Santorini

Santorini belongs to the isles of the Cyclades and is spectacular due to its tall cliffs and ancient villages. Due to the short time we have on the island we decided to do a ship tour to get the most of this beautiful place. Our coach was waiting on the dock for us and we soon began a steep ascent up the winding roads to Mount Profitis, Santorini's highest peak. Wonderful vistas below with plenty of barren grounds sprinkled among the farm areas on the rocky land. It was a very windy day up here and we had lots of trouble keeping hats on or even walking against the extreme gales. The Mount Profitis Ilias Monastery was an absolute highlight and incredible to see situated among the volcanic rocks and dust of this remote place.

Next we were off to visit the ancient town of Oia. This typical Greek town is located on the north west tip of the island and is famous for its whitewashed buildings and wonderful views of the sea below. Oia is the second important town on Santorini and everything here is painted in white in contrast to the rocky landscape that surrounds the town. It was interesting to note that a earthquake destroyed Oia in 1956 and the rebuilding has been very successful in recreating this incredible town. After exploring this amazing village, it was time to move on and return to the main city, Thera. This city is so picturesque as this cliff top area is just littered with whitewashed homes built into the side of the steep cliffs that lead to the sea. Life goes on as normal here with the narrow streets home to buildings with blue windows, washing on the lines and even the local dogs asleep on the sidewalks or verandahs.The stark contrast of red and other coloured bouganvillia added to the charm of this quiet and clean village. One of the attractions of Thera just had to be the shops and restaurants scattered about in the narrow lanes. Donkeys were plentiful and one was constantly asked if we wanted a ride down the mountain to the dock. Artwork was everywhere here and if possible we would have brought it all home but of course we had to be a little selective. Wonderful memories in paint did manage to go back on board though. The local people were most pleasant and it was lovely to be able to walk the narrow streets and explore. Today had to be one of the highlights of this marvellous journey and standing on the top of the cliff, and viewing the spectacular coastline not to mention the magnificent houses built into the side of the cliff just had to be a special moment! One of the interesting aspects of today was the walkways and stairs all around the town. The windmills standing out with the sea and sky behind gave an added flavour to the skyline and we were told only a couple worked but most were converted into family homes. The beauty of the vistas here are indescribable! The colour of the sea, the size of the cliffs and the colour of the earth along with the contrast of the whitewashed buildings gives this island an aura that one will never forget. As we were leaving we came across a spectacular church. Beautiful mosaics were on the outside and inside more detailed artwork as part of tradition. It was good to see it was right in the centre of the main area and locals cold pop in when they were passing by. There were many unique shops here with glassware, jewellery and clothing. Most shopping is located on the main street and "Gold Street" (Odos Ipapantis) is one not to be missed. A shopper's paradise and the only constraint we had was time..... In the mid afternoon we decided to have a break and settle into a beautiful restaurant for some lunch. Of course a Greek salad was on the menu among other local dishes. The view from this outside balcony where were were seated was postcard perfect! Soon it was time to head back to the entry to the cable car entrance and even though the line was quite long it wasn't long before we were in the cable car and on the way down to get our tender back to the ship. As we sailed away the sun reflected on the brown cliffs and gave us a memory of the day we wouldn't forget. Marco Polo Cruise 2007