Santorini Greece

Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Luciano Travassos, shore concierge for Silversea Cruises, shares his knowledge of Santorini, the beautiful Greek island.

One of  the most touristy, visited and crowded islands in Greece, Santorini still has a lot to offer if you ditch the crowd and find a place that you can claim for your own.

Part of the Cyclades, Santorini forms a “ring shape” that offers visitors fantastic views of the typical villages with white houses perched on the edge of the cliffs that ring the island’s rim.

The center of the ring is called Caldera, Santorini’s main natural attraction. Many visitors make their way to Nea Cameni Island, located in the Caldera a few minutes away by boat. Once there, you can climb to the top of the island or swim in a hot spring.

Many people believe that when the central part of the volcano sunk it took the legendary city of Atlantis with it.

Visit an Ancient Site Preserved by Volcanic Ash

Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011

The Amazing Island of Santorini

Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2011

I climbed around corner after corner up more than 500 steps, passing donkey teams headed up or down along the way. The donkeys all wore colorful beaded neck collars with a bell attached that jingled as they clomped along. Each switchback brought the tinkling of bells and better views of the crystal clear waters below.

After about 45 minutes we reached the top eager to explore Fira, and then afterward set out by local bus to the small town of Oia, located at the north end of the island. My immediate impression was that this magical place should definitely be on a travel bucket list. Oia is situated atop an impressive cliff with more views of the sparkling expanse of sea, and the charming village is made up of traditional white houses and blue domed churches, with the narrow streets between buildings just wide enough for pedestrians and the occasional passing donkey. We discovered that many artists have made this picturesque setting their home and enjoyed wandering through the array of art galleries full of original works.

After a day in this island paradise, it was time to head back to Fira where we would descend down the cliffs to our anchored ship. Again I decided to make the journey by foot, once more passing the donkeys and their sweet sounding bells along the way. When I got to the bottom, I realized I had encountered a sound I did not want to leave behind. And as I really do like to support the local economies of the places I visit, I had the perfect idea for a souvenir!
Kristen talks the donkey herder out of her perfect souvenir. Not speaking any Greek, I somehow was able to communicate with a donkey herder that I would like to buy one of the donkey bells with the colorful beads. What a perfect addition to my collection of authentic animal bells (I have many…really…including cow bells from Bali and Switzerland). Although it did take some time to convince him that it really wasn’t a ride on his donkey that I was after, I finally was able to walk away with the perfect memento of this perfect day. Now, as I sit in our cabin in Alaska, our wonderful cruise may seem a distant memory, but I keep my donkey bell in a spot where I see it often and can reflect on my journey to the cliffs of Santorini. Posted by Kristen Helgren Rooms Department Manager, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge Princess Cruise Line

Santorini Port Review

Posted on Friday, October 23, 2009

 Although I have yet to visit many part of the worlds, Santorini (also known as Thera,) is my favorite destination in the Mediterannean. I was speachless as we approached the island. With dramatic views of white houses clinging perilously to the side of the caldera & stunning beaches of white & red sand or black pebbles, it’s no wonder Santorini may be the most photographed scenery in the world.

Between the 21st and 16th centuries BC, the Minoans lived on the island, which was later flooded & preserved under a blanket of volcanic ash. It is believed that the effects of the volcano led indirectly to the collapse of the Minoan civilization. Another popular theory holds that the Thera eruption is the source of the legend of the Lost City of Atlantis. J

ust a short cable car ride (or a longer trip by donkey), and you are in Fera. There are loads of shops and cafes to explore. Shop for jewelry, wine, leather and handmade goods. Tours offer visits to Oia Village for amazing photo ops including the famous blue domed churches.

You can also visit the village of Pyrgos and go up to the highest peak of Santorini to Mt. Profitis Ilias for magnificent views of the entire island. Enjoy wine? Perhaps take a tour and tasting at Domaine Sigalas, the only Greek winery to be included into Wine Spectator's "Top 100 Wines of the World" list, or the Boutari Winery. Boutari was founded by Yiannis Boutari, a Greek Winemaker whose influence over the Greek wine industry has been equated by Wine Spectator as being "... on par with Robert Mondavi in the Napa Valley."

Remember, no trip to Greece is complete without trying their authentic Gyros available in lamb, beef and chicken. In the mood for Greek food no? Here is a great recipe for Tzatziki sauce to go with your gyros.