Santorini, Simply Unforgettable

It’s nightfall in Santorini. I’m sitting on a sun bed on the water’s edge. The sun is beginning to set. Right now it’s dancing on the pages of my journal, as I write this, like only a Santorini sun can do. I can hear the waves lapping thirty feet below me and the gentle breeze relieves me from the heat of the day. Ryan’s inside our little studio apartment whipping up a plate of appetizers to accompany this bottle of icy brew sitting here with me just begging to be drunk. We’re going to soak up the last light of the day in the best way we know how. Afterall, this is Santorini, right?

Santorini is like a crescent moon enclosing the blue waters of its caldera. Morning, noon or night, these views can’t be topped so much in fact that the name Santorini has become synonymous with the Greek Isles. Its fame, no doubt, is well-deserved.

We rolled into Santorini at sunrise on an overnight ferry from the island of Rhodes. The sun was just peeking out over the volcanic, black rock cliffs revealing, like icing on a cake, the pure, whitewashed buildings of the caldera.

Just outside of the town of Oia (pronounced ee-uh),we rented out a charming studio apartment with sea views. Definitely the nicest place we’ve stayed on our journey, we were more than pleased with our digs. The only thing we needed to really take advantage of the picture-perfect surroundings were some wheels. Within an hour of our arrival, we were set. We finagled our way into a moped rental (against the will of the rental agency for lack of a motorbike license) and were soon equipped with two massive helmets, a set of keys and a bright blue, speedy moped.

Let freedom ring! We were off to explore Santorini. With the wind in our hair and the smell of the salty sea water all around, we took off through the maze of blindingly white-walled streets only stopping to take in the dramatic views.

We spent a day exploring the capital city of Fira. Home to some incredible hotels, sophisticated restaurants and nightlife action, a visit here only confirmed our decision to stay in the quieter neighboring town of Oia. Afterall, this is where Jolie-Pitt crew chose to build their home, so we couldn’t go wrong.

Between sunning ourselves on our sundeck and whizzing around on our moped, we spent the majority of our time just taking in the jaw-dropping views of the caldera. Really, there are no words to describe its beauty. It’s something that just has to be experienced. Granted we weren’t here at the ideal time as there were far too many tourists for my liking, but boy oh boy does Santorini deserve a visit. It’s simply unforgettable.

For more on our Greek Isle hopping adventures check out:

Simi: The Belle of the Ball
Rhodes: Where the Streets Have No Names
Our First Taste of Greece
Life, Greece & the Pursuit of Happiness