GREECE: Santorini

Santorini is a thoroughly enticing volcanic Greek island in the Aegean Sea. It is one of the Cyclades, and was devastated by the eruption of a massive volcano in the 16th. century B.C.

Perched on the cliffs, Fira and Oia, the two prominent cities of the island, stand watch over the enormous underwater crater called the caldera. The most recent eruption was in 1950, but was a relatively minor event.

The famous Santorini donkeys who provide transportation from the port, as well as their likenesses to the labels of the local Santorini beer. They are notorious for leaving steaming trails of pungent pony pucks on the stone streets for some poor guy to sweep up throughout the day. In ten trips to Paris I’ve never stepped in dog crap, but I stepped in donkey dung twice in only three days. It’s so beautiful here that it’s easy to get distracted, and the next thing you know you’ve trodden in it.

FIRA – Fira, the capital city, is comprised of whitewashed houses built on the 400 meter tall Western edge of the semi-circular island of Santorini. It can be accessed by car on the East or by donkey or on foot on the zig-zag path from its Western port. A cable car is also available for 6 euros.

FIRA

SUNSET FOREPLAY – Now, what you don’t see is an obnoxious Chinese version of Austin Powers, except the guy had bad skin instead of bad teeth. He is about four feet to the left of the young lady, and he is babbling orders at her as if they are shooting a clothing ad for H&M. Meanwhile, his yammering is ruining the beautiful view that I am trying to enjoy with my beverage. Thankfully, they departed after five minutes, and I am convinced that I got the better photograph. First, she didn’t look so good from the front, and I’m positive I had a better composition.

CARPET OF THE SUN

 

FIRST SUN

Meanwhile steps from my room, a dip pool offers a twilight swim.

 

 

Sunrise on my side(the cheaper side) of the Fira.

The donkeys head down to the port to ferry up their first customer’s of the day.

GALINI – This is my go to breakfast place for the duration of my Santorini experience. They provide a fluffy omelette with a considerable lineup of ingredients.

THE VIEW THAT COMES FREE OF CHARGE WITH BREAKFAST

 

                        FIRA TO OIA HIKING TRAIL

It is an 11 kilometer trek to Oia, and thankfully there are a number of places to pick up water along the way. It takes a good three hours if you stop to take pictures.

SIGHTS LIKE THESE MAKE THE 11K A LOT EASIER TO ENDURE

WINDMILL VILLA

One of the many enticing view lounges offered to guests willing to pay 500 euros a night for the privilege of staying in one of these cliffside hotels. My air conditioned single with a very comfortable bed ran a most economical 60 euros, and I am five minutes from these cliffside views.

Another lovely property that I suspect costs a pretty penny. Did I mention that I have an ocean view from the deck outside my room?

I LOVE THE WHOLE BLUE AND WHITE COLOR SCHEME, AND COULD SERIOUSLY GET BEHIND A FLAG LIKE THAT

 

ACCORDING TO MY LIVERPUDLIAN FRIEND, COREY, YOU CAN CLIMB TO THE TOP OF THAT MESA

THE RIM OF THE CALDERA

 

WILDFLOWERS ARE IN ABUNDANCE ALONG THE TRAIL

 

 

VOLCANIC ROCKS MAKE FOR AN AESTHETICALLY PLEASING WALL

INTERESTING GEOLOGICAL FORMATIONS ARE EVERYWHERE TO BE APPRECIATED

THE CITY OF OIA DOESN’T LOOK SO FAR AWAY, BUT IT IS AN HOUR AND A HALF BY FOOT

 

 

 

FORTUNATELY A YOUNG LADY HAPPENED BY WEARING A TOP THAT MATCHED THE CHURCH’S DOME TO A TEE

 

 

PRIVATE HOME

 

 

I RISKED FALLING TO MY DEATH FOR THIS SHOT

REMINDS ME OF A BOAT CALLED MEGALOPS BELONGING TO AN OLD FRIEND IN BERMUDA

VOLCANIC TEXTURES

THE LAST KILOMETER TO OIA

FINALLY!

The town was a mob scene with traffic to match. You have no idea what it took to get a clear shot of this church. Nothing but people and selfie sticks everywhere.

OIA – Clusterf**k Central

FUNNY LITTLE BOOKSHOP

ECRU – Stylish Boutiques

FINALLY FOUND A QUIET SPOT IN TOWN

Oia has lots of nice shopping, as well as boutiques with big-name luxury brands and expensive jewelry.

That high point on the left is where people go to watch the sunset. I can’t even begin to imagine how crowded it gets especially after dealing with the town in the middle of the day.

 

 

 

It was a mad dash to catch my ship to the island of Nea Kameni. I had been taking a nap, overslept, and ran for the cable car that takes you down to the seaport. Fortunately I made it in the nick of time, grabbed a sandwich to go and leapt onto the boat before they pulled away.

 

 

NEA KAMENI – This island is the uninhabited dome of volcanic activity in the area and our destination.

OUR SHIP IS PARKED IN THE MIDDLE

 

 

 

That is the freshest lava field on the island, having been dispensed during the last eruption in 1950.

 

This is an active crater with gases escaping on a regular basis from those white colored rocks on the right.

Islands in the distance comprise the rim of the caldera.

 

CALDERA RIM IN THE DISTANCE

 

SANORINI, THE MOST SUBSTANTIAL CALDERA RIM

 

 

THIRASSIA – We parked next to this island for a lunch of souvlaki, dolmas, and other treats.

 

It was about this time that I met Corey and his wife Sarah on their fifth wedding anniversary. They have actually been together 16 years, and are enjoying their second visit to Santorini. We bonded over our mutual dislike(putting it mildly) of Morocco, as well as our sly wit. Santorini has turned out to have everything. Beautiful sights, fine dining, great shopping, cute donkeys, volcanoes, history, charming churches and most importantly, an unexpected friendship.

 

OIA

 

 

AWAITING SUNSET WITH A LITTLE JAZZ

OTHER BOATS VIE FOR POSITION

I MANAGED TO MAKE GOOD USE OF THIS INTERLOPER FOR MY SHOT

There was a very small window of opportunity before the sun ducked below the clouds and out of sight. However, there was a pleasant afterglow.

GALINI – My daily breakfast routine.

NEA KAMENI – Volcanic dome.

CRAZY DONKEY ALE

 

YELLOW DONKEY ALE

 

 

 

                                SANTORINI ROAD RALLY

SMART CAR CABROILET

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NAOUSSA – A restaurant that knows what to do with four large prawns. Now we go from seafood to seafood art. Some of the pieces address the issue of overfishing which is yet another challenge our planet faces.

 

                              MATI ART GALLERY

YORGOS KYPRIS is the artist responsible for these works in the Mati Art Gallery which also features fine art jewelry by his niece at affordable prices.

This large bronze featuring a swirling school of fish can be found downstairs. Being enveloped in a large school of fish whilst scuba diving is one of my favorite things.

I found these mixed media fish sculptures utilizing a combination of glass and bronze to be most compelling, as well as one of my favorite representations of these ocean dwelling organisms.

There are a variety of ways one can display these pieces.

Screw threads are imbedded in the back side of this sculpture to enable a stable and invisible instillation of the art piece an inch or so from the wall.

THE MANAGER & DIANA – I hope the gallery owner realizes what a great pair of employees he has here. Diana was a delight, and with her stylish dress, radical piercings, tasteful tats, and magnificent mane was an artwork in her own right. Just add personality, and it proved one of the most pleasant retail therapy experiences of my last two years.