Advertisement
There is a significant distinction between vacationing and traveling. Our backpacks alone cause us to be classified more as travelers than the typical tourist, but after two months on the road the Greek Islands held the vacation promise regardless of the bags we were carrying. When Jake and I planned the trip, we chose to end our journey in Greece for two reasons. One, the weather would be hotter and two what better way to end a two and a half month adventure than relaxing on a postcard perfect beach! I think our early morning flight out of Rome and into Athens made us both realize that the trip was quickly approaching the end… of course not without some Greek Island hopping first.
The plan was to get to Santorini as soon as possible after our flight landed in Athens. Unfortunately when we arrived at the port we were informed there would not be a boat headed that way until 7 pm. A day to kill in Piraeus (the port just outside of Athens) was not ideal, but at least we found some delicious Greek salads to pass the time. Even though it takes a grueling six hours to get to
Santorini by boat, the four of us made it a fantastic experience. When we arrived in Santorini the owner of our hostel picked us up. Stelios, a middle aged Greek man, and his family were incredibly accommodating and the place was the epitome of picturesque Santorini. White washed walls with blue trim… luxury at a budget price!
Our first day in Santorini consisted of three very daunting (sarcasm) tasks. First, laying out on the gorgeous black sand beach. Second, a trip to the main city Fira for a delicious Greek meal consisting of chicken souvlaki and pita bread. Finally, a night out dancing at the beach bar. (Yes… the title is self explanatory- it was literally on the beach!) It was a perfect day and the perfect beginning to an unforgettable week on the Greek Islands.
We rented a car our second day in Santorini so we could explore the island a bit more. Our first stop was Red Beach where we enjoyed the sunshine on firey red sand. I forgot to mention that we rented a car on the one day there was a gas strike on the island. Since the rental company did not inform us of this
obstacle we were stuck to figure it out ourselves, which was a bit frustrating. O well, such is life on the road. We stopped again in Fira to take pictures of the famous blue dome that shows up in every movie or picture you see of Greece. For dinner we commenced our first of three consecutive trips to “Grandma’s” for gyros and Greek salads. They were that good and only four euros- Grandma got us hooked!
One thing you cannot control while traveling is the weather… but you can control how much fun you have despite the circumstances. Unfortunately, the day we chose to do the boat excursion to the volcano and “hot springs” was cold and windy. We showed up in our swimsuits hoping to enjoy a warm day cruising the Greek waters on a sailboat, but we quickly realized we needed to bundle up. White caps and large swells caused the boat to rock back and forth the whole trip… however, the four of us definitely made the best of it. After our boat cruise we headed to Oia to watch the famous Santorini sunset. Pink, purple, and orange hues filled the sky as we watched the perfect
disc disappear on the horizon. The reflecting colors on the Mediterranean Ocean made it one of the most superb sunsets I have witnessed. A little piece of heaven in paradise.
All packed up and ready to island hop we headed to the port Saturday morning excited about the much anticipated trip to Mykonos. (Well we thought we were headed to Mykonos…) After being dropped off at the port we soon learned that our ferry was cancelled. Although we were disappointed, who can complain about being stuck in Santorini right?! A quick call to the friendly Stelios allowed for a speedy return to our hostel and an even quicker move back to our resting point (the beach). When we felt we had caught our share of rays, we headed to “Grandma’s” for gyros for the third consecutive day! Chicken souvlaki, feta cheese, tzatziki, tomato, lettuce, and onion all wrapped up in a massive Greek pita... mmm mmm delicious! Makes you want to say… OPA!
We woke up early Sunday morning to enjoy some sun by the pool before heading to Mykonos. This time our ferry did come and it was time to officially say goodbye to Santorini. Another stop complete filled
with memories that I believe the “fabulous four” will never forget.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.085s; Tpl: 0.047s; cc: 8; qc: 24; dbt: 0.0286s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 2;
; mem: 1.1mb