Santorini Island
After a quiet night at anchor, sunrise found us sailing from the southeast shore of Ios Island to the southernmost of the Cyclades, Santorini. Although this island is well discovered, and much visited, no voyage through the Greek Islands would be complete without a stop at Santorini. The cataclysmic event that created the caldera and island archipelago that we see today was one of, if not the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. Evidence of this eruption is found in the Greenland ice sheet and in the growth rings of ancient bristlecone pines. Today we witnessed firsthand the stunning geologic formations left behind by the “Theran” eruption.
About an hour after sunrise, Panorama sailed into the 10-km-long caldera, through the channel between the islands of Santorini and Therassia. As the captain brought the ship close under the cliffs, we were able to photograph the picturesque village of Oia, clinging to the cliff top above. We continued to our mooring beneath the town of Firá, and then ducked inside to grab a bite of breakfast before beginning our day’s exploration of the island.
We were fortunate to have a quiet morning on the island, with just one other small ship in port. First by local tender boat, then by bus, we made our way to the northernmost tip of the island and the village of Oia. After a short orientation to the town, we were off on our own, photographing, wandering and shopping at our own pace. Many of us also chose to enjoy a mid-morning coffee on the deck of one of the many cafés overlooking the caldera. In the late morning, we gathered once again, for the drive along the “lower” road, headed to the southern part of the island and the village of Pyrgos. Arriving shortly after noon, we found Restaurant Kallisti and owner Nektarios waiting for us with open arms and laden tables. One by one, Santorinian mezedes arrived, with each dish more delicious than the last. Dishes with such wonderful names as domatakeftedes, floyieri and bouyiordi filled us to the brim. Of course we also sampled the dry Santorini white wine, and enjoyed a delicious orange cake with coffee for dessert.
After lunch, we drove to the high point of the island, Mt. Profitis Ilias, for a stunning, if breezy, view, and then continued back down to the island’s main town, Firá. Here, our buses left us, and we continued on foot through the narrow, shop-lined pedestrian alleyways. Most of us chose to descend the caldera wall on the cable car, but several opted to brave the donkey ride, emerging at the bottom unscathed. Gathered once again, our tender arrived just on time and returned us to Panorama. Since the breeze had freshened considerably during the day, and even threatened rain at one point (!), we slipped our mooring and repositioned to an anchorage between the two lava islands in the center of the caldera. Here, we enjoyed a calm, cool evening on the hook, sharing laughter and dancing, and more delicious food, at our Greek party.
