Santorini

Wow, what an incredible 26 hours.  We have just returned from visiting Santorini, the most visited and popular island in Greece it seems and after missing it last year, I can finally say I’ve experienced it, all but briefly. 

Let me start by explaining that Santorini appears to be a yachting heaven, but the crucial thing is missing – reliable anchoring sites.  By its very nature, and part of its appeal is the fact that Santorini is built on the remnants of a volcano, the caldera, inside of the outer rim of the volcano, is too deep to anchor for most boats. Which is why we have sailed to the island of Ios to leave Phantomas safely tied up on the harbour wall and jump on a ferry to Santorini.

We were also meeting up with an old friend from Baldivis and fellow sailor, Mark.  Mark had just sailed on a friend’s boat from Montenegro to Mykonos and the timing was perfect for him to jump on a ferry and join us in Santorini. 

I must first relay to those that have not experienced it, the whole Greek ferry procedure.  To set the scene, our ferry was a Superfast ferry with limited cars being loaded. Other ferries are huge and load and offload a lot of cars and trucks which takes a longer time and slows the boarding process down somewhat.  Our ferry was approaching the harbour wall and with the engines in reverse the tailgate comes down and the small number of cars on this ferry drove off and then the passengers were herded down the ramp and then we, the waiting crowd, were herded up the ramp with all the encouragement of a sporting coach “come on, come on, hurry, hurry, lets go, lets go” and with the last passengers footsteps off the ramp or perhaps at times before, the ramp is closing and we are standing in the bowels of the ship.  Those with luggage are instructed to place their bags in racks and the remaining people climb the stairs to the deck and find a seat as the ferry picks up speed and heads off. For this trip of 35 minutes, I think we sat in our seat for maybe 15 minutes before the call came to head back down to wait in the bowels of the ferry amongst the few cars waiting to disembark with their engines running (read, humans breathing in exhaust fumes in enclosed area) while we were again coached to “move forward, move forward, get ready, get ready” while keeping ourselves balanced as the ferry manoeuvred in reverse up to the harbour wall.  The ramp starts lowering and we spew down onto the ground into the chaos of the Santorini ferry port. 

The ferry port was chaotic, and we waited for the crowd to head to buses, taxis and hire cars while we waited briefly for Marks ferry to arrive.  After hiring a car, we headed up the steep roads with switchbacks to rival any mountain road to the top of the island.  We were heading to the northern end of the island to Oia where the famous Santorini sunset experience happens.  

We had booked an Airbnb place which was incredible.  We met at the local meeting place, the Post Office our guide who led us through the main Oia shopping street and then turned off and began the meander down past the famous blue domed church along cobblestone steps, set to trip up the inattentive of us (not me, not this year!!) Passing by little doorways, small plunge pools and all with the most outstanding view of the ocean far below.  We came to our little gateway and into our accommodation, two apartments side by side.  The only thing to do was to set our bags down and just ooh and aah over the outstanding views and the iconic hillside cave homes spilling down the step cliff face.  And there we stayed until the worms began to bite and we went in search of a late lunch at a restaurant with an outstanding view.  Dropping past a mini mart we stocked up on some drinks and back down to sit and look out over the ocean. Mark went to pick up a friend from the airport and then a late dinner was had before retiring for the night.  

The morning was more of the same, looking out at the view, taking photos of the view, taking photos of us and the view, and having breakfast with a view before more walking, discovering even better views on the end of the island. You get it, its all about the view. 

The other thing the island was all about for some others, was having your photo taken atop a white wall, roof or building with the famous view in the background, wearing a long brightly coloured dress and ideally with the wind catching the long dress and making it dance.  The reality was a different story with poor suffering partners helping give the illusion of the dress flying in the breeze. 

Before we knew it, it was time to head back to catch the 2.15pm ferry, say goodbye to Mark and head back to Ios and our awaiting home, Phantomas.

PLEASE GO TO THE SANTORINI GALLERY FOR MORE PHOTOS