The island of Santorini was the location for the final week of our Greek adventure. And, it was a beautiful place to spend time with our friends.
Our group all stayed at the Volcano View Hotel which is located on the side of a cliff facing the volcano half way between the Athinlos Port and the town of Thira. When Hubby D and I visited Santorini in 2014 we stayed at the same hotel and this time it was just as wonderful (maybe more so) than we remembered.
If you are seeing this in an email, you will have to visit my blog to watch these videos. https://brendahyde.blogspot.com
The cliffs were especially beautiful at night.
There was really only one flaw -- and it was necessary for the dramatic appeal of the Volcano View -- there were 3 flights of steps to our room. When we visited in 2014, I actually cried when I saw the steps. My knee was going to be a problem then BUT NOT THIS TIME!
Going down the first flight from the main office.
Flight 2 to the terrace.
Flight 3 to our suite.
Our room was beautiful and it was worth every step.
Each morning we had breakfast on the terrace and enjoyed a marvelous view of the caldera of the volcano.
YW and LW along with their son, NW and daughter, LWM (the Bride) enjoying breakfast.
We could also sit outside our room at a lovely table and enjoy the view.
Right after checking in at the hotel, Hubby D and I went across the street and rented a 4 wheeler so we could have transportation for the week. Our group had brought 2 vans on the ferry, but parking is an issue on the island. The 4 wheeler gave us a bit of freedom. We kept it all week and also let others drive it so they could enjoy the experience.
We drove the 4 wheeler all over the island.
I tried to take photos while riding but it did not work....LOL
We toured the island stopping along the way at interesting sites. One stop was at the black sand beach. This beach gives an entirely stronger meaning to "hot" sand. I tried putting my toes in the sand but it was too HOT!!!!
Volcano beer -- YaHoo!
We enjoyed riding around and seeing the sites of Santorini. I was just plain fun!
High on a hill we spotted this church with all their flags out.
This is a mountain side made of ash from the eruption of the volcano.
This cemetery was high on a hill overlooking the rolling fields away from the cliffs.
We ended our day in the town of Oia. This is looking back toward Thira.
Here is a video I took from Oia looking towards Thira and Fira. If you are seeing this in an email, you will have to visit my blog to watch the video. https://brendahyde.blogspot.com
While walking up and down the small streets in Oia, I saw this beautiful bronze sea horse looking out over the ocean.
On another day, one stop on our 4 wheeler was to tour the town of Thira. We walked past an art studio featuring glass. I was so excited and had to go in and meet the artist, Mary. We purchased one of her glass plates and it sits in a place of honor in our living room.
Mary let us take her picture in the studio.
One of many famous blue domes on Santorini.
After one of our tours on the 4 wheeler, we returned to the hotel for a dip in the pool. The attendant was passing out "iced" towels and Hubby D took advantage to cool down.
One night, we all met for dinner at a restaurant, Restaurant Remvi in Fira for a wonderful dinner. This restaurant had a "blue" theme and I loved it.
Restaurant Remvi was a great location for a beautiful photo of JU and KU and the night lights.
Midway through our time on Santorini our group chartered a catamaran and sailed around part of the island. This is a fantastic way to see the unusual beaches - black beach and red beach. You can also get a perspective on the cliffs. It was definitely a highlight of our time in Santorini. LW spent a great deal of time planning excursions and entertainment. She did a lot of work and it was FABULOUS!!!!
This is looking back toward the cliff where our hotel is located.
This is the "red" beach.
This is a location where a lot of divers like to scuba dive. It was pretty water but there were very, very few fish and no coral.
The main point of interest from Santorini is the volcano caldera. A caldera is a large cauldron-like hollow that forms after the emptying of a magma chamber or reservoir in a volcanic eruption.
While we were sailing close to the volcano caldera, we snorkeled and swam in the warm thermal from the volcano below us. It is a really strange feeling to swim from cool water into warm water.
I thought snorkeling in the volcano was so much fun!
The extraordinary beauty of Santorini's high walls, draped by whitewashed villages, combined with a sunny climate and perfect observation conditions, have made it a magnet for volcanologists, as well as a highlight of tourism in the Aegean Sea.
This is the Agean Volcanic Arc.
There is a very interesting history to Santorini and the other 4 islands included in the caldera. The caldera at Santorini is composed of overlapping shield volcanoes, cut by at least four partially overlapping calderas, of which the oldest southern caldera was formed about 180,000 years before the present era(BP). The subsequent Skaros caldera was created about 70,000 years BP, and the Cape Riva caldera about 21,000 years BP. The current caldera was formed about 3600 years BP during the Minoan eruption which changed the shape of Santorini.
Although dormant, Santorini is an active volcano. Numerous minor and medium-sized eruptions have built the dark-colored lava shields of the islands inside the caldera.
The last eruption was in 1950, and now only fumarolic (steam and gas) activity, primarily inside the recently active craters, takes place. GPS instruments registered renewed deformation (change in the shape of the volcano) around the caldera in 2011 and 2012. Eruptions have occurred in 1570, 1707, 1866, 1925, 1939 and 1950.
There are some people who think this is the volcano that destroyed Atlantis. Here is a video by the Smithsonian talking about Santorini and Atlantis. If you are reading this in an email, you will need to go to my blog to watch the video. https://brendahyde.blogspot.com
After our snorkeling experience, the chef on board our boat served a very enjoyable dinner. Once again, GREAT FOOD!
The day of our cruise on the catamaran was also the 31st wedding anniversary for LW and YW. As sunset approached, LW and YW's family surprised them with special recognition of their anniversary. The Bride (LWM) and Groom (BM) brought some special props from their wedding and we all shared a champagne toast to LW and YW. It was the sweetest surprise -- a very loving and beautiful celebration of marriage.
Sunset was really special and we all enjoyed every minute of it.
Our last adventure on Santorini was a series of wine tastings at 3 Santorini wineries. The wine production in Santorini dates back to the Bronze Age. After the devastation volcanic eruption, the soil was covered with ash, lava and pumice stone, which made the soil ideal for cultivating grapes. Unusual to Santorini, the plants are grown close to the ground. This is because of the high winds.
These are some young vines.
The soil retains the water from moisture created during the night, hence offering the amount of water the vines need during the summer when the temperatures are really high. Because of the strong Santorini winds, the vines are trained to grow in a basket that insures perfect conditions.
Two of the wineries we visited had caves where wines were previously stored. One cave had been converted into the Santorini Wine Museum where we learned about the history of Santorini wine.
Along with being a winery, this cave was also an art gallery.
At the third winery, they served this beautiful plate of snacks along with our wine.
The architecture of this winery was quite beautiful.
Our wine tasting took place outdoors.
On our way home, the guide took us to an overlook where we could watch the sunset. He and our driver surprised us with one last champagne toast to Santorini.
The Bride, LWM photo bombed the driver and guide. LOL
It was romantic.
The next day, our ferry ride back to Athens was pretty long. We all were able to catch up on our sleep. We were still on the ferry when the sun was setting and I caught this shot from the mid deck.
When we arrived in Athens, we all went down and got in the vans while we were still on the boat.
In Athens, we were met with the smell of smoke. The wildfires were very close.
As we were driving down the highway towards Attica, we could see the fires silhouetted on the hills north of Athens. It was alarming.
LW and YW were so much fun the travel with. They even let us stay with them at their beautiful home in between adventures. We had great fun exploring the beach close to their house and enjoying the area.
Sunset from LW and YW's deck.
YW on the sea side balcony.
One family in our group left the day before we left. They sent this photo of their car thermometer when they arrived in Bahrain. This would be 133 degrees Fahrenheit. That is HOT!
On our last evening in Attica, YW took us to a phenomenal restaurant, Dimitris located in the seaside area of Porto Rofi. Again, it was wonderful!
The kitchen had a very interesting "door" decoration on their cooking counter.
The food was tremendous.
To return to the US, we were required to take a rapid COVID test. We brought tests with us that we could do via video chat however when we checked the time required to be on hold, it was over 400 minutes! Luckily YW knew a clinic that did the tests and we were able to get them done very quickly and easily. Yea LW!
After loading up for our trip to the Athens airport, for me it was very bitter sweet to say good bye to LW.
We had such a fantastic adventure and so very much fun with the YW and LW family and friends. It was a wonderful experience to visit with them in their community and see Greece through their eyes. I only hope it won't be so long until we see them again.
The testing site at the airport was not crowded, but YW told us it usually had long lines.
Our flight back to the US was uneventful. We even had some time before our flight and had a snack in the United lounge.
During the time we were in Greece, every meal was a struggle for KU. She is allergic to gluten and most Greek restaurants have not embraced gluten free (GF). They often had no idea if a dish contained gluten. I suspect they did not know what gluten was.
Big surprise in the United lounge -- GF pasta. Wow!
JU and KU were on our flight again and we said farewell at baggage claim in Newark. And, unfortunately we ended up stuck in Newark for hours as our flight to Melbourne was delayed several times.
At 4:30 AM on Monday morning we finally arrived back in Melbourne. Unfortunately Hubby D had an 8:30 AM Zoom call. With only a few hours' sleep, he was back at work.
A few days later I made my first "post Greece" Greek salad. It was good, but honestly nothing comes close to the very first one we ate on the beach in Attica after our arrival. I guess atmosphere makes a difference. (Note to YW, the Feta Cheese was not Saudi Feta - it was extremely good but definitely not Saudi.)
Until our next adventure, cheers!
Brenda
P.S. Here is my favorite sunset shot from Santorini! Enjoy!
P.S.S. I want to share with you a joke LW sent to me just as I was finishing this blog. LOL
In a bar on Santorini, there is an American, an Englishman and an old Greek farmer standing at the bar.
After he finishes his beer, the American tosses his glass in the air and lets it smash on the floor.
The bar owner rushes up and asks, "Why did you do that?'
The American replies, "The USA started as a poor wilderness, but we worked hard, discovered gold, oil and commerce and now we have so much that we never have to drink from the same glass twice."
The bar owner sweeps up the mess and provides the American with a fresh glass.
Then the Englishman swallows his beer and tosses his glass in the air, letting it smash on the floor.
The bar owner rushes up and asks, "Why did you do that?"
The Englishman replies, "Britain started out as a savage country, but we worked hard, built an empire and now we are the financial centre of the world. Now we have so much that we never have to drink from the same glass twice."
The bar owner sweeps up the mess and provides the Englishman with a fresh glass.
Them the old Greek farmer swallows his beer, picks up his shotgun and shoots the other two, bang, bang! The bar owner rushes up and asks, "Why did you do that?"
The Greek replies, "Once Santorini was a peaceful island, full of beauty, fishing, olive trees, oranges. Now we have so many Americans and so many Englishmen that we never have to drink with the same ones twice. . . "
