Chic Travel: Exploring Santorini & Oia, Greece

With Kusadasi and its bustling bazaars and sweet Turkish delights now behind us, we arrived at our second most anticipated destination, Santorini. For years we dreamt of stepping foot on Greece soil and having our very own exciting romantic getaway. You know the ones in those delicious Harlequin paperbacks we secretly read where the heroines sample the island’s sights and delights, find their tall, dark and handsome Greek prince, and live happily ever after. So a little far fetched, but we definitely had every intention of taking a tour to explore the island’s sights and delights for the day.

After a quick breakfast in the dining hall, we made our way to the tender boats and onto shore. We were told we would be taken to Fira, the capital of Santorini. There we would have the choice to walk up the steep, winding steps, ride on a donkey to the top or ride the cable car in order to reach the town itself. We chose to skip the traditional mule ride and go the cable car route. We were not disappointed. The views of the deep blue Aegean Sea and the whitewashed houses so synonymous to the island were absolutely incredible.

However, we did have a chance to see a procession of donkeys when we arrived at the top. A sweet Greek man wished us “Kalimera” (Good Morning) as he guided the donkeys down the steep steps. A tip for those traveling to Santorini for the first time, prepare for the strong stench from the mule droppings around, as they can be a bit overwhelming. We suggest moving away from the mouth of the main steps to avoid the strong smells.

Right at the dot, we met up with our tour guide to begin our Santorini and Oia excursion. Within 15 minutes we were on board the air-conditioned shuttle and driving by quaint al fresco restaurants and treated to more extraordinary views of the island.

Driving to the top of Mt Profitis Ilias (Prophet Elijah)—the highest peak of the island—we spotted a monastery nestled right at the top; the first stop on our tour. Built in the beginning of the 18th century, Profitis Illias Monastery (named like the peak) is dedicated to the prophet Elijah. The exterior façade and stonewalls gives the impression of a small fortress. While the monastery itself is closed off, we were able to venture inside the chapel and overlook some of the most beautiful panoramic views of the island.

We took a quick a peek inside the chapel and saw a similar candle lighting tradition we seen done in Kusadasi only here visitors lit a candle and placed it upright in a rather large water-filled basin.

Just outside the chapel, we spotted a table with several Greek delights laid out. We were told to help ourselves in trying out some of the jams, olives, spreads and wines that were made right there at the monastery. Taking our sample of the sweet wine, we sat down and took in the serene surroundings from the blue rooftops and stark cliffs in the distance to the lush flowers dipping low on the branches. We even made a four-legged friend there too. The short respite gave us a chance to sit back and simply take in the sights.

Soon we were on the shuttle and heading back down. No trip to Santorini would be complete without tasting some of those famous Greek wines, so our guide took us to a nearby winery called Santo Wines to do a bit of wine tasting. If we thought the views at the monastery were incredible, the expansive views overlooking the caldera (a volcanic crater) were short of spectacular. Excited to taste a few of the Greek wines here, we sat down at one of the tables. A staff member quickly brought us the wine menu.

The extensive wine menu boasted a wide selection of reds, whites, roses, sparkling and sweet wines. We opted for two reds and a sweet wine to start. Expecting small wine samples for the 1-euro price tag, we were surprised when one of the staff brought us three very generous glasses of wine. There was also a small plate of olives, coarse bread and cheese to go along as well. We loved how crisp, and delicious each of the wines were—tantalizing our palate with the rich, full-bodied aromatic flavors. Spotting several of their desserts on display, we could not resist biting into a warm, decadent chocolate Greek donut. Goodbye Dunkin’ Donuts!

While we would have loved to sit back and enjoy the winery some more, we still had more to see of the island. So we got back on the shuttle and on the road. The scenic drive we were treated to Oia was short of amazing. Seeing the rustic landscape and wildflowers in the distance, and the small strip of turquoise water down below, we now fully understood why Santorini draw so many tourists looking to experience their own island getaway.

It was not long before we caught our first glimpse of Oia in the distance with its stark white houses and blue roofs nestled on the hillside. Considered the most famous of all the villages in the island, the picturesque Oia (pronounced IA) was a top priority on our to-do list. Now before taking us on a walking tour of this quaint village, our guide took us to a large stand where a friendly couple greeted us with samples of the sweet wine they sold there. We also had a few minutes to check out their ripe vegetables, jars of capers and olives, and of course, bottles of honey.

Soon after, we were walking the narrow streets, passing by several boutique shops selling interesting artworks, fun souvenir shops, and blue domed churches along the way.

At last we arrived at one of the most spectacular views we have seen, and we had seen some really impressive ones so far. For years we resigned ourselves to looking at snapshots of this beautiful village in magazines or travel blogs, but now here we were experiencing the beauty of Oia for ourselves. Trust us when we say that no detailed photo or lengthy magazine feature can do these picturesque views justice. It truly is a spot you need to experience for yourself to comprehend the sheer brilliance of it all.

While we were enjoying our surroundings, we spotted a photographer use this gorgeous backdrop to take several artful wedding photos of a pair of newlyweds. We were a bit fearful at first when we saw the couple being positioned on one of the rooftops, but we quickly learned this was a must if you wanted to capture the beautiful scenery on film.

Right before letting us explore the village on our own, our guide pointed out a few restaurants we could go to have lunch. Wanting to forgo silverware, we opted for a Gyro shop instead. After looking through the menu, we ordered chicken and pork Gyros for lunch. Now when it comes to Gyros, we can be a little hard to please, but as foodies we like to keep an open mind—letting the first bite do all the talking. And what a first bite it was! The warm pitta was filled with just the right ratio of meat, veggies, fries and sauce. The lean strips of pork were succulent but still chard around the edges to provide smokiness to the gyro. The fries were crispy, and the tomato and onions fresh. But what took this seemly humble gyro to a different level was the tzatziki sauce with just the right creaminess and tanginess to tie the meal together.

To satisfy our sweet tooth, we bought a few of the sweet roasted peanuts we had sampled at several of shops earlier. Ah the genius behind samples. Soon after picking up a few things at the souvenirs shops in the village, we said farewell to Oia and headed back to our shuttle.

Back at Fira, we said goodbye to our friendly tour guide who kept us entertained throughout the tour with funny stories of the island and was more than happy to step in and take several group photos of us at the various stops we made along the way. Fortunately we had an hour to do some shopping before we needed to get on the cable car if we wanted to avoid the large crowds and the hour wait. So off we went hunting for souvenirs to take home. Walking along the narrow streets, we saw several wine shops, one in particular with a sign that said “Save Water Drink Wine”. We couldn’t agree more! They also sold some mouthwatering cheeses and jars of olives. Not far from there, we saw leather sandals being handcrafted just outside a shoe shop. As we headed towards the entrance to the cable cars, we spotted a few fun tourist shirts with Santorini boldly printed on them. Like any good tourists, we bought a few to take home.

Just in the nick of time, we bought our cable car tickets and were soon riding them down. A good thing seeing as a rather large line was starting to form just minutes from us purchasing our tickets. While we do wish we had braved the steep steps down to the tender boats, we do not regret enjoying the fantastic bay views of the Santorini harbor. Within minutes we were on the tender boats and back on our cruise ship.

As tradition we left our belongings in our stateroom, donned a bright Santorini t-shirt and rode the elevator up to the deck where we basked in the magnificent views of Santorini for the last time.

Reflecting on our short trip to this Aegean island, we cannot help feel grateful for the opportunity to stand before such beauty and marvel at the snow white houses perched high on the orange and red cliffs and surrounded by deep blue waters. If we could describe our time in Santorini, we could only compare it to what one feels when reaching under the Christmas tree and opening up presents on Christmas day. And with each revealed gift, an even better one follows.

But the truth is that when you come face to face with some of the most beautiful places and landmarks in the world whether its gazing at the Duomo in Florence, climbing to the Acropolis in Athens or seeing the volcanic cliffs of Santorini, there are no adequate verbs or words for that matter, to fully describe the intensity and sheer wonder of the moment. They say we are as largely defined by our experiences, by the sights and sounds of the world around us. If so, we feel Santorini has left a redefining mark on us