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| Santorini's Villages at the top of the caldera; as viewed from our cruise ship far below, as we sailed into the harbor early in the morning Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
WHENEVER IN my lifetime I have conjured "The Greek Isles," Santorini (without me even knowing its name) has come to mind. Whitewashed, domed churches and buildings with rounded and curved roof lines. Blue painted roofs, with other bright accent colors on the building. High up above the deep blue Mediterranean. When I saw the "brochure" for our cruise this time and the pictures of Santorini, I knew this was the Greek photographic "paradise" I had always wanted to photograph If I had my way I would likely visit there for a few days - in the off season - and try to take advantage of the "good light." I may still do that some day. But this time, it would be for one day, during our cruise. We hoped and prayed for good weather (Santorini is a tender - only port and one of those that is frequently cancelled because of rough weather.
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| The "iconic" Blue Domed Greek Church and Bell Tower on Santorini Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
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| Another spot where I think the image is every bit as stunning as the popular iconic shot Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
WE GOT lucky with our guide for the day. He met us at the top of the funicular, and I shortly learned that in addition to being a guide, he is also a professional photographer. My wife needed to go to an ATM machine, and while we waited for her, I showed him my sheet of paper with the directions to the "iconic shot." He said, "oh, I am going to take you right there. And then I will show you some other, equally great shots." Because he was a photographer, and knew it was important to me, he planned our circuit around being in the spots when the light was best. I was in for a good day!
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| Because of our Guide's prescience, we found spot after spot that had not yet been discovered by the crowds Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
ONE OF the challenges of a visit to Santorini - at least in season - is that it is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. This means way more people than the relatively small island communities can accomodate. Our guide did two things that morning. First, he took us ina direction that was backward to the route that most guides use. Partly, this was because of the light. But it was also because he knew some of the best stuff was at the end of the usual track - but would come first for us, getting us there before the large crowds (for the first half of our day). Eventually, we did run into crowds in the middle of the village of Oiua. Then they were shoulder to shoulder. But we had really already seen most of the best views. Our next move was going to be to get into his vehicle and take a drive to the east, down the backside of the calderra, and onto the flats, where the airport is. But on the way, we drove through olive plantations. It was cool.
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| One of the most impressive feats is how the Greeks built these buildings up the steep faces of the calderra! Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
THE SECOND thing he did (and this has happened to us 2 or 3 times over the years) was to ask us how rigid we were about our meals. If we weren't stuck on a noon lunch, he could get us through the tour and then would take us to a local restaurant that was out of the way, and did not cater to the tourist crowds. If we were rigid, he could get us somewhere for lunch, but he promised it would be a tourist trap and the food would be unremarkable. We - of course - chose not to be rigid and were very glad we did.
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| So much color! Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
WHILE THE whitewashed stucco with brightly painted rooftops (especially blue) was the rule, there was a lot of additional color, some of it by the buildings and trim, and some by the colorful flowers so well supported by the temperate Mediterranean climate.
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| When not being stormed by the throngs of people, the small villages of Oia and Fira are full of pretty, quiet streets. Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
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| Santorini, Greece Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
SOMETIMES THE world is a very small place. I can think of nearly a half dozen occasions where we ran into people we had a connection with elsewhere. It is also not unusual when traveling the world, to "bump into" famous people. Id didn't really register it at the time, but the gentleman in the above image is none other than one of the world's foremost travel experts: Rick Steves.
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| Famous Travel expert, Rick Steves Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
SANTORINI PROVIDED another one of those humorous anecdotes that arise from time to time on this blg. Our guide was a pretty blunt guy. With a good sense of humor. I have always loved his t-shirt, which he work with no reservations.
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| Santorini, Greece Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
WE WALKED part of the hill on the way back to the cruise ship. It was a long, full day, but one of the most memorable of all of my travel!
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| Santorini, Greece Copyright Andy Richards 2017 - All Rights Reserved |
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