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
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| 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”
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| 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 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
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| A main church in Pyrgos. |
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| 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.
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| A small church somewhere near Oia, 2014. |
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A main church in Pyrgos, next to an ancient Venetian building in the foreground. 2015
|
Have Your Driver’s License Ready
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| My old buddy Wade, looking as far as he can into the sea. 2014 |
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| 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.
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| Fira |
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| Pyrgos |
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| Pyrgos |
But out of the seven villages on the island, Oia (pronounced "ee-uh") is a must-see.
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| 2014 |
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| 2015 |
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| 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.
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| One of my absolute favorite shots of Oia, 2014 |
A Good Meal Is A Good Deal
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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?
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| 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.
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| From the high road, 2015 |
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| A fantastic mountain near Oia, 2014 |
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From Pyrgos, 2015
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| 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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