SANTORINI

June 11 - Left Athens for 9 hrs cruise from Piraeus Harbor to Fira. Théra, otherwise known as Santoríni, is the most Southern of the Cycládes islands. One side of the island is the remnant of a volcanic caldera and the otherside is full of fertile valleys producing wine and tomato crop.

June 12 - Town tour. Santoríni's volcano, or rather remnants of it, is the outstanding and unique tourist attraction which draws thousands to the island. Ships arrive at the deep harbour created as a result of the volcano eruption and then have to scale hundreds of steps via donkey or foot to get to the main town, which is built overhead.

Around 1500 B.C, the Stroggilí volcano, as the original island was called, erupted with catastrophic but incredible results. The Stroggili island disappeared and today's remaining island, Théra, is composed of the earth and lava that were pushed up, from inside the earth.

Together with the demise of the original island was also the demise of the mythical(?) city of Atlantis. Atlantis was to have been created and built on top of the original mountain of Stroggili, at least that's what the experts say. Such was the force of destruction or creation depending on how one looks at it, that Atlantis, if indeed was here, quickly disappeared and so did all those in it.

Early evening, we traveled north to the village of Oia, location of the film "Summer Lovers'. Venturing down to the Venetian Castle, we sat along the walls to see the magnificent sunset while sampling local Cycladic wine. Dinner was at the local taverna in Fira and then at Blue Note Club for dancing.

June 13 - Took a guided archaeological excursion. Our first stop was the highest mountaintop of Prophet Elia (584 m). Its museum is rich in Byzantine and folk art exhibits.

Then on to Akrotiri archaeological site, which is considered by experts to be equal in historical importance with Pompeii. Here lies the ruins of a Minoan city destroyed by the eruption of the island's volcano. The influence of the Minoan culture on the island was obvious when excavations started on Akrotiri and found a whole village with houses decorated with wallpaintings similar to those found in the Minoan palace in Crete.

Last stop was the Perissa Beach, known for its hot dark red sand. I dipped myself at the Aegean Sea for the first time. A body of deep-blue water - where thousands of years of history and legends have taken place. How poetic!

Photo Gallery

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Fira Cliff	Fira Sunset	Perissa Beach w/ Susan