We woke just before sunrise this morning ( which is after 7 am) so we were able to enjoy the sky growing pink.
They operate on a different breakfast system at the Athermi Suites..you put in your breakfast order the night before and specify the time you plan to be at the restaurant..we only have one day in Santorini and a lot to see so that meant an early start, 8am was the earliest available time for brekky so that’s what we picked.
It was still a little chilly at that hour, but the view was a fabulous and brekky delicious. I’d selected Santorini Scrambled Eggs with tomato and feta cheese. They managed to be juicy and fluffy at the same time. Huge serve, which I couldn’t do justice to I’m afraid.
After breakfast we returned to our room to discover they had already serviced it and have left a rather magnificent towel sculpture in the bed, adorned with flowers! Almost made us feel like honeymooners
We set off in our trusty Yaris for the 25 minute drive along the caldera to Oia..one of the most picturesque towns on the island. The drive followed the edge of the caldera for awhile before dipping down behind the islands capital, Fira. This part was in the dry, craggy landscape that slopes down to the eastern shore.
Oia is located at the northern tip of Santorini and is one of the most popular locations. The white hotels, shops and restaurants tumble down the hill in a maze ovof little lanes, dotted here and there with blue domed churches. We took a walking route through the town past some of the prettiest viewpoints and ended up at the castle.
Looking down from the castle we could see Ammoudi Bay , way down on the waters edge. It’s a popular spot for dining at a variety of seafood taverns, if you’re willing to walk down or to catch a donkey ride.
As we walked back to the car I did a little shopping ( another Christmas decoration) and snapped a few more “Cats of Greece”
The crowds had been building in Oia and it was getting warm so we decided to head for the quieter sites at the other end of the island.
We were thinking that Oia on a busy summer day when there were cruise ships in port would be a nightmare!
We headed to Akrotiri, the southernmost town to see it’s lighthouse. The route took us right down along the Eastern shore. We passed some scraggy looking vineyards. Their grape plants are planted in the ground with no wires or trellises, which makes the vineyards look a little untidy. However, I had drunk a local Santorini wine at dinner last night and had enjoyed it so I guess you shouldn’t dismiss a wine because it comes from an untidy vineyard! We also passed many small hotels and apartments, some even designed to look like the windmill towers that are scattered around the island.
We stopped briefly at the lighthouse and enjoyed the views back north, trying to pick out our hotel on the coast
Akrotiri has another significant claim to fame, it is home to a massive archeological site, a remarkably preserved bronze age Minoan site. The area was first settled during the Late Neolithic period in the 4th millennium BC . It grew into a major urban trading and port hub. Around 1627–1600 BC, a massive volcanic eruption buried the city under thick layers of volcanic ash and pumice, which famously preserved it like Pompeii!! However the residents had warning of the event ( many earthquakes) and successfully evacuated the settlement.
The site was discovered in the 1860s but it wasn’t until 1967 that a full , methodical archeological dig was commenced.
We didn’t know what to expect but were amazed at the scale of the site. It would be as big as two football fields and is completely covered and has several boardwalks through the dig site. Many explanatory signs and a digital audio guide. We could see the remains of buildings, streets and even some of the items uncovered such as huge , still painted storage jars. It was very impressive.
After this we decided to put the Yaris to the test and drive it up to the highest point of the island, Mt Profits Ilias. There is a monastery at the top and a clutch of telecommunications towers, but we went up for the views. Which were spectacular. On one side we looked down over the airport and on the other we looked down on the villages that surround the caldera.
The drive back down took us through the highest village on the island, Pyrgos.
We had been told the views from its hilltop castle were good but we figured the couldn’t be better than those from the mountain so we drove straight through to the next stop on the agenda. This one was for Neil, we set out to find the Santorini Brewing Company, famous for its “Donkey” range of beers. The cheerful lady in the taproom let us sample a selection and Neil swiftly ddcidec his favourite was the “Crazy Donkey” an IPA. He bought some to enjoy back at the hotel and a souvenir hat.
By now we were ready to head back and chill on our lovely terrace. We stopped in Megalochori to collect our laundry and to buy food for lunch and dinner – tonight we’d planned a quiet night in to make the most of our wonderful location.
We had another dip in the pool, this time Neil got in too and then spent the rest of the afternoon lazing on the terrace. Bliss!
As the sun went we noticed that a small special event was happening..Down below our terrace in a long skinny cliff , the hotel has a special dining area, just big enough for a table for two. They offer it to anyone willing to spend the 450 Euro that they charge for a candle lit private dinner. Tonight , a couple sat down , with many candles on the table, twinkle lights on the stairs leading down to their perch and a big “60” balloon.
Dinner was nibbles and wine on the terrace, watching the lights start to twinkle in the village of Akrotiri across the way. A very relaxed end to our stay in Santorini. I had high expectations and it’s lived up to them with bells on! My friend Gae told me I’d love Santorini, and she was right. 🙂
