2016 Aegean Sea Trip: 05 Santorini Island, Greece

"Travel is never a matter of money, but of courage..."

(Capturing a beautiful sunset of Santorini)

Day 04: Sunday, 17 April 2016

Santorini Island, Greece

Santorini, one of the Cyclades islands in the Aegean Sea, was devastated by a volcanic eruption in the 16th century B.C.E., forever shaping its rugged landscape and villages. The whitewashed, cubist houses of its 2 principal towns, Fira and Oia, cling to cliffs above an underwater crater. They overlook the clear Aegean and beaches made up of black, red and white lava pebbles.

(Taking the tender boat to the port)

(The bus for the island tour)

(A panoramic view of the country side)

(Our first stop at a small village)

(Walking tour around the village)

(The church bells are ringing)

(Blue and white colors of Santorini)

(White-washed cubist houses)

(A typical entrance to the house)

(A famous Greek restaurant around town)

(A beautiful house perched on the hill-slope)

(Some old ruins left undisturbed)

Spectacular Oia Village

Oia is a small town on the island Santorini, Greece. It is a scenic village extends for almost 2 kilometres along the northern edge of the caldera that forms the island of Santorini, at a height of between about 100 metres above sea level. The small fishing village of Ormos Armeni lies below Oia to the south and is reached via steps.

The houses and restaurants are built into niches carved into the caldera on the seaward side. There are narrow passageways and a central square. The sun light hours in this village are much longer than in the Fira town. Its paths are very narrow and hence gets congested during the tourist season. The idyllic surroundings of the town have a complex of white washed blue domed churches and charming, traditional Cycladic houses and cave houses that are carved into the rock face on top of the cliff. It is set in a location which provides excellent views of the sunset over the caldera.

(The view of the rugged landscape and villages)

(Fira town overlooking the clear Aegean Sea)

 (The towns clings to the cliffs above the caldera)

(A boutique hotel overlooking the sea)

(Small scattered churches around town)

(White-washed against the clear blue sky)

(A cave-like dwellings)

(Scenic and tranquil atmosphere) 

(The two of us, one for the album)

(Fine dining with a view of the sea)

(A photo opportunity for wedding couples)

(The pedestrian pathway along the cliff)

(Two kilometers of concrete and cobble stone path)

(A lone mime at a quiet corner)

(Souvenir shops for the tourists)

(An entrance to a house)

(The sun is starting to set)

(One of the many souvenir shops) 

(The many moods of Santorini)

The Bay of Armeni where our cruise ship disembarked could be reachable from Oia town on foot or by mule. We took another mode of transportation down-hill riding the cable car instead.

The rest of the night was free and easy and we spent the night on board.

(Oia, another cliff town of Santorini)

(Many restaurants catering for the tourists)

(White-washed building against the sunset)

(Let's watch the sunset from up here)

(A captivating view of sunset from Oia)

(Our cruise ship against the vibrant sky)

(Watching the sunset while dining)

(A restaurant and a bar)

(The cable car Station)

(Taking the last cable car to the pier)

(A sumptuous dinner on board)

     2016 Aegean Trip: 06 Crete Island, Greece 👉

👈2016 Aegean Sea Trip: 04 Patmos Island, Greece