Santorini, Greece

Santorini is one of the cycladic islands, created by the eruption of the volcano in 1500 B.C. (thought by some to have brought about the end of the Minoan civilization and speculated by some as the famous island of Atlantis). Santorini is a group of islands in a circle about 6 miles across-the rim of large underwater volcano that is still active, and was once on land, but created the caldera is now sits in. Towns are scattered around the island as a series of small villages, two of which I visited, Thira, which is the capital, and Oia, which was made famous in the divine secrets of the traveling sisterhood pants or whatever it was called. Of the three Greek Islands we went to, this was definitely the best. After a more recent eruption, you can see the effort that the people of the island put into getting it back in shape. Sharp white buildings are everywhere as are blue domed churches. Most of the towns are build right into the edge of the cliff, and even into the cliff which is as high as 900 feet in places. It was truly an awesome sight to see not only as we sailed into the caldera to be tendered to shore, but as you walk along in both Thira and Oia (pronounced e uh). I put a bunch of pics up because all the views were so cool. There will be even more on the facebook album. Let me know if you need a link to the facebook album. Many more blogs to come. Enjoy and have a beautiful Reformation weekend.

Satellite view of Santorini. The two islands in the middle are the newest islands in the Mediterranean, with the smaller on being only a few hundred years old. Remember, a huge eruption broke the island apart and caused the caldera of water, it used to be a whole island.

Approaching the caldera

Those were the two ways to get to the top, stairs, or cable car.

The lower part of Thira, where the tenders dropped us off. Lot's of shops and restaurants

Some people chose the donkey route

Looking down on the steps and the water

Built right into the cliff

Thira

Just like in Mexico. I wonder if that is why it was only in English and Spanish?

Me in Oia with the caldera in the background

Looking down from the top of Oia to the caldera

Either Thira or Oia on sail in

The other one from sail in

Tender boat coming after us

Thira from the tender boats

More of lower Thira

Looking back at our ship from the top in Thira

Close up

One of the churches in Oia. I don't know if was in the pants movie or not

Walkways and buildings

Our ship from Oia

Oia down to the water

More of Oia

Built right into the hill

Looking back at Thira from Oia

Wonder how much this hotel costs per night

Across the city, check out the pools

I wonder how far into the baby island it goes

More houses and hotels

Another church

Across the caldera

Stairs going down, I didn't find out where

Bell tower

Me and Oia

Looking at Thira from the cable car

At the base of the hill, taken from the ship

Getting ready to leave the caldera

You can see the markings in the rock. I think it used to be a quarry but I don't remember what Tom the tour guide said over the speaker

Fishing boats

Oia as we were leaving

Either Thira or Oia, I can't tell

People watching us head back out into the Aegean on our way to Sicily