Santorini Shops and Homes
Homes lines cliffs in Santorini
Cyclades style homes
From the cliffs to the sea
Vivid doorways line walkways
Star Princess at Anchor in Corfu
santorini, greece
° Classical Greece ° Athens ° Corfu ° Meteora
° Mykonos ° Olympic Village ° Olive Trees
° Santorini
Because we were on a cruise -- which is an excellent way to sample the Mediterranean -- we were unable to spend time in exquisite cities such as Santorini or Mykonos, both of which are stunning and each of which deserve some days. Actually, Santorini would be perfect for months on end! (This link takes you to a "Jet Set Lifestyle" video in Santorini to give you a better overview of what is is there if you are able to stay longer than the few hours on a cruise stop-over!)
If you are in Athens, it's easy to book a two-day Santorini visit, and well worth it. We promise you that this will become a highlight of your trip to Greece and/or the whole Mediterranean region. The homes are of particular interest; if I remember correctly, these started as cave-like dwellings set into the cliffs to protect from weather and invaders. Excavations date back to 1550 B.C. and earlier. Now these homes are some of the most amazing architecture we have ever seen; one of our reasons for wanting to return is to stay in one of these cliff dwellings, many of which are part-time rentals and a few of which are hotels.
If you are on your own and it's in your budget, stay a few days (or weeks) at the highly-regarded Heliotopos (image right) in Thira's Imerovigli neighborhood.
It is well-located and near the conference center, archaeological museum and museum of prehistoric Thira. It also has kitchenettes, which we prefer when we travel in the event we feel like staring at the view while having breakfast or dinner in our pajamas.
Santorini has one of the most spectacular landscapes (homescapes!) in the world. The island is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion that destroyed the earliest settlements on what was a single island; the earthquake(s) lead to the creation of the geological caldera.
Santorini's spectacular physical beauty, along with a dynamic nightlife, have made the island a tourist hotspot. Tours include the submerged caldera, the volcano’s crater, which is situated in the middle of a 32 square miles basin of water and part of the Cyclades. Around the basin, hanging on cliffs of 150m to 300m height, you will see some of the most beautiful traditional villages of the Cyclades. The colours of the white Cycladic houses and blue painted windows contrast stunningly against black volcanic rocks rising from sea in the villages of Fira, Firostefani, Immerovigli and Oia.
Famous beaches include Perissa, Kamari, Monolithos and the Red Beach. The beaches of Kamari, Perissa and Monolithos have black sand and deep blue waters. They are situated on the east side of the island and in the tourist areas of the island. These areas include many hotels, taverns, cafes, bars and beach-bars. The Red Beach near Akrotiri is located in a quieter area and is the most famous beach of the island.
The charming mix of architecture, elegance, space and privacy composes a unique level of comfort and convenience for guests at the Heliotopos.
Situated in a small picturesque village minutes overlooking the Aegean Sea with the Volcano and the Caldera, makes it the ideal place to enjoy magnificent sunsets.
Consider reading at least one tome on Greece and perhaps one of the current writings, such as Planet of the Greeks
, which has joined the books debating the origins of Western civilization, or Immanuel Velikovsky's controversal Ages in Chaos
For classical literature, one of the most noted is The History of the Peloponnesian War
by Thucydides, an Athenian general who served in the war. This work is included in many studies of classical literature (and is included in classical literature courses at U.C. Berkeley in Berkeley, California).
Development of the Exodus Connection
New to me and of interest: The eruption of Santorini has been connected to the Israelite Exodus from Egypt and to the Ipuwer Papyrus, which in turn have been connected to each other. These theories would tie the eruption to Pharaoh Ahmose I in the Second Intermediate Period of Egyptian History. A 2006 documentary created by filmmaker Simcha Jacobovici, which explores new evidence in favor of the account of the Book of Exodus, "Exodus Decoded" (The History Channel, aired Sunday, 20 August 2006), investigates Egyptian records of the departure of the mysterious Semitic Hyksos. Jacobovici suggests that the Hyksos and the Hebrews (whom he calls "Amo Israel", "the people of God") were one and the same, a thesis he supports with Egyptian-style signet rings uncovered in the Hyksos capital of Avaris. These signets read Yakov, similar to Hebrew name of the Biblical patriarch Jacob (Ya'aqov). Another standpoint for this theory is one of the important Hyksos cities, Avaris, which is called modernly Tel el-Yahudiyeh (meaning "mound of the Jews") known for its distinctive black and whiteware. Jacobovici propounds the theory that the eruption of the Santorini Island volcano (c. 1623 B.C., +/-25) caused all the biblical plagues described against Egypt, redating the eruption to c. 1500 B.C. Jacobovici (and fellow producer James Cameron) make a dramatic but rather thinly-supported presentation that the Hyksos were none other than the Israelites, who may have also been known as Habiru ("Hebrews").
Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude