With pristine beaches and sunbathed decks against a white-washed backdrop, Santorini islands in Greece are a warm and luxurious getaway
Picturesque views of Santorini
Hyderabad: I sighed as I gazed out of the window of our aircraft, just as we were to start our descent into Athens, Greece. I could see the Caldera Sea in its sapphire blue glory and some green emerald islands scattered around in it, this was my first view of Greece. Santorini was a place I had heard enough about, and this time after much coaxing, my husband and I finally decided on this destination for our summer break.
After landing in Athens, we waited for five long hours at the airport to be connected to another 45 minute flight to Santorini. We were exhausted, but as we landed into the magical, picturesque land of Santorini, the fatigue faded instantly. We stayed at the Angels and Stars suites and spa, Imerovigli, and the place was divine to say the least. Our room offered a view of pristine white clouds perched on the edge of the Caldera mountain range and an unobstructed look at the sea. It was a suite carved out of a real cave of the mountain. We had an indoor heated jacuzzi pool, an outdoor pool, two bedrooms with their own baths and a large living area. My favourite was the outdoor patio where we ate breakfast every morning watching the sea, and had drinks every evening watching the sun dip in the ocean.
Santorini is divided into three main areas, Imerovigli, Oia and Fira. Oia is the most crowded and they say that you get the best sunset view from there. True to its reputation, it is the most buzzing place in Santorini. We saw the sunset at the terrace of this restaurant called the “Sunset View” in Oia, and weren’t disappointed at all. After that we had the most romantic and beautiful dinner at a restaurant called Ambrosia, here the food was delicious and the ambience was breathtaking. I would recommend it as a “must visit” for all couples while visiting Santorini.
Imerovigili, on the other hand is a quieter place, where one can take long walks upto the Fira market, while soaking up the sun and gazing at the white architecture next to the blue sea. Once at Fira market, you can visit restaurants, street food joints, clubs and bars. After 8 pm the place changes into a buzzing nightlife destination; one you must visit if you’re in the mood to dance away the night.
There are three main beaches in Santorini, The White Sand beach, The Red Sand Beach and the Black Beach (also known as Perissa beach). The one that amazed us the most was the black sand beach here the clean black sand contrasting against the stark white foam of the waves is a view to die for. The beaches here are lined with neon coloured sun umbrellas and patio chairs as well as sun loungers throughout the coast line. It’s a child- friendly beach, so that’s an added incentive for families travelling with children.
After a long day at the beaches, we took a ferry ride in the most ancient ferry replica in the Caldera Sea, and headed towards the active volcano island. They are collectively called the Hellenic Volcanic Arc, and I still feel the chills when I think about reaching the foothills of an actual active volcano. There are a lot of natural hot water geysers here, which people say have natural medicinal properties that can treat arthritis and other ailments.
After visiting these islands, our next destination was the island of Mykonos, it took us two-and-a-half hours by ferry to reach this place from Santorini. This island is most famous for its beautiful windmills. Unlike other windmills seen in Europe and Austaralia, these windmills at Kato Myli are stark white and look amazing against the backdrop of the setting sun. After reaching there, we visited a place called little Venice for lunch, which has many restaurants and picturesque postcard views.
When in Mykonos, you must visit the Paradise beach where a ton of parties happen every day and it is one of the best sundowner places to be at. We were here just for a day, but Mykonos did deserve a couple of days more to cover up the many interesting museums, the Psarou beach and the Ano Mera neighbourhood. And, as they say, you should always have a reason to go back to a place, so we hope to return to discover more of Mykonos very soon.
The writer is a fashion designer and world wanderer
( Source : dc )
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