Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Santorini

Oia

Santorini – in Greece’s Cyclades islands – is one of those places that everyone should see before they die. I know there is a book and TV series which lists such places. I haven’t read it nor seen the show. But I’ve seen this astoundingly beautiful landscape and my jaw dropped.

Oia

Also known as Thira, most travellers reach the island by taking a 10 hour ferry trip from Athen’s port of Piraeus. If time is limited, Santorini has a small international airport, reachable from Athens and other cities in Europe. The arrival by boat, however, rewards visitors with some of the most breathtaking scenes of spectacular volcanic landscapes rising out of aqua seas. From a distance, the white Cycladic houses on the island’s cliffs look, at one moment, like snow on a huge plateau and, at another moment, like white icing on a gigantic misshapen chocolate cake.

Red beach - Santorini

Formed after the world’s biggest and most destructive volcanic eruption in 1650 BC, Santorini and its smaller islets are largely barren of the olive and pine trees which thrive on other islands and over much of mainland Greece. Vines crawl along the ground but the landscape is mostly rock…of all colours. With a rental car, my friends and I visited Red Beach, Black Beach and White Beach. The geographic history of the cliff faces is also revealed in rich veins of colour. One sobering thought, which entered my mind once, is the fact that even though the volcano is considered at rest now, an earthquake in 1956 practically destroyed the main settlements and killed many residents.

Santorini

The magnetic beauty of the caldera settlements of Oia and Fira quickly dispelled that thought. White washed cottages, many of which have been converted into very expensive accommodation for tourists, are seemingly carved into the cliff faces. The postcard scenes of blue domed chapels and church bells are even more pleasing to the naked eye. The cobbled lanes are vehicle free except for the occasional donkey. One highlight of many was a donkey ride down the 600 odd steps to Fira’s old port.

Santorini

The highlight of each evening, except for one which was overcast, is the dramatic sunset witnessed from the caldera rim at Oia, a town of sights and scenes that words cannot describe. Hordes of travelers do gather for this ritual, lining the narrow paths of the town for a place to rest their camera. The sunlight against the town’s rustic houses and ruins together with the descending sun into the sea is well worth all of the hype.

Tu - Donkey

There is a mythical and aesthetic magic about Santorini, even a bit of fear. I really think it’s a place I’d better see twice before I die.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

just LOVE the pictures. Makes me want to go back to Greece ! keep up posting :-)

santorini said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
santorini said...

If you like one very good hotel in Oia i reccomment to follow the below web links is from the Atlantida hotel in Oia
Ia Santorini & Santorini Hotel Oia & Atlantida villas &
Atlantida hotel in Oia & Oia hotel Atlantis
check the link for to seek more information about this hotel

Anonymous said...

WOW !!is all I can say seeing these photos of Santorini.I'm visiting and will be staying in Nhatrang in January and February 09 just wondering any chance we could meet up.
Diem from Perth, Australia

Van Cong Tu said...

Diem, I will be in Nha Trang from Jan 18 to Feb 1. Hope to see you there.

Anonymous said...

Would be good to see you there Tu. Will keep in touch

Diem

Invertir en Oro said...

I'm visiting and will be staying in Nhatrang in January and February 09 just wondering any chance we could meet up

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Andda said...

The posted pictures are so splendid.

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