Month: June 2018

The third stop, and my favorite, of this breathtaking trip was Santorini, Greece. Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands of the Aegean Sea. A terrible volcanic eruption in the 16th century BC, forever shaping its rugged landscape. The whole complex of Santorini islands is still an active volcano and the only volcano in the world whose crater is in the sea. The whole island is actually a huge natural geological/volcanological museum where you can observe a wide range of geological structures and forms.

Firá is the picturesque capital of the island; perched high up on the edge of the Caldera (crater), it looks like a painting. Firá, together with Oia, Imerovígli and Firostefáni located high above on a cliff, make up the so-called “Caldera’s eyebrow”, the balcony of Santorini, which offers an amazing view of the volcano.  To reach the top you can take a cable car, walk the winding, steep steps or take a donkey.

Another option, which we chose was a high-speed boat transfer to Oia.  A 12 minute run takes you to the port at Oia and included is a ticket for the bus up the crater to the Oia city center, along with a second ticket for the bus transfer to Fira.

Santorini, is one of the most picturesque, idyllic villages with its white-washed houses and shops, blue domed churches and breathtaking views and spectacular sunsets.

The second stop on our cruise around the Greek islands was Mykonos. Mykonos is an island in the Cyclades group of the Aegean Sea. In the capital town of Hóra, we strolled around its narrow marble streets and admired whitewashed houses with colorful doors and window frames. We wandered around the pedestrian shopping streets of the Hóra which was colorful and busy. The most glamorous of all is Matoyánni Street, lined with brand name stores, charming cafés and stylish restaurants. From Hora we traveled to Korfos beach where we spent the afternoon swimming, sunbathing and taking part in the many water sports offered.

If you find yourself in Mykonos take the opportunity to explore the tiny archaeological gem of Delos, just a short boat trip away. Delos was a sacred island in ancient times, and according to mythology was the birthplace of the twin gods Apollo and Artemis.

And if you visit Mykonos and are out on a stroll, don’t be surprised if you come across the official mascot of Mykonos, a… pelican! Pétros the Pelican was found by a fisherman after a storm in 1954, and eventually became the locals’ companion. When he died, the grief for his loss was so deep that a replacement was soon found. In honor of Pétros, the locals have established a long tradition of pelicans wandering around the waterfront as an essential part of everyday life. Make sure to get a picture!

Continuing the journey around the Greek islands, my family and I, aboard the Celebrity Equinox Cruise Ship headed to the gorgeous and unique island of Rhodes.  Rhodes, the largest of Greeces Dodecanese island’s is southeast of Athens and just off the Anatolian coast of Turkey. While we were there we took a tour, by Jeep, through the interior mountainous area which is sparsely inhabited and covered with forests of pine and cypress trees. We traveled through small villages, visited a 15th century chapel, explored the historic Seven Springs and finally on to the Aegean sea for a BBQ lunch on the beach of Fanes. Once back in town we visited the Medieval city surrounded by medieval walls, this old part of Rhodes is the location of many interesting attractions of historical significance such as the Palace of the Master and the Archeological Museum.