So, my sister-in-law and I had been in Crete for a couple of days when I saw an advertisement for a boat ride form Crete to Santorini for only 90 Euro!  After begging Tina, I convinced her to come with me on this trip! Tina, my nieces and I hopped on a boat and traveled roughly two hours to the island of Santorini. After waking up from a slumber, I found myself literally pinching myself to ensure that it was not a dream. 

We docked on the island and hopped on busses that would to take us up the steep mountainous island to the commencement of the tour. The first test of my fears started here, when I realized that huge buses were going to be driving along the edge of legitimate volcanic mountains, about hundreds of feet from the ground, to take us to the various towns on the island. It was interesting conquering that fear. I was holding my camera to the window video taping the whole thing while in reality, I was squinting and holding my breath every time the bus turned the narrow roads. 

All the Names

There are two names given to the Greek island of Santorini. Locals use Fira and Thira interchangeably, but I did a little bit of research to find that Thira is the classical name for the entire island ('Santorini' is the modern name) and Fira is actually the name for the capital town on the island,  also known as the "transportation hub", where all buses and boats radiate out from.

1.  Fira,Thira Greece

Fira is the Capital of Santorini and it is one of the most entertaining villages that I visited. The Caldera provided one of the best views of the island and the vast array of restaurants and cheap souvenirs was enough for you to just say " take my money", but in Greek of course.  

I bought my mom Ouzo, a spirit liquor only found on the island, a shot glass for me (I  promise, we are not alcoholics).  I like collecting shot glasses, I see them everywhere and they are useful...for juice as well.  

Time was limited so I couldn't do as much shopping as I would have liked. I did, however, look like a mad woman running from one side of the village to the other, as I wanted to make sure that I took in every single kilometer of the beautiful caldera. 

There were SO MANY STEPS in Santorini.... I was tempted to take a donkey ride up the mountain, like Lena Kaligaris on The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants. The burning in my calves became worth it when I was rewarded with a tasty Cactus Juice from my new friend and restaurant owner, Giannis. Might I add that he was impressed by my accent for an "American".      

There were SO MANY PEOPLE... the place was full of tourists. Hundreds of them. Thousands, even. It became overwhelming at one point, especially in that 95 degree heat. The great thing about the heat was that it was not humid, just hot. The air felt clear and it was really easy to breathe.  Also, I was able to find some really neat places further out from the center of the village, that were free of crowds. 

More Photos of Thira/Fira below: 

2.  Oia, Greece:

Oia is a famous village in Greece known for its quiet life and amazing sunsets. It is the most beautiful and the most picturesque village of Santorini and is probably the common city you would book to visit.  

The architecture here is pretty much the ideal white and blue that one thinks about. It is traditional, with charming houses in narrow streets, blue domed churches and white concrete houses.  Set on top of a magnificent cliff, it has a spectacular view over the volcano of Palia. 

This is where I saw the famous Church of Panagia located right at the center of the city.

Of all the villages, this seemed to be the most expensive. It was definitely less busy than the capital of Fira. However, It seemed to target more of the honeymooners and vacationers who were looking to relax-- so hence, the expense. #tourism

3. Kamari Beach

Also known as the "Black Sand Beach", Kamari Beach was the final destination of the day. After all that walking, I really needed some time to relax and soak up some of the sun I had been hiding from during my escapades. 

Santorini's volcanic history has led to the formation of some unique beaches in the Greek isles, and Kamari is no exception. Sitting only 4 miles from Fira, this beach is known for its black sand. 

Honestly speaking, I hate going into ocean water, but the Mediterranean which poured into this beach made me pray to God that the tour bus would leave without me. According to our tour guide, Kamari is a Volcanic beach which's water is warmed by the volcanic stones that fills it. In addition to the magnificent spring-like quality of the water, the sea was the bluest that I have ever seen any form of liquid.

Though there are not many activities to partake in at the beach, itself, this beach is perfect for those who are looking for a simple way to relax with their favorite pastime.The Cabana's near the water enable you to prop yourself up with a nice book and refreshing drink in hand as you relax your cares away. 

This experience is incomparable to any of the trips that I have ever been on.  I can't even find the right words to articulate the emotions that I was filled with during this trip. It really does feel like a dream. 

I encourage you to visit Santorini as soon as you can, even if its just a day long trip like I was blessed to take.  I wish I could have stayed for longer, but the impromptu trip was a good introduction to this mesmerizing island. 

I can finally say that I have been to Santorini, Greece.

Ah, I've always wanted to say that. 

Are you visiting Greece soon? Let me know in the comments below. 

Safe Travels!