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Saturday, October 31, 2015

Ten Good Things About Santorini To Keep In Mind

Santorini is a grouping of islands that is the southernmost in the Cyclades.  When viewed from the air, one gets the impression of a crescent moon surrounded by several stars.  Santorini, once called Thera in ancient times, is at once such a unique and beautiful place that one can’t quite believe it.  Everything from the gorgeous Cycladic architecture to the grass fields--and even some of the unfinished buildings and old ferns and plants—has a profound charm.  The whole island exudes it.  I think adventure seekers, travelers, and history lovers alike will find something memorable here. 

For every adventure seeker, traveler, and history lover, I present you with ten things about the island that will help you out. 




It May Take Some Time To Get Up There…







Get off the ship ASAP.  It can a long time getting up the mountainside.  Getting to shore early guarantees much more time on the island.
The reason I say this is because of the three different ways of getting up the mountainside from the shore:




-the cable car, whose queue may grow large, and fast




-the road, which winds its way up the mountainside to the cable car’s right





-the donkeys…yes, donkeys.  They will humbly and sturdily carry you up the winding way.

Needless to say, the walkway is a great route to take if you love an obstacle course.  If not, best to get the cable car.  It costs 5 euros. 





A Colossal Volcanic Eruption


A view of the island from the winery near Pyrgos.


Santorini’s unique crescent shape, along with the other islands apart from the main one, are thought to have been formed by a cataclysmic and gargantuan eruption of the caldera that lies deep below this island.  






Nobody lives on it, due to the fact that the island is always growing and thereby changing shape, proof of the caldera’s activity.
The date of the eruption that annihilated Akrotiri is disputed, but a rough estimate puts it at 1500 B.C.  It covered the ocean floor in ash and pumice for nearly 30 cubic kilometers in all directions, and spewed molten rock for nearly 60 cubic km in all directions….  In fact, some believe the island was once round some 21,000 years ago, until the first violent eruption occurred and began to reshape the surrounding geography.  The eruption around 1500 B.C. his eruption was ten times more powerful than Vesuvius’s eruption that buried Pompeii.  Powerful enough to have destroyed the Minoan civilization on Crete, to have plunged the Mediterranean under an ash-cloud darkness, and to have reshaped Thera once again. 










Santorini’s Very Own “Pompeii”


Near the end of the peninsula lie the ruins, sheltered by a giant wooden shed.



Akrotiri, a gigantic Bronze Age city, was discovered in 1860, preserved in the ash of the massive eruption from 1500 B.C.  Crews were quarrying ash and pumice to use in tbe Suez Canal when they made the accidental discovery.  Akrotiri was part of the ancient Minoan civilization, centered in Knossos on the island of Crete.  But, there was Plato, and his story about Atlantis….  Though Akrotiri is widely accepted as being the ancient Minoan city, some do think this place is the strongest evidence for the fabled city of Atlantis: records show Akrotiri to have had plumbing systems, little to no evidence of a military, and based its existence around trade and bureaucracy, allowing its citizens to cultivate a cutting edge and very modern lifestyle for the time.  All of this, some 3500-3700 years ago.  Today excavations are continuing, and the entire site lies underneath a wooden shed, so as to protect the ruins from the intensity of the Aegean Sun. 












Cycladic Architecture















Cycladic architecture can be found all throughout Santorini. It is a strange and incredibly wonderful thing to behold, but this concept was actually created solely for the purpose of protection against the fierce winter winds and the acute summer heat of the Aegean.  Santorini, the southernmost of the Cyclades, features striking Cycladic architecture, especially in Oia, the northernmost village.





Cycladic architecture is characterized by white-washed walls and houses, often built close to each other, and one on top of another.  This combination makes roads and walkways narrow and labyrinth-like.  This “maze” of paths provides some protection from the strong winter winds that pound at the island.  Plus, on Santorini many homes are literally built into the mountainsides, such that residents essentially reside inside small caves.  The caves help maintain a stable home temperature year-round, even underneath the intense summer heat.  This is a primary reason that settlements were built along the ridge of the island. 
Best Time Of The Year To Visit









Because weather patterns fluctuate from powerful wind, and storms, in the winter to harsh sunlight in the summer, the best time to visit Santorini is in September-October, when the weather is neither windy nor hot.  Of course if you choose to visit by ship, chances are the company will not want its ships to anchor off the coast during a windy day anyway, nor will the port authorities want to ferry passengers in turbulent surf. 








Religion



A main church in Pyrgos.



From the tour bus.




The island is very religious.  Over 350 Greek Orthodox churches stand here!  Quite a few of those are family-owned, and only open a few times a year for celebrations and special occasions.  A family tends to its church and keeps it closed to the public otherwise. 


A small church somewhere near Oia, 2014.


A main church in Pyrgos, next to an ancient Venetian building in the foreground.  2015





Have Your Driver’s License Ready


My old buddy Wade, looking as far as he can into the sea.  2014


And the rest of the group!  2014


And more from the road to Oia, where we wound up:













Rent a quad bike.  Trust me on this.  It is THE best way to see the island.  You can road trip across the island in a matter of ninety minutes, and there is so much scenery to take in seemingly at every turn and bend….  










Costs anywhere from 20-40 euros for the day, and many of these places don’t require a security deposit.  Drive safe. 










Oia Is A Dream Come To Life


Fira, the main town, is wonderful, as is Pyrgos to the south.  



Fira


Pyrgos


Pyrgos


But out of the seven villages on the island, Oia (pronounced "ee-uh") is a must-see.  



2014


2015


2014



Here, you get the most intense feeling of the uniqueness of the island.  Oia is so different, but so beautiful from anything you could imagine.  









Plus, you will experience indescribable views of not just the ocean below, but the entire crescent shape of the island and of Oia, stretching itself across the ridge of the mountain. 




One of my absolute favorite shots of Oia, 2014






A Good Meal Is A Good Deal






2015: found some buddies from the ship in Oia!  Left to Right: Fred Feeny; Ernest Marchain; Lajos Bozso; Matt Belsey; Samantha Prince; Sam Meakin; Liam Anderson.  I had just arrived...hence why some aren't paying any attention!

Go ahead and treat yourself and your family or friends to a gorgeous view from a great restaurant.  Prices are better than you would expect in a good handful of the cafes and restaurants found across the island.  In Fira, prices are even a little bit better.  Scrumptious Greek food, brilliant views, and reasonable prices; that’s not a bad combination at all. 




Looking For A Beach?





Best stuffed squid of my life; cost 7.50 euros





This beach is the closest to Fira.  The name is Aegialos Beach.  It is secluded, the water is refreshing and clear, the sand is nice, the accommodations are great, and the café serves good wi-fi and good food at cheaper-than-you-would-expect prices.  Highly recommended. 





From the high road, 2015


A fantastic mountain near Oia, 2014



From Pyrgos, 2015


Oia, 2015


That about does it.  I hope this gives an abundance of information for anyone willing to learn about (and possibly travel to) Santorini.  It truly is a gem, and the awe it bestows is unforgettable.











Disclaimer: 




I do not intend to speak on behalf of Azamara Club Cruises.  As an employee of Azamara Club Cruises, I hereby state that all views and expressions of opinion I hold are solely my own, and do not reflect or represent the views, values, beliefs, opinions, or company policies of ether Azamara Club Cruises or Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
Additionally I neither own nor claim any legal rights to the links provided in this post.


















































































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