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Unlike any place on earth
Santorini Review: |
Date posted: Jul 06, 2009
Posted by: Davidper
Times Viewed: 697
More: Santorini Island
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Santorini was the highlight of my family vacation this summer. This was our first visit to Greece. After three days in Athens, we took the Blue Star Ferry from Piraeus to Santorini. It was a gorgeous "mini-cruise" to travel to Santorini island. The 3pm arrival at Santorini was breathtaking- deep blue waters, blue skies, island cliffs dropping straight into the volcanic caldera, hilltops and cliffsides dotted with charming white structures. The waters in the caldera were very calm and ships were anchored offshore.
When we docked, we had (wisely) arranged with our hotel to have a taxi waiting with our name. We quickly left the dock and arrived about ten minutes later at our lodging in the village of Firostefani. We rented a standard apartment with Hotel Villa Ilias. The apartment was only a few steps down from the main road, situated in the cliff overlooking the caldera. The apartment was unbelievable! It was actually a cave-converted-to-apartment. It had a charming patio with an unobstructed view of the caldera- you could even watch the sunset to the west. Upon arrival our host at Villa Ilias was George. He was extermely helpful, charming, and polite. We told him we only had two days and wanted to make the most of our little time. He gave us recommendations and we had the time of our life.
Santorini is an immaculate island, quiet and charming. Our first excursion after we left our backpacks in the apartment was to hike to Oia and catch the sunset and have dinner. Absolutely fabulous! It was a hike indeed, but we made it in plenty of time. We stopped at a little bakery and bought some baked goods and cold drinks to tie us over until dinner. After sunset and dinner, we walked the narrow streets and shopped in Oia. We were very tired and took the bus back to our apartment. The next morning, we rose early and took a taxi to Boutari winery where we spent only about an hour, drank some regional wine, then headed for Kamari beach.
Kamari beach was absolutely the best beach for us. There is no sand, no grit, it's clean and dry. The beach is composed of flat black stones. My twelve year old son and I swam out to the big rocks at the edge of the swimming area and laid out. We watched a C-130 military airplane fly right over the top and land at the nearby Santorini airport. The waters at the beach were perfect temperature, not too hot, not too cold, very clear, maybe fifteen to twenty feet deep at the deepest area.
After the beach, we took a bus to Thira and walked and shopped. We walked back to Firostefani and had dinner at a very nice authentic roof-top restaurant (recommended by George from Villa Ilias). We witnessed another breathtaking sunset and ate a nice meal.
In order for us to continue our journey (to Italy and then Switzerland), we fly Aegean Airlines directly out of Santorini to Athens and then on to Rome. The airport and airline experience was much better than U.S. airlines- Aegean was a delightful, friendly, comfortable flight on a jet with latest modern ameneties. We are definitely going back to Santorini (and probably go to Naxos next time). We will stay longer next time.
What matters more for me if my wife's opinion. Although we only stayed in Santorini for two days, my wife loved everything about Santorini- the breathtaking beauty of the natural environment, the peace, the friendly people, the diversity from hiking, to beaches, food, shopping, the solace of the visit was rejuvinating. Santorini is unlike any place on earth that I have visited. We'll be back!
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