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Santorini Travel Blogs

Background: Greece achieved its independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829. During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II, Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war between royalist supporters of the king and communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece was able to join NATO in 1952. A military dictatorship, which in 1967 suspended many political liberties and forced the king to flee the country, lasted seven years. The 1974 democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary republic and abolished the monarchy. Greece joined the European Community or EC in 1981 (which became the EU in 1992); it became the 12th member of the euro zone in 2001.

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By Barney and Liz do Europe
May 8th 2008

Santorini 2

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

Santorini is what you see in pictures and soooo much more! Coming in to the port on the seacat, the first thing you notice are the cliffs, with the white buildings clinging to the sides. The "tourist info" is really "car hire", and we hire a car as Oia is a bit of a drive from the port. Up the mountain road and through Fira, the main city, and suddenly we are looking down on a wide plain, farmland and houses, spreading to the volcanic beach ("smooth black sands", the brochures boast). This is not the Santorini of the travel brochures! [View Full Entry]

By Barney and Liz do Europe
May 6th 2008

santorini

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

Just a quick update. Knossos was disappointing. There are a number of 19 and early 20th century archaeologists whoi have a lot to answer for. Arthur Evans did Knossos and rebuilt stuff in the style he thought was "most appropriate". As a result he "restored" areas as he felt they probably were 1600 BC. Hah!!!! This morning we came on a seacat to Santorini. Hired a car. drove around the island today in 90 minutes and sat on the gighest point. Spectacular views. But the biggest news is that Dale and the team at The Loft won the Local Govt cultural [View Full Entry]

By Traf Burts
May 4th 2008

Santorini

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

View from the Winery
Pat & Geoff pose with the ms Nordam floating on the caldera below.

Day 6 Beautiful Santorini Mary Donohue will remember Geoff saying how he longed to visit the Greek Island one day. Well today he got his wish and got to experience the magic of Santorini, with its white buildings, some topped with blue at the top of black cliffs Magic! [View Full Entry]

By Ingrid Anne
April 7th 2008

Life in the Greek Isles

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

Our Lady of Tinos Church

Since my last update, I have spent my "Spring Break" in the Cycladic isles of Greece. First was Tinos, where it was windy and rained about half the time I was there. However, they generally don't get much rain so it was good for the island but too bad for us. While on Tinos I saw the pilgrimage church of Our Lady of Tinos which houses a special old icon of Mary. There was also a bus tour of the island which included two small villages that we toured and ate lunch in. In one our group doubled the population just [View Full Entry]

By lissie 220
April 4th 2008

Santorini the volcano

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

Alicia, Sam, and me on the ferry

We are in Santorini! We got here on Wednesday afternoon and it was raining, so that wasn’t good, but it cleared up yesterday. This island is absolutely amazing! It is so gorgeous. It’s exactly how the pictures show, but even better. Even though it was raining, it was still really great to be here. Our hotel is just a little ways outside of the capital of Fira. There’s a nice little walking path that leads right into downtown and all along the walkway there is a gorgeous view of the caldera. It’s amazing! As soon as we got to our hotel [View Full Entry]

By azellmer
March 26th 2008

Spring Break - Athens, San Torini & Amsterdam

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

Athens
This was at the restaurant where the woman was singing and the Greeks were dancing

When I arrived in Athens it was cold and rainy, but I was so happy to see my parents! We spent the day walking around a bit and ended up at this restaurant later that evening with live Greek music. When we first arrived we thought the music wasn't so great, but this woman ended up singing and she was amazing! Everyone in the restaurant was singing and clapping, I felt like I was in My Big Fat Greek Wedding. My parents were really jet legged so it was hard to adjust to sleeping with them. They would wake up at [View Full Entry]

By cnp
March 24th 2008

Greece Part II

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

ferry ride

We had to get up around 4:30am to get our ferry. We wanted to get there early just in case... well I don't know just in case what. We just wanted to get to Santorini. However, Holly is a bit of an amateur traveler, so we got there 2 1/2 hours early... WWAAYYY too early. Anyway, we found 5 taxis sitting together hanging out and talking, and the drivers were very friendly for 5am. I was just waiting for my good impression of the Greek people to be ruined, but it really never did. I will say one thing, they are [View Full Entry]

Rose stayed right here on the ferry for 6 our of 7 hours

By ChristopherL
December 7th 2007

Relaxing on the Greek Islands

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

Ios
Sunset from our hotel having some wine

It was all about relaxing on the Islands for us as our trip was winding down and that’s exactly what we did. It is quite hard to keep busy on the Islands this time of year anyway with it the low season and all well it was more like the dead season as there was know one around at all so we had whole beaches for ourselves which was fine by us. The weather was not as warm as it could be but we were still getting around in shorts and did some swimming in the crystal clear waters still so [View Full Entry]

By AliRoHo
November 15th 2007

Still in Santorini

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

Finally, a warm day. Warm enough to work up a sweat outside. It's crazy how much a little warmth can make things easier and better. Greek honey is divine. so was the baklava I had today. Along with the countless gyros. [View Full Entry]

By AliRoHo
November 12th 2007

Santorini!

Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini

Santorini. In November wind and rain threaten take over as weather supream and today, although there were moments of swimming-in-the-sea-warm, now it is raining and pretty windy out. It is still beautiful, though. stark. the land is chisled and coarse and the sea is deap blue and tough. Dogs and cats wander the empty streets built on tourism. Today, Julia and I took a bus down to the black beaches and were followed by packs of dogs. they fought, but two still remained loyal to us until we boarded the bus back to our hostel. 5:47 and it is dark and [View Full Entry]

Travel Blog » Europe » Greece » South Aegean » Santorini