3 days in Santorini
We arrived at Athens airport around 8am for our 45 minute flight to Santorini. We bought some turopites (cheese pies) and juice from the bakery, then walked to our gate. Surprisingly enough, most of the people waiting to get on that flight were Greek, and the workers spoke Greek first rather than English (which is quite rare).
Our trip was planned by Chiara, my best friend. The summer of 2020 was a hot one for Greece. Chiara from Milan and me from Chicago both returned to Greece to quarantine and stay with our families. As soon as domestic tourism was opened back up in Greece, Santorini was the first destination we wanted to visit together. It had been nearly two years since we had seen each other or vacationed together. In our chatting, we realized we hadn't been to Santorini since we were young. Given the low prices of travel and accommodations on the island during that time because all islands were in great need for tourists, it was a great time to book the trip and visit the island.
Our excitement increased as soon as we landed on Santorini. Our taxi took us from the airport to Oia, leaving us right at the village entrance. From there, we had to walk to our airbnb in the caldera. Cars cannot move in the village. Our Airbnb host found us near the entrance and helped us carry our luggage. The roads and alleys are made of rocks and are mostly uphills and downhills.
As we got deeper into the village of Oia, we felt an adrenaline rush of intense happiness and excitement coursing through our bodies. It was so beautiful that we started screaming and just being in awe of it. Santorini was so spectacular that we could not believe what we saw. Often, places look good in pictures, but after seeing them in person, your expectations aren't met. Santorini does not have that problem. I felt like I was in a painting, as if I had just entered a perfect world of what most people imagine heaven would look and feel like. Our airbnb was right on the caldera with a stunning view that is unimaginable. Chiara heard of it from a friend. After opening our balcony door, we sat on the balcony for hours, taking it all in. We got some snacks, drinks and wine from a local store and sat there listening to Chiara’s Greek playlists until it was time to start getting ready to go watch the sunset.
During the sunset, the sun disappeared into the sea and a large crowd clapped as if it was the end of a spectacular theater performance. Everyone would dress up to go watch the sunset, the main attraction of each day. My mom and aunt would tell me how crowded the alleys would be when they were younger. Being there with so few people around was impressive. The world seemed to be ours, all ready for us to explore and enjoy. The sunset was like the main event of the day. After that, most of the people went out for dinner in local restaurants or bars, or at one of the big hotels. Being around people who were grateful and appreciative of nature's gifts was such a wholesome moment.
We stayed at Chiara's friend hotel in Thira on the second day. In spite of not being directly on the caldera, the view across the street was breathtaking. The most common image of Santorini in social media is that of the island's one side. We were at a place with white buildings and views, that blended beautifully with the deep blue ocean and sky where we were.
The day before, we met some American friends who were also staying at Thira. Having studied abroad in Spain and got trapped in Europe during the pandemic, they visited Greece for a few days. They picked us up with their ATVs to take a drink and explore the village. On the way there, the streets were empty and it was the most enjoyable ride of our lives. Upon arriving, we did not know where to park so we just left the ATVs in a vacant space on the side of the road that did not appear to be a parking space. Greece has a reputation for being lenient and chill when it comes to small rules and regulations. As long as you park in a way that doesn't disturb anyone or get in everyone's way, you're good to go.
As we walked through the alleys, we checked out the stores and talked to the locals. I was amused by how they spoke to all of us in English instead of Greek. As such a popular international destination and as such a pricey place, the island is mostly visited by foreign tourists. We would speak back to them in Greek, and their faces would lighten. “You don’t look Greek,” they would say. We would then talk with them, where they would ask us about where we are from, who our American friends were, and give us recommendations on restaurants to go to and places to see in the island. We were also offered discounts on their products because we were Greeks. After that, we visited a few bars where we could really feel the foreign influence. The Irish pub looked exactly like the one on the University of Illinois campus. But each bar, club, restaurant was different and varied. There was something for everyone, from traditional Greek music to Reggaeton to hip-hop and jazz. We had a few drinks and then got some crepes and went back to our hotel.
Our last day on the island, we took the bus to the black sand beach. Buses are a convenient and cheap way of getting around the island. As a result of the volcanoes, there are both red and black beaches on the island. Both sand and sea were boiling hot on the black beach. We sat on the beach bar's sun beds and enjoyed some cocktails.
As the evening approached, we went to the Santo Winery for a wine tasting. I had made reservations several days in advance in order to get a table right at sunset. I have done a few wine tastings in Greece and the US, but that one was my favorite. We had mostly white wines, and of course the red one spilled on my dress. In spite of that, the atmosphere was still magical. In the evening, as the sky turned orange, we enjoyed how eager our server was to take our picture of the sunset. When we returned to our hotel, just a 10 minute walk, we danced and sang in the street, taking in the gorgeous view and this amazing trip we just had.
Quick Tips
Do not wear heels, you will be walking around a lot and it is all rocks and slippery.
Santorini is not about the beaches, is about the view. Beaches are not that easily accessible since the main areas are on the cliff.
Remember it is on a cliff/ caldera, the access to the water is hard, you need to either walk it down or take a donkey. On the top steps before you go down towards Ammoudi, locals with their donkeys would offer you a ride for a small price.
Chiara and I did the walk down the rocky steps and it felt like a whole workout, a workout that we were not prepared for. We were in slides, our swimsuits, and our beach purses. The weather was an approximate high of 38 degrees Celsius with fully clear skies and no winds. I ended up getting sick the next day because of that. Make sure to be hydrated and dress appropriately.
Oia is what you usually see in social media, the caldera is magnificent, gives feel of you being in a live painting. Soak it all in, sit to a cafe with the view, walk around the small roads. No cars get in Oia, your taxi will drop you off right before it and then it is all walk.
Oia is very laid back, there are only restaurants and cafes and shopping stores.
When shopping , try to buy stuff from locals and made in the area. This is always the best quality.
Thira is the other area, very beautiful and there is more going on than Oia (like bars, clubs etc and it also is bigger).
Hotels, and airbnbs may be providing transportation included in the price you pay for the apartment, make sure to ask because taxis are quite pricey. When you do get in the taxi, make sure you get the contact information of the driver to call him or her next time you need a cab. Calling the drivers personally and not through a intermediary company could help save you some money.
If you check the schedule, you should be able to find buses or KTELs to move around the island. This is the best way to get to the beaches to save some money on the taxis
