Tuesday was our day in Santorini, Greece. The port at Santorini can not accommodate large cruise ships, and instead require passengers to ride small tender boats to the island. This was our view from the ship, and you can see buses carrying passengers up winding roads from the harbor area to their destinations on the island.
Santorini was formed as a result of a series of volcanic eruptions over centuries. Each eruption caused the collapse of the the volcano's center, creating a large crater (caldera). The classic moon shape of Santorini was formed as a result of one of these eruptions (which date back to 16th century BC). Santorini is known for its its whitewashed cube houses, massive volcanic rock formations, beaches made of lava pebbles, and steep cliffside villages. It is breathtakingly beautiful, and we had a full day exploring the island.
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| Cliffs of Santorini formed by layers of volcanic rock. |
Our first stop on our tour of Santorini was the Akrotiri of Thera. This is one of the oldest archaeological sites and prehistoric settlements of the Aegean. The first habitation of Akrotiri was in Late Neolithic Times (at least 4th millennium BC), and the settlement grew during the early Bronze Age (3rd millennium BC). By the late Bronze Age (20-17th centuries BC), the town was one of the main ports of the Cyclades. Akrotiri contained multi-story buildings, an elaborate drainage system, wall paintings and frescoes, furniture and vessels, and was quite prosperous. The town's life ended abruptly in 17th century BC, when inhabitants abandoned it during a series severe earthquakes and subsequent volcanic eruption. The volcanic material that covered Santorini as a result of the eruption allowed the buildings and their contents to be protected (much like Pompeii) and Akrotiri is still an active excavation site for archaeologists.
It was mind-boggling to us to see such well-preserved artifacts and structures at the Akrotiri excavation site. It's hard to wrap your brain around the age of this settlement, and to realize that sophisticated architecture and engineering principles were used in this ancient civilization. Our tour guide did a fantastic job giving us a glimpse into the life of the Akrotirian people of prehistoric times, and we marveled at the pottery, art, and buildings:
I know... It's a lot of photos of archaeological ruins. I'm writing this blog post months after our trip, so I honestly can't remember the details, but I remember such a sense of awe and wonder at this site that I feel like these pictures should be included:
Our next stop was a gorgeous cliffside winery, because, When in Santorini...
We tasted several local wines (juice for the kids), had traditional Greek snacks (cheese, olives, tomatoes, barley rusks), and enjoyed the amazing views of the caldera and neighboring islands:
Next, it was time for a Greek feast. Lunch was held at a banquet hall where we ate delicious local food and were entertained by Greek dancers. The kids' mortification at their parents being invited to dance with the locals quickly turned to delight when they were encouraged to smash plates and shout, "Opa!" This was an awesome party and so much fun!
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| Plate smashing is a Greek custom performed at celebratory occasions as an act of joy & to ward off evil spirits. |
Our first stop in the afternoon was the scenic town of Oia. This cliffside village is quintessential Santorini. Oia contains narrow, winding cobblestone streets, local shops, cafes, and art galleries, and its whitewashed structures and blue domes are picturesque and lovely. Santorini is one of the most well-known Greek islands, which means that it is a popular destination for travelers. We found Oia to be charming, but also packed with tourists. As wandered through the lanes to take photos with thousands of other tourists, we did our best to pose for shots where there weren't strangers in the background. We're so glad that we had a chance to visit Oia and experience its beauty, but also wondered how different it would be to visit on a quiet day off-season:
Our next stop was Fira, which is the capital of Santorini. Fira is a bit larger than Oia, and had more of a bustling feel to it:
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| Colorful rooftop in Fira. |
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| Cobblestone steps. |
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| Colorful Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. |
We stopped inside the cathedral to light a candle and admire its gorgeous interior:
The mati ("evil eye") was found everywhere in shops in Greece. Popular legend says that if you carry or wear a mati, you can prevent the malevolent curse of the Evil Eye from harming you:
The Three Bells of Fira is a traditional cycladic style Catholic Church dedicated to the Dormition:
We enjoyed exploring Fira and wandering through the pretty streets and shops there:
There are 588 steps which descend from the clifftop center of Fira to the Old Port below. The path zig zags down the cliffside and walking down is one of three ways for tourists to return to their ships. The other options are a one way cable car trip or donkey ride (no motorized vehicles are permitted):
The boys decided to take the cable car option, while Leah and I chose the adventure of riding donkeys down to the tender loading station at the port:
Here are some of the pics I took during the donkey ride:
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Looking back up at Fira midway down the steps/path. |
20-30 minutes later, we reached the bottom of the steps. Leah, who is the most fearless one in our family, declared that it was "terrifying"! The cobblestone path was steep and slippery in parts, and it was unsettling when the donkeys lost their footing, but I trusted the process and we arrived safely, so it was a win in my books and definitely one of the most memorable parts of our vacation:
Sunset views of Santorini (photos taken from our ship):
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| Town of Fira on top of cliifs. |
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| Fira and the port below. |
Our tour was aptly titled "The Best of Santorini", and it certainly lived up to that name, highlighting so many wonderful and unique parts of the island!
