Conceptually it is a very interesting place. The island is formed by the caldera of a volcano, with villages perched on the edge. The 1956 earthquake more or less leveled much of the island. Rebuilding has fashioned the island into an Aegean Disney. 800+ cruise ships call on the island each year. New accommodations are built with individual pools, their weight stressing the fragile slopes of the caldera. The tiny island has multiple desalination plants. If there is ever a tourist zoo, Santorini would be the picture on the billboard.
Strangely we had fun wallowing in the tourist zoo. One day we walked from Fira to Oia along the caldera cliff. Another day we rode the bus to visit Ancient Minoan Akrotiri aka the Greek Pompei. We liked the site so much, when we got back to town, we beelined to the Prehistoric Museum, which was not in our original plan, to see the Akrotiri frescos. I had not expected to come to Santorini to learn about Minoans.
Also, we had plans to visit Ancient Thira, at the highest point of the island, we had to abandon our efforts 100 meters from the entrance. Over the years I have grown more accustomed to wind, but this wind was so strong, we had to hold onto each other to not be blown over by a gust, we didn't fancy being blown off the mountain.
The early morning Seajets Ferry experience from Herkalion, Crete to Fira Port, Santorini was smooth. Fortuitously our assigned seats were adjacent to a Chinese tour group, and the tour leader (in orange, 2nd below) would shout out in Mandarin helpful information, "toilets back and to the left" and "get ready to disembark" for her group, and for us.
Immediatley after checking into our hotel, we set out on the Caldera Trail to Oia.
There were swanky hotels right on the Caldera Trail. Take a look!
Lunch break view on the Caldera Trail.
And about halfway to Oia there is a sharp left-hand turn onto several hills with amazing views.
As we get closer to Oia, it's time for a break to savor the view.
When we reached Oia, many tourists were walking along the famous Central Marble Road.
Not to mention the queues at the 3 or 4 famous Instagram Photo Spots, conveniently marked on Google Maps. The first photo below is the queue at the Three Blue Domes Viewpoint. The second is a selfie of SL and I with the Three Blue Domes behind us, taken about 10 meters away from the IG spot. Look for the action at the IG spot to the lower right of the frame.
More Oia viewpoint photos.
As we were headed to catch the bus back to Fira, this guy rode by on his mule. Check out the 2nd video below.
Some photos from our failed attempt to visit Ancient Thira on a very windy day.
The amazing Akrotiri Archaeological Site.
"Blue Monkeys Fresco - Museum of Prehistoric Thira - Found at the Akrotiri Archaeological Site.
Young Fisherman Fresco - Museum of Prehistoric Thira - Found at the Akrotiri Archaeological Site.
A few more Oia Viewpoints shots.
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