Imagine if you can a huge volcano that erupted in 1600BC. The event had to have been felt all over Europe. A huge tidal wave followed that many scientists feel wiped out the entire Minoan civilization on Crete miles away. Immediately the crater filled with water from the Mediterranean. All that remained were 3 edges or the rim of the volcano that formed a crescent moon shape.
This is Santorini. At the moment we are sitting in the middle of a caldera with Santorini surrounding us. In the middle of the caldera are 2 new islands that are forming from the center cone of the sunken volcano. It hasn’t erupted since 1950 but it keeps growing. Tiny hilltop towns fringe the cliffs, all white-washed, stacked on top of each other. Zero lot lines are the norm. Tiny houses are built into the sides of the remaining edges of the volcano’s rim. Streets are barely 6 feet wide and doors to private homes are half the size of ours.
If you have a “must see before I die” list, then Santorini must be on it. It truly is a privilege to visit here and be a part of this. Pictures will not do it justice, telling you about it won’t do it justice. This is one of those rare times when you have to experience it for yourself.
We took a great excursion called the “Hidden Villages of Santorini” and that is exactly what we got. Our first town was called Megalochori. It is a village that produces white, sweet wine. Not much grows here because of the volcanic soil and there is always fine pumice stone in the air. They have adapted the growing of grapes low on the ground to allow the grapes to get as much moisture as possible. They wind the grapevines into circles much like a basket so that the grapes grow low to the ground and are protected from the pumice.
Our 2nd village took us to Elborio. An interesting fact about this village is the president of the village goes around in a little truck telling the village folk that their phone bills are due tomorrow, or there is unpicked up mail for them, etc.etc. Of course there is no private mail delivery, phone bills are paid 2 or 3 months at a time, the local produce and fish truck come to the main square and yell on microphones that they have fresh food.
Our 3rd visit was Perissa beach, a tourist spot with black sand and crystal clear water. We were supposed to swim but the day was rather windy. Nevertheless you can see the picture of the black sand on my feet because I did go out into the water just so I could experience it. (Kimber- notice that my toes still look nice! Thanks. :))
We then finished with Fira Town, the main town on the island. It is the most popular and though it is filled with tourists, it still remains lovely and charming. The donkey’s either take you up to Fira Town or bring you down. This is the town that everyone equates to Santorini. There is also a funicular that can get you up and down too.
We walked and walked through Fira town. We ate lunch at a wonderful place run by an Italian New Yorker married to a Greek woman who is only here from April to October. He was so nice. He charmed us, gave us free diet cokes, made a sampler platter for us that had stuffed grape leaves, eggplant dip, fava dip, meatballs and just let us sit and sit and sit. We shopped, ate, wandered around and then wandered some more until it was time for us to leave.
We took the cable car down to the port, said our good-byes to Santorini and took the tender to our ship. No one wanted to leave but we had to. We got to sail away at night after the lights went on and the sun went down. It was an absolutely beautiful place.
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This is Santorini. At the moment we are sitting in the middle of a caldera with Santorini surrounding us. In the middle of the caldera are 2 new islands that are forming from the center cone of the sunken volcano. It hasn’t erupted since 1950 but it keeps growing. Tiny hilltop towns fringe the cliffs, all white-washed, stacked on top of each other. Zero lot lines are the norm. Tiny houses are built into the sides of the remaining edges of the volcano’s rim. Streets are barely 6 feet wide and doors to private homes are half the size of ours.
If you have a “must see before I die” list, then Santorini must be on it. It truly is a privilege to visit here and be a part of this. Pictures will not do it justice, telling you about it won’t do it justice. This is one of those rare times when you have to experience it for yourself.
We took a great excursion called the “Hidden Villages of Santorini” and that is exactly what we got. Our first town was called Megalochori. It is a village that produces white, sweet wine. Not much grows here because of the volcanic soil and there is always fine pumice stone in the air. They have adapted the growing of grapes low on the ground to allow the grapes to get as much moisture as possible. They wind the grapevines into circles much like a basket so that the grapes grow low to the ground and are protected from the pumice.
Our 2nd village took us to Elborio. An interesting fact about this village is the president of the village goes around in a little truck telling the village folk that their phone bills are due tomorrow, or there is unpicked up mail for them, etc.etc. Of course there is no private mail delivery, phone bills are paid 2 or 3 months at a time, the local produce and fish truck come to the main square and yell on microphones that they have fresh food.
Our 3rd visit was Perissa beach, a tourist spot with black sand and crystal clear water. We were supposed to swim but the day was rather windy. Nevertheless you can see the picture of the black sand on my feet because I did go out into the water just so I could experience it. (Kimber- notice that my toes still look nice! Thanks. :))
We then finished with Fira Town, the main town on the island. It is the most popular and though it is filled with tourists, it still remains lovely and charming. The donkey’s either take you up to Fira Town or bring you down. This is the town that everyone equates to Santorini. There is also a funicular that can get you up and down too.
We walked and walked through Fira town. We ate lunch at a wonderful place run by an Italian New Yorker married to a Greek woman who is only here from April to October. He was so nice. He charmed us, gave us free diet cokes, made a sampler platter for us that had stuffed grape leaves, eggplant dip, fava dip, meatballs and just let us sit and sit and sit. We shopped, ate, wandered around and then wandered some more until it was time for us to leave.
We took the cable car down to the port, said our good-byes to Santorini and took the tender to our ship. No one wanted to leave but we had to. We got to sail away at night after the lights went on and the sun went down. It was an absolutely beautiful place.
2 comments:
I read a book in the past 5 years (I can NOT think of it for the life of me...it'll come to me eventually though) where the setting was a small Greek town and the life described was exactly how you described it! I remember just wanting to pack up and go live there immediately, as it seemed life would be so relaxing, and full of wonderful gifts. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it there. Now you can die a happy person! Well, almost. How many more items on the list to see?!
Glad to see your toenail polish is holding up:)
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