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Published: August 11th 2011
Casa Bianca
This is what we saw when lying down on our loungers.... ah the life!Santorini was incredible it was such a beautiful island, what we liked was that it had so much more to it than the other two islands we had visited. It is a huge volcanic island that erupted thousands of years ago and was supposedly one of the largest eruptions the world has ever seen (we debated this as we think that Taupo might take that one out). It is thought that this was the eruption that sunk Atlantis and that Akrotiri (the red beach) is the site of Atlantis They are currently excavating a huge site which is due to open in September (the guide told us however that it was supposed to open in September three years ago). Where we stayed in Imerovigli was at one of the highest points on the caldera and it truly was the luxury relaxing honeymoon we were after. The bed and breakfast was so gorgeous. We had a large gorgeous room with our own private balcony with loungers, that looked over the pool. It was just what the doctor ordered. We had been hanging out for some serious relaxing time.
We decided to do the optional Bus About tour on the first day
View from Casa Bianca
Our B & B in Santorini which was called 'the Santorini Bucket List' so we could get a feel for the island as we would be staying here for six days. We are glad we did it because it meant we didn't feel bad on the days we were super lazy and stayed in bed until midday. First stop on the bucket list was the highest point of Santorini, which has a monastery called Profitis Ilias and offers 360 degree views of the Caldera, following this we went to Perrissa (the black beach) for some sun and beach time. This beach was really weird as it is a volcanic beach and when you go into the water you are walking on hardened lava flows. The last stop of the day was Akrotiri (the red beach) this was strange for us to see as it was literally a beach made of Scoria. By this time of the day it was very hot and both of us were getting irritable from having to walk in the heat for most of the day and we were ready to head home. So the stop wasn't long before everyone hopped back on the bus and made for Santo winery where we
Profitis Illias
View from highest point on Santorini tried this amazing sweet wine called Vinsanto, we had to buy a bottle so we could enjoy it over our remaining days. We learnt an interesting fact about grape vines on the Greek islands, they cant grow grapes the traditional way as it just too hot, so they train the vines to grow in a bundle on the ground so that the grapes hang on the inside and the leaves protect them from the scorching sun so all over the islands you see fields of heaped leaves. After the tasting we made for the hotels to freshen up before an excursion to Oia to watch the sunset. Oia just before sunset was absolute madness, the number of people trying to navigate the tiny streets to find there own viewing point was unbelievable. Our tour guide took us right out to one of the points where luckily there was still just enough space 2 hours before sunset for a group of twenty odd to perch and have a make shift picnic. The sunset was cool and even though Oia was crowded it looked like a great town and we decided we would definitely have to come back.
The rest of
Perrisa
The Black Beach our time was spent sleeping in till late in the day, enjoying our breakfast and then lazing in the sun, reading our books and jumping in the pool when we felt the need, followed by an afternoon siesta before we got ready for an evening dinner excursion. We visited Fira a couple of times, Kamari and yes Oia again although we went late enough to miss the sunset hustle and bustle. The only day we actually went out in the morning was to watch the All blacks vs. South Africa at a pub called the Highlander where Aaron had gone and managed to convince the lovely Aussie bar tender "Jess" to open up 2 and half hours early and come in at 10:30am so we could see the game. Aaron was a very happy boy.
We were very sad to be leaving Santorini, but after six days of rest and relaxation it was time to move onto our last Greek island stop - Ios. We had a late start in Ios on our first day, just to ease us back into things following our relaxing in Santorini. We went on a kayak Safari around the headlands of the beach
Akrotiri
The red beach - Supposed site of Atlantis we were staying at. We made our first stop around the headland were we stopped on some rocks (literally) and had the Kiwi kayaking guide (from Foxton of all places) cook us a BBQ lunch, while went snorkeling. After lunch we moved on to the only nudest beach on Ios where we spent some time swimming and then had a kayak race which Aaron and I are pleased to say we WON!!! First sport we have ever been able to do together. That night we went out for some drinks with the bus about crew before walking home for a well deserved sleep. The next day we hired a 4 wheeler and decided to explore the island a bit. We headed to a beach called Manganari which consists of 5 little beach coves and had the most incredibly clear water. It was quite a trek though, climbing a volcanic island on a 4 wheeler with us two on it for 28Km. Even though we didn't stay long as the wind was far to strong for us to stay on the beach, it was worth it. On our last day we got up early and went for another little adventure to
Oia
Sunset in Oia the tomb of Homer (they think it is anyway), they know his mother was buried on this site and they think he may have been buried with her. We headed back to Myloptas beach for a late brekky early lunch and then for a nap, before Aaron went in search of some cliffs to jump off with some Bus About people and I sat by the pool reading my book. We traveled back to Athens on Aaron's birthday, but he didn't mind. I think he was pretty stoked with his gift and once back at the hotel in Athens we hurried out to try and see the Acropolis before it closed, we were too late to get in but we had a good walk around it, and then we went and watched the sunset and the lights go on over the Acropolis from some Bus About friends (Lindy and Elli) hotel balcony, which was just beautiful. We then went and enjoyed our final Greek meal of Gyros and Moussaka (Yum).
We are very sad to say good bye to the Greek islands but we are looking forward to our next adventure in Turkey.
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Di Hartley
non-member comment
Santorini
looks amazing. I cannot believe that I/ we completely forgot about Aaron's birthday! I knew it was coming up, but then it passed me by in the flurry of busy-iness :( But I have agreat idea for a welcome back/ birthday thing - has to be on a thursday night (I think) and involves ribs......