Can Santorini really be the lost city of Atlantis? Some experts seem to think so when they put together Plato’s Dialogues describing Atlantis, the excavated city of Akrotiri, and the time Santorini blew its top. Heavy duty history and archeology aside, modern day Santorini is a vacation from your Greek vacation. Santorini is heavy on ambience: wineries, boating, shopping. Because the two main towns, Fira and Oia (EE-ya) are set high on the bluff, there are views, views, and more views. I feel a bit of sadness when I think of cruise ship day trippers who are only able to enjoy a mere 8 hours here. During the summer, there can be up to 5 cruise ships docked. That can be potentially up to 15,000 visitors a day added to the ones already staying here.
Greece has a dilemma of recent refugees flooding in and not enough resources to handle the demands of providing housing, medical and other social services. Many of them are living in over crowded camps on the island of Lesbos but many do make it to Athens and even to the other islands.
It's in Santorini that you'll see the postcard perfect blue domed Greek Orthodox churches. They are distinguished by equal symmetry cross.
Firostefani village. Blue domed churches stands out against white washed houses in Santorini.
Firostefani village overlooking the caldera.
Church in a courtyard of a small park. A perfect place to hide from the throngs of tourists.
Today, there are four cruise ships docked.
The white wash used are not actually paint, but a compound used to reflect heat and keeps the surface cool.
I love stairs - any stairs.
For a minute, I felt like I was in Morocco.
Fira after night fall.
Fira after sunset.
My home for four days. My private terrace.
Our room was small, but we have our own terrace and LOOK AT THIS VIEW! Our breakfast was served every morning at the time of our choosing.
Overlooking the caldera.
A child competes with other merchants vying for your tourist euro.