We’re not unique in our fascination, love and attraction to Santorini. As evidenced by the bus loads of decked out tourists being ferried from massive cruise ships pulling into the Caldera on a daily basis, the shores of this magical Island appeal to a wide audience. In fact, across time, people have found inspiration from this spot of land… Not just as far back as Renaissance Times, when the current town of Oia, our iddilic present home, was founded. Not just during the height of Ancient Greece, where the foundations of democracy we’re being laid hundreds of years before Christ was born. It traces back to the time of the Egyptian Pharos, almost 4,000 years ago, where a society with incredible sophistication, intelligence, artistic ability and global commerce based their empire on this very island.
Roof deck view above the caldera in Oia
Our home in Oia offers a front row seat to the apocalypse, hanging 500 feet or so above the caldera of an ancient volcano that inspired one of the greatest mysteries of the world. Dangling our feet off of the ledge of our roof deck, it’s hard not to think about the destruction responsible for such dazzling beauty. Once Santorini’s mega-volcano blew its top, it sent an almost 100 foot tidal wave to it’s southern neighbor, Crete (where we’ll hang out for a couple of weeks soon), effectively delivering a 1, 2 knock out punch to the Minoans. Plato would write about a mythical land of an amazing civilization called Atlantis a few hundred years later, thus carrying forward the myth of an advanced society that wouldn’t be unburied and re-discovered for a couple of thousand years or more.
Modern Santorini, and it’s magical town of Oia, holds the same power carried forward throughout history. With a sense of the wonder that this island deservedly commands of its visitors, the seven of us set off on one of the most spectacular hikes I’ve done in some time. Hugging the cliffs, the trail pendulous above the striking blue waters, we set out for a 7 mile hike from Oia to Fira on Sunday. With the fitbit charged, and Tuck and Jones amply bribed with the promise of ice cream at trails end, we set out at 3pm for a wonderful journey. The path went up more than down as it arced around the caldera, winding up past tiny churches perched on tenuous and steep slopes hundreds of feet above the water.
The trail winding its way up the side of the ancient crater
Lisa, Tuck and Jones
Wescott teaching Greek mythology on the trail with Tuck & Jones
Working our way up!
Otto at one of many churches along the way
We ran into Manos, our host and one of the only people we know on Santorini, mid-way along the hiking trail!
At one point, we went by an enormous, garish looking compound a ways out of Oia. Not quite a resort or hotel, the compound had a strange, fortified look about it. A later inquiry to our friend and host Manos revealed that this was the rarely-visited home of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie! It has three pools, a lot of high stone walls and an outdoor amphitheater that is said to hold 200… Since Lisa and I are constantly getting confused with Brangelina, we thought it was a fitting celebrity siting :-).
Brangelina Compound
Half of the hike is on a precarious path with many exposed sections that with the wrong trip, could land you the ultimate and final cliff dive of your life. Wescott thankfully took the role of pied-piper to the twins, telling stories of the Greek Gods that had them riveted. Ever since we encountered a particularly scary rendering of Medusa in the Uffuzi, their eyes have been opened up the possibility of gods and creatures lurking in the upper and lower realms of the earth. Yve and Otto offering support, we listened to endless questions and Wescott’s stories, some accurate, others embellished for dramatic theater.
Wescott gravitating to the most dangerous perch he can find!
Yve next to the rich, red volcanic dirt
Otto finding it all awesome
Jones happily collecting pumis along the way
Once we made it to the town of Imerovigli, the path meandered by serene resorts and negative edged pools, leaving us hot as we gazed across the calm water to the town of Oia glinting in the waning, golden sun. Perfectly placed at the midpoint of the hike, we found a small stand with an angry looking women making the sweetest fresh squeezed orange juice, using chilled oranges straight from the ice box. The sugar rush enabled the entire ensemble to complete the hike in just 3.5 hours, watching a magnificent sunset and ending with a wonderful cliff-side meal in Fira.
OK, we need to stay here next time :-)
The Gang nearing the end of the hike
Jones watching the setting sun
To say that the day was satisfyingly perfect would be an understatement. While sometimes difficult with 5 kids in tow, this was such a great way to truly embrace the magical surroundings and the sheer beauty of this enchanted place.
Perfect sunset!
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