Santorini: Akrotiri

After our lunch in Oia, we drove to Akrotiri Bay to enjoy our afternoon in the Red, White and Black Beaches.
On our arrival to Red Beach, we spotted this beautiful white chapel. Santorini is a very religious island, with many chapels, most of them private, as far as I heard.
In the photo, you see the tourists favorite means of transportation, ATV's, much easier to drive in the island due to the bad road conditions. Be careful when driving there especially because each road is a two way road. Also be aware that most of the time, when driving in the island, there are no protection rails, pedestrian crossings or sidewalks.

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

Red Beach's view is very pretty but if you wish to go there, you should wear proper shoes to cross the cliffs.Go slowly and carefully. What you see is what you get. Most of the way, there are no proper wood paths to cross nor handrails.

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

In spite of its impressive beauty, we decided to get the boat that had just arrived for the White and Black Beaches.Red B. was crowded and there was no space available to lay down and relax. 

For the same reasons, on our arrival to White Beach, we decided to try Black B. instead.

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

Smaller, with calm and transparent waters and not so many people, Black Beach was the right choice for us!

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

At 18:00 pm, was time to return to Red B. More boats available only in the following day.

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

This time, we could lay down and enjoy the beauty of the place. However, we didn't stay long, since we wanted to go to Akrotiri to watch the sunset, the same one in Oia, but in a more quiet way.
;-)

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

From Santorini: Sunset at

From Santorini: Sunset at

From Santorini: Sunset at

Santorini:Oia

Oia:one of the foremost tourist attractions of the Aegean Sea.  

Oia is absolutely lovely with its white houses facing the deep blue Aegean Sea.

From Santorini:Oia

From Santorini:Oia

This is a photo of its medieval fortifications that used to protect the town from the pirates. Usually -on a daily basis, actually- tourists come here to watch the sunset, considered by many one of the most beautiful in the world.

From Santorini:Oia

From Santorini:Oia

The cliffs also offer astonishing views...

From Santorini:Oia

If you want to go downstairs, it's better by donkey. Besides, it's more picturesque. ;-)

From Santorini:Oia

The town has a lot to offer like the many traditional shops where we can find interesting crafts and fine local products, like necklaces, earrings and bracelets in black lava stones. I bought some pieces for me and to offer to my family. They are not expensive, especially considering that they are handmade products. I also bought a pair of leather sandals for only 24 euro!!

From Santorini:Oia

Finally, the view from the restaurant where we enjoyed our lunch.

From Santorini:Oia

Just a final remark: we were advised to take our walk in the town during the morning due to the heat, which, indeed, revealed itself to be a very wise tip from our car rental agent in Kamari. ;-)

Eating and Drinking in Santorini

In Santorini, we tried some Greek delicacies we loved very much, like:

Fava,

Stuffed Vine Leaves

and

Prawn Saganaki

Generally served as appetizers or side dishes, we ordered each one of them as a light and delicious lunch combination.

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

Looking at the photos, it seems we were in Portugal, don't you think? ;-) The dishes are very well served and the prices are also very affordable. These photos were taken in our favorite restaurant in Kamari: Alexis Tavern.

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

Alexis became our favorite with its very friendly staff and delicious food, but in general terms, I think Kamari has very nice restaurants, as we can see in the photos below.

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

And guess where we had our first lunch in Santorini? ;-))

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

In Almira Restaurant!! :-)) Interesting, since we live in Almere, Netherlands :-))

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

There we tasted the local beer Red Donkey. If you wish to know the interesting story behind this beer, please, click on the link.

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

Santorini also offers very nice wines like this Lava Rosé. Give it a try if you go there! :-) Delicious!

From Santorini: Eat and Drink

Have you ever been in Santorini? Did you enjoy the food and the wines there? Would you like to share your experience with us? :-)

Santorini: The Hotel

 The Hotel: Acqua Vatos
 Location: Kamari (a covered black pebbles beach, the longest of the island)

The breakfast room

From Santorini:The Hotel

The bedroom

From Santorini:The Hotel

From Santorini:The Hotel

The bathroom

From Santorini:The Hotel

The terrace

From Santorini:The Hotel

From Santorini:The Hotel

The swimming pool

From Santorini:The Hotel

Our breakfast corner

From Santorini:The Hotel

Adding to this fabulous contemporary decor, a friendly and helpful staff, an excelent location nearby the beach, restaurants and night clubs and a delicious breakfast (especially the pies). A very nice place to stay, don't you think? :-)

If you wish to see other bedrooms, please watch this video.


 

Santorini -The Naked Child

Santorini -The Naked Child

Bend if you can to the dark sea forgetting
the flute's sound on naked feet
that trod your sleep in the other, the sunken life.

From Santorini:Oia

Write if you can on your last shell
the day the place the name
and fling it into the sea so that it sinks.

From Santorini:Oia

We found ourselves naked on the pumice stone
watching the rising islands
watching the red islands sink
into their sleep, into our sleep.
Here we found ourselves naked, holding
the scales that tipped toward injustice.

From Santorini: Red, White and Black Beaches

Instep of power, unshadowed will, considered love,
projects that ripen in the midday sun,
course of fate with a young hand
slapping the shoulder;
in the land that was scattered, that can't resist,
in the land that was once our land
the islands, --rust and ash-- are sinking.

From Santorini:Sail trip and Volcano

Altars destroyed
and friends forgotten
leaves of the palm tree in mud.

From Santorini:Sail trip and Volcano

Let your hands go traveling if you can
here on time's curve with the ship
that touched the horizon.
When the dice struck the flagstone
when the lance struck the breast-plate
when the eye recognized the stranger
and love went dry
in punctured souls;
when looking round you see
feet harvested everywhere
dead hands everywhere
eyes darkened everywhere;
when you can't any longer choose
even the death you wanted as your own--
hearing a cry,
even the wolf's cry,
your due:
let your hands go traveling if you can
free yourself from unfaithful time
and sink--
So sinks whoever raises the great stones.

From Santorini: Sunset at

Giorgos Seferis