Santorini (Thira), Greece

I spent two and a half days in Santorini.  That was definitely not enough!  Of all the islands I have been to, this is my favorite island.  It had that friendly island feel that you often read about.  You can drive  from one end to the other in 30 minutes.  Santorini has no high rise nor does it look like it has been touched by the modern world.  Being such a popular tourist destination, it was a wonder how Santorini was able to maintain its small island charm.  

The whole flight from Athens was only 45 minutes.  The taxi from the airport to the hotel was a flat rate of 15 euros. 

Grand View Hotel 
Make sure to contact your hotel if you arrive early in the morning or late at night.  The hotel was about 10-15 minutes drive away from the main town, Fira, so it was very peaceful.  This hotel provided a beautiful right view of the Aegean Sea.  Because the hotel was away from Fira, the price was more reasonable and the room spacious.  The bathroom was a bit small and shower had a limit on the amount of hot water but the hotel and room was very clean.  The hospitality was superb!  The host was extremely welcoming and accommodating.  The breakfast was included but limited.  There was not a restaurant at the hotel but chef/pool boy/host will cook whatever you want.  It was amazing because it was like having your own personal chef! 

Food:
Most of the food were locally grown right there in Santorini.  Santorini is known for their sun dried tomatoes and it was super sweet.  The food was grown directly from volcanic soil on the island.  Due to that fact, Greek food on the island was made very simple to preserve the richness of the food already.  My favorite was squid or octopus marinated in olive oil and grilled with a side of potatoes.   The salads were fresh and lightly dressed.   Do not skip out on the food because of fear or gaining weight.  That was not possible in Europe because of the constant walking and the food were not fattening at all! 

Fresh grilled octopus with a side of potato

Locally grown and preserved in vinegar.

Greek salad

Activities: 
Hike from Fira to Oia
The hike was about 5.4km (3.4 miles).  I did this hike in about 3.5 hours and that was with multiple stops for picture taking along the way.  The hike was along the water with cooling sea breeze.  Water, sun protection (sunblock and hat), and hiking shoes are a must!  There were no shades nor shops along the way. I took the bus back to Fira.  Make sure to have cash and exact change would be very convenient. 

Don't get discouraged by the distance.

A Church along the hike.

Gavalas Winery in Megalochori
The winery was a 7 minute walk from Grand View Hotel.  This winery had been passed down through generations for over 300 years!  I was greeted with one of the workers and she gave a very extensive and informative tour at no charge at all!  She went to school for food chemistry so she knew her stuff.  Michael Jordan and Chef Giada de Laurentiis both had been by the winery.

Hard at work planting the grapes!

Black Beach 
Located in the town of Perissa, Black Beach was a great place for some relaxation.  The water and breeze was chilly in May so swimming was not recommended but was great to see the beauty of the beach without hundreds of people populating the area.  Since May was during off season, the lounge chairs were free of charge. 

Fira
The main town in Santorini.  Shops and restaurants filled this small town.  The view of the Aegean Sea can be view from one of the many restaurants but that did come with a price.  Be willing to spend a bit more in those restaurants vs. the ones tucked into town.

Sunset in Fira

Oia
Oia had everything Fira had with a bit more clean cut look with tiled walkway.   The sunset from Oia claimed to be the best on the island with nothing blocking view as with Fira.  

Nightlife in Santorini
The bars in Santorini were small and provided a nice intimate touch to it.  Because it was small, I did not feel overwhelmed with a huge crowd.  It was perfect in that there were plenty of people there but not to the point where I felt lost in the crowd.  There were hosts standing outside each bar trying to entice patrons with their hospitality and discounts on drinks.  Each bar had a DJ that either played music in English or Greek.  Each bar had their own personal charm and provided something different.  There was no set time where they closed down and stayed open until the last person leave.