. The gyros were so good we couldn’t bring ourselves to try anywhere else. We will miss them - and all of Greece - dearly.