Hello travelers!
Today I'm sliding down the memory lane back to the summer of 2011. It was my second summer season working on Crete island and my first as an entertainer in the "Animation Team" of a hotel. Great atmosphere, friendly customers, talented colleagues, incredible places that I visited and so many parties, maybe too many: all of these made my summer one to never forget.
Overall it was my 5th summer working in Greece and that year I started in Rhodes as an entertainer but the things didn't go quit well so I decided to try my luck in Crete. All said and done I have to admit it was a better choice and I was also lucky. But today we're going to focus on one of the best one day trips of that summer: Santorini!!
It was a crazy night at work having a great dance show and afterwards dancing in the hotel's club until very late. After just 3 or 4 hours of sleep I had to be fresh and ready to jump in the bus to Heraklion. After many stops to pick up customers from different hotels we end up on the ferry boat to the incredible island of Thira.
We left Heraklion behind us around 7:30AM and we enjoyed a little nap on the boat. After 2 hours and a half we arrived to Santorini. I remember a very small harbour at the bottom of the mountain, a lot of tourists from different countries and the heat which was already rising fast.
The road from the harbour to Oia, our first stop, was an adventure. I must congratulate the greek bus drivers for their skills, patience and control. The road is made of so many curves at a high angle and it is also very narrow. Thank God I am not afraid of heights.
"Santorini was named by the Latin Empire in the 13th century and is a reference to Saint Irene, from the name of the old cathedral in the village of Perissa – the name Santorini is a contraction of the name Santa Irini." (Wikipedia) Once we arrived in Oia(or Ia) we truly felt the high temperature. I remember that 20th of July with its real feel 44 degrees Celsius.
"The town is noted for its white and blue domed houses. The houses are painted in white lime water so that the rainwater which falls over it runs down and can be collected. The other reason for painting the houses white is for aesthetic purposes. The other explanation given is that during the Ottoman rule of Greece, which lasted for over 400 years, Greeks were not allowed to fly their white flag. In defiance, in Oia they painted their entire housing complex in white with domes giving the village an effective white perspective and elegance."(Wikipedia)
We had around one hour and a half to explore the streets of Oia. Our first stop was the Church of Panagia of Platsani and the Caldera Square.
The streets are crowded and the heat is taking over. I feel like I am in a gigantic oven. Thank God for the beautiful view of the Caldera, an Oia classic.
There are many souvenir shops, bars, restaurants and art galleries on the streets. See some of them in the pictures below.
Our journey continued and after beautiful views of monasteries and windmills on our road, we arrived to Fira. The central square of Fira is called Plateia Theotokopoulou, with a bus and taxi station, banks and pharmacies.
"From Fira there is a panoramic view of the 18 km long caldera from southern Cape Akrotiri to northern Cape Ag. Nikolaos, plus the volcanic island Nea Kameni at the center with Thirassia Island. Large cruise ships anchor in the small harbor between Nea Kameni and Fira." Wikipedia
We have only one hour to spend here and admire this beautiful town. I decide to walk a bit along the streets, buy couple of souvenirs and have a cold beer on one of the many beautiful bars above the sea.
After a short ride we arrived to Perissa where we were amazed by the beach with black sand. There are couple of restaurants on the beach and we entered in one of them to have lunch, fresh seafood and local white wine. After one hour and a half of swimming and sun bathing we were back on the bus on our way to the ferry.
Around 5:30PM we embarked on the ferry and we arrived in the evening back to Heraklion. I was a little disappointed regarding the sunset. I was expecting an explosion of colours but, aw well, this is the only thing I got:
Overall Santorini is an amazing place to visit and there are many other attractions on the island. I would recommend you to visit it in May or early June and at the end of September, beginning of October. During the high season it's very hot, the streets are crowded and frankly it's also more expensive. If you decide to go on a one day trip from Crete to Santorini be prepared to run, run, run, you know how it goes with the organised trips: 1 hour here, 1 hour there, 10-20 pictures, faster, people, faster...and that's it! One day it is not enough to truly experience such a wonderful place as Santorini. I would love to go back there again!
More about one day trips to Milan and Bergamo you can find HERE!!!
Looking for a weekend getaway?! Why not trying Larnaca in Cyprus?! Find more details about my trip to the island of love HERE!!!
Until next time, travel well, everywhere!
Beldi
Today I'm sliding down the memory lane back to the summer of 2011. It was my second summer season working on Crete island and my first as an entertainer in the "Animation Team" of a hotel. Great atmosphere, friendly customers, talented colleagues, incredible places that I visited and so many parties, maybe too many: all of these made my summer one to never forget.
Overall it was my 5th summer working in Greece and that year I started in Rhodes as an entertainer but the things didn't go quit well so I decided to try my luck in Crete. All said and done I have to admit it was a better choice and I was also lucky. But today we're going to focus on one of the best one day trips of that summer: Santorini!!
It was a crazy night at work having a great dance show and afterwards dancing in the hotel's club until very late. After just 3 or 4 hours of sleep I had to be fresh and ready to jump in the bus to Heraklion. After many stops to pick up customers from different hotels we end up on the ferry boat to the incredible island of Thira.
We left Heraklion behind us around 7:30AM and we enjoyed a little nap on the boat. After 2 hours and a half we arrived to Santorini. I remember a very small harbour at the bottom of the mountain, a lot of tourists from different countries and the heat which was already rising fast.
The road from the harbour to Oia, our first stop, was an adventure. I must congratulate the greek bus drivers for their skills, patience and control. The road is made of so many curves at a high angle and it is also very narrow. Thank God I am not afraid of heights.
"Santorini was named by the Latin Empire in the 13th century and is a reference to Saint Irene, from the name of the old cathedral in the village of Perissa – the name Santorini is a contraction of the name Santa Irini." (Wikipedia) Once we arrived in Oia(or Ia) we truly felt the high temperature. I remember that 20th of July with its real feel 44 degrees Celsius.
"The town is noted for its white and blue domed houses. The houses are painted in white lime water so that the rainwater which falls over it runs down and can be collected. The other reason for painting the houses white is for aesthetic purposes. The other explanation given is that during the Ottoman rule of Greece, which lasted for over 400 years, Greeks were not allowed to fly their white flag. In defiance, in Oia they painted their entire housing complex in white with domes giving the village an effective white perspective and elegance."(Wikipedia)
We had around one hour and a half to explore the streets of Oia. Our first stop was the Church of Panagia of Platsani and the Caldera Square.
The streets are crowded and the heat is taking over. I feel like I am in a gigantic oven. Thank God for the beautiful view of the Caldera, an Oia classic.
There are many souvenir shops, bars, restaurants and art galleries on the streets. See some of them in the pictures below.
Our journey continued and after beautiful views of monasteries and windmills on our road, we arrived to Fira. The central square of Fira is called Plateia Theotokopoulou, with a bus and taxi station, banks and pharmacies.
"From Fira there is a panoramic view of the 18 km long caldera from southern Cape Akrotiri to northern Cape Ag. Nikolaos, plus the volcanic island Nea Kameni at the center with Thirassia Island. Large cruise ships anchor in the small harbor between Nea Kameni and Fira." Wikipedia
We have only one hour to spend here and admire this beautiful town. I decide to walk a bit along the streets, buy couple of souvenirs and have a cold beer on one of the many beautiful bars above the sea.
After a short ride we arrived to Perissa where we were amazed by the beach with black sand. There are couple of restaurants on the beach and we entered in one of them to have lunch, fresh seafood and local white wine. After one hour and a half of swimming and sun bathing we were back on the bus on our way to the ferry.
Around 5:30PM we embarked on the ferry and we arrived in the evening back to Heraklion. I was a little disappointed regarding the sunset. I was expecting an explosion of colours but, aw well, this is the only thing I got:
Overall Santorini is an amazing place to visit and there are many other attractions on the island. I would recommend you to visit it in May or early June and at the end of September, beginning of October. During the high season it's very hot, the streets are crowded and frankly it's also more expensive. If you decide to go on a one day trip from Crete to Santorini be prepared to run, run, run, you know how it goes with the organised trips: 1 hour here, 1 hour there, 10-20 pictures, faster, people, faster...and that's it! One day it is not enough to truly experience such a wonderful place as Santorini. I would love to go back there again!
More about one day trips to Milan and Bergamo you can find HERE!!!
Looking for a weekend getaway?! Why not trying Larnaca in Cyprus?! Find more details about my trip to the island of love HERE!!!
Until next time, travel well, everywhere!
Beldi
