Our first stop was a cliff side walk between Oia and Fira.
The views of the ocean, the cave hotels and the sky
Looking up to blue domes.
There are reported to be 600 churches on Santorini. That is probably not a bad idea if your island is on the edge of a super volcano. The more direct line you have to God maybe the safer you are.
More views from the cliff
An old part of the trail
The girls above the Aegean Sea
Santorini grape vines.
Santorini is know for its dry white wines. The problem is Santorini doesn’t have any water and it is windy all the time. The solution is to twist the vines and keep them close to the ground. This does two things: it gets the vines out of the wind and it allows the vines to get their water from the humidity in the air via condensation. The grapes end up being small with a very concentrated flavor.
This is cool.
Me and this legend
Under the bells
This is what our cave hotel or cave home would have looked like 50-60 years ago. Dug into the hillside. Cool in the summer and warm in the winter. The one downside is they tend to be humid. Some would have a vent dug to the north to create a flow of air which may have helped
Traditionally a home on Santorini would have the stove outside. This is what one of those traditional stove would have looked like.
Buildings damaged during this he earthquake in 1954 which have not been repaired.
Here is as good as any point for the Santorini history download. This is the abbreviated version feel free to fact check me and correct my errors if omission or commission.
There was a robust society living in Santorini or the island that is now Santorini. The Akrotiri site is the best know Minoan culture site outside of Crete. They had 3 story buildings, indoor plumbing/water, looms and more and were thriving in this region around 3000 BC to 1630 BC. Akrotiri was one of the Bronze Age ports. This were great until 💥 🌋.
The Minoan eruption, was a massive eruption that basically covered Akrotiri in hot ash and preserving in until its discovery in 1967. There is some controversy on the day but basically 1645 BC to 1500 BC is the time frame for the eruption. It essentially wiped out all life in this area and sank a civilization to the sea bottom. Leaving some to question if Santorini isn’t the remains to Atlantis, the fabled city in the ocean. There is a cave with a plaque dedicated to Jacques Cousteau who made many dives here trying to prove Atlantis was here.
Spartans than colonized the island and an important outpost for wars within the Aegean.
After the 4th Crusade and the fall of Constantinople, 1204 the island became a seat for one of four Catholic bishops of the Duchy. It seems like around this time Santorini replaced the original name of Thera.
Now land was cheap and hotels began to spring up as Mykonos was becoming too popular. Over the last 30 years the significance of tourism has significantly increased. It started with cruise ships. The movie Summer Loves staring Darrell Hannah in1982 helped and the rest they say is history. You now have this beautiful island full of people looking for the perfect picture.
This is our friend and artist, Andreas Makaris
We ventured over to Megalohori where we saw more of the islands culture. The picture from above came from that walk when we arrived at the pottery studio for our lesson. He is a 5th generation artist working with pottery. He likes working with clay, teaching others about his art, Santorini wine while he does both and unfiltered cigarettes. After seeing me with 3 daughters he immediately offered me a glass of wine which I obviously took. Sometimes you need a little kickstarter for the creative juice.
Here is an article on him. He was so fun and so cool. Cool is its own language and this dude is cool.
Katie is making a bowl
G-money is nervous. Could she end up being the prettiest Anseth? Many Greeks have weighed in with their opinions.
Ashley is focused. Our artist was impressed by her skill
The craftsman at work. This may be on my list of retirement activities now.
Kari putting in the work
The Art prior to hitting the kiln.
Some of our teachers work.
More from our friend
The kiln to fire the clay
The Anseth family with Andreas
After our pottery experience we drove back to Oia where we said good by to our guide, Ruth. Her passion for Santorini made the day even better. Our discussions about Greece, Europe, the value of travel and her experiences here, Paris, London and Portugal made for a fascinating day.
The family with Ruth.
Once back at the hotel the Anseth family went their separate ways. Some chased the sun, some took a nap and one of us when for a walk. For reference we had drinks planned at 8 PM and dinner at 9:30 PM. The Anseth’s are becoming very European, no more early bird specials in Santorini.
Since I write the blog you will get to see my afternoon from 5:30 PM till 7:30 PM.
With 600 churches, I think most of you know what you might be in for, I will keep the captions brief hopefully you enjoy the photos
A church in Oia just of the main walkway
Love this with the bell in the foreground
The church, the square and the flag
The cost and Oia above Ammoudi bay
I am walking down and the donkeys are walking up to Ammoudi bay
Selfie nation.
Looking up the stairs to Oia
Ammoudi Bay
Around the corner where the young people swim and jump in the ocean on the other side of that rock is a small church.
Blue domes. Do you know how hard it is to keep a 24 year old girl from making duck lips in this photo.
Me walking the street of Oia at 7:20 PM
Cleaned up and ready for a night out
Sunsets in Santorini hit different
Blue dome and the setting sun
These queens
One family photo. Gracie hitting the SD pose.
One more for good measure
This drink
Blue Domes at dark
Lights of Santorini
Dinner at Fino
Ahhhhhhh, you are friends
Grilled octopus in the dark
This drink: dark rum, passion fruit, pineapple and coconut foam. This is one of the best cocktails I have ever had
Tomorrow we will hit the water for a day at sea. It is going to be hard to beat today but you never know, so we better call it a day so we can do it again tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment