Santorini

The beautiful Island of Santorini holds a very special place in my heart, as it was the first holiday I went on with my now husband! We stayed in the laid back, relaxing, affordable resort of Perissa which sits on a 7 kilometre stretch of black volcanic sand on Santorini's south east coast. There's a good choice of places to eat where prices are reasonable so there really is no need to self cater here. We split our time between relaxing on the beach and exploring the Island in our hire car. There's also a number of excursions and an excellent bus service if you prefer not to drive. About a 20 minute walk from Perissa is the village of Emporio, a real back-in-time Greek village where old men chat in coffee shops, and churches fill up with families on Sunday mornings. We visited the resort of Kamari whilst we were there which is an upmarket resort on Santorini's east coast which combines relaxed sophistication with old-school Greek charm. The beach is a 2 kilometre sweep of dark volcanic sand and pebbles. Running alongside the beach is a traffic free promenade lined with old-school tavernas, swanky restaurants and souvenir shops. On the outskirts of the town, you'll find one of Santorini's best wineries, Canava Roussos, plus cinema Kamari, which shows films in the open-air. You can also explore the ruins of Antcient Thira just above the town. We also visited the unforgettable, picturesque town of Oia to watch the sunset, which I have to say is one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. Being a destination to cruise ships Oia gets very busy in the afternoons so it's far better to arrive late afternoon or very early evening, allowing yourselves times to meander, shop and take photographs. You can then have a relaxing meal in one of the Caldera restaurants while watching the stunningly beautiful sunset. Be sure to occupy your seat in advance though as the western side becomes heavily crowded in the hour preceding sunset! Oia can also be reached by bus from Fira, the capital. Fira or Thira is the main town of Santorini and is located on the top of a cliff of a Caldera and is a vision of dramatic cliffs and pristine whitewashed buildings. There is also an Archaeological Museum along with several churches and monasteries. You can also spend a leisurely afternoon exploring the shops and cafes along Fira's narrow footpaths. If you are looking for an upmarket Greek Island with some spectacular views and stunning scenery then please contact me to book this beautiful Greek Island.