Paradise on earth?

After literally running the length of Athens airport after our booked and paid transfer failed to show up, we did manage to board our flight paradise bound.

Santorini…the name is pretty much synonymous for “Paradise on Earth”. I had visited for a few hours while on a cruise about 10 years ago and that was certainly my memory and I had always wanted to return and actually stay here. Paradise on earth! But when our airport transfer pulled up in a car park next to a supermarket, I began to feel a little nervous. Maybe it was not what I remembered and I had romanticized the last visit in my mind. Maybe the girls would be disappointed as I had built this place up too much in their imagination, every morning sending them pictures of one of our destinations. These thoughts were running through my mind when our gorgeous young accommodation host met us, literally threw a suitcase on his shoulder and dragged another and beckoned us to follow. We climbed a hill…and in that moment we found paradise! There before us, the Santorini I remembered sparkled in all its glory…with our little ‘Kaleidescope’ cave house and its jacuzzi overlooking the crystal clear Aegean Sea just below us. Oia- and Santorini, does not disappoint…well certainly not at first sight.

Santorini…the name itself makes you travel in your mind…one of the most beautiful islands in the world…apparently devastated by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago, forever shaping its rugged, wild and beautiful landscape.

Greece is comprised of a peninsula surrounded by thousands of islands. So what makes this island immortalised by poets, and painters such a magical experience? Is it the multi coloured cliffs that soar out of a sea drowned caldera…

…topped by clusters of whitewashed buildings clinging at dizzying heights and offering gasp-inducing views? Is it the perfect combination of white and blue tones…or the contrast of wild volcanic sculptures against sleek Cycladic lines. Is it its celebrated light and picture-perfect sunsets…

…or the narrow cobblestoned back streets filled with whitewashed courtyards and Cycladic-style balconies festooned with bougainvillea and little boutiques tempting you with unique jewellery, clothing and souvenirs …

…possibly the local wine and great food….perhaps all of the above and even more…

We stayed in Oia (pronounced EE-ah) at the northern tip of the island where basically, everywhere you go looks like a calendar shot…

…and where hoardes of tourists from the cruise ships that dock everyday crowd the streets so that you are walking shoulder to shoulder with strangers and there is pretty much no escape…

…except maybe into one of the many cafes and restaurants with breathtaking views of the blue domes, white houses and the blue ocean…

…or into the jacuzzi.

Tough choice😂…and we did both many times… but the cruise ship crowds really are too much.

On our first night, our host booked us a table in what, in his opinion was the best sunset restaurant. We headed off early, donned in our Camilla’s and stopped for a drink in another little sunset bar on the way.

While the girls enjoyed the view, I went ahead to find the restaurant and when I did I was a little worried that from the outside it didn’t look so great and seemed to overlook a car park. I went back to discuss our options and we decided that since we had a booking, we should just cut our losses and do the right thing. Thank goodness for our morals because it ended up being the most amazing place with the most amazing view- and we had the most amazing table! Arriving to a full restaurant, we were led to without a doubt, the best table in the house with people apparently wondering what celebrities it was reserved for lol.

Our first famed Santorini sunset did not disappoint even once the sun dipped beneath the horizon! Everyone claps at this moment, but then it turns into ‘blue hour’ and the island changes color again.

Such a lovely and memorable night full of laughter.

Despite the crowds, we still loved our few days here…our little cave house with its amazing breakfast spot…

…too much good food (lobster risotto anyone?)…wine…lots of laughter… jacuzzis… taking photos (Karen, you may have found your new profession) and posing for photos (work it Sue)…sunset chasing…walking the mess of curvy streets and staircases over and over…and did I say wine…more shopping than any of us planned (which is a problem as most of us already had issues with space/weight of our suitcases)…and generally appreciating the beauty of Gods creation and all the ‘pinch me’ moments.