As the ship entered the port for Santorini, we were able to get a view of the white-washed buildings nestled atop the cliffsides. From afar, it looked like snow-capped mountains.
We tendered to the port of Athinios, and took a bus up the switch-back road to Pyrgos village, one of the oldest settlements and the highest village on the island.
There were several churches in Pyrgos and the views out over the caldera were majestic. We were able to spot some of the “cave homes”, which started out with humble beginnings, but some have now been transformed into lavish residences.
We then headed to the picturesque village of Oia – with its cobblestone streets and beautiful old homes perched on the cliffside. Our guide used to live in a house beside the palace, so she guided us through the winding staircases up to the palace, with more magnificent views of the city. The entrance to the palace was decorated with stone mosaics. We also got a close-up view of some old cave homes.
We then went back to Pyrgos to a renowned Greek restaurant, where we enjoyed traditional Greek food, wine, music, and dancing. We joined in the celebration, dancing to ‘Zorba the Greek’ and breaking plates – Opa!
We ended in Fira town, the capital of the island, just in time to catch the sunset! We were told we had plenty of time to shop and enjoy the views, but we barely made it to the cable car in time for the ride back down to the tender boat.
