Early this morning I arrived back from a really magical week in Greece.
I’ve had a superb time with my sister exploring
the beautiful island of Santorini and neighbouring Therasia.
Flying above the clouds to Santorini. I’ve wanted to visit for a very, very long time and at last the moment is here.
I know I’m back in Greece. There are cats everywhere.
And as I bend down to say hello to one, another makes itself at home on my dress.
I saw her every day and would have loved to take her home with me.
It’s heavenly to taste the fabulous food of Greece, starting with stuffed vine leafs, an old favourite,
and something new, grilled feta with sesame seeds, drizzled in honey and balsamico.
We’re staying at Kamari on the south easy of the island.
At the end of its famous black sand beach we find this lovely little church.
Nearby, at Irini’s restaurant we have a lovely meal while listening to some local musicians and
Mama Irini, who opened this restaurant some 49 years ago, joins in singing.
The next day I have a fascinating chat with her about, among other things,
how Kamari has changed over the years. She’s really an amazing lady with a great tale to tell.
Monday morning, while my sister explores Fira, I’m off to Therasia, a neighbouring island.
We catch the boat from Oia, pictured above, in the north-west of Sanotrini,
over to Ormos Korfu and take the zig-zagging path up to Manolas, for a glimpse of life in Greece many years ago.
A hike across the countryside to the abandoned village of Agrilia brings us to this fabulous church,
still lovingly looked after, despite no one still living here.
We end the day at a traditional taverna in Ravi,before catching the boat back to Oia.
I’m really looking forward to telling you more about the lovely island of Therasia.
Oia, the most famous town on Santorini. It’s overflowing with tourists but is still a really lovely place to explore.
A sleepy cat, finding the heat of the day, and it was a scorcher, all just a little too much.
A new day and we start with a deliciously refreshing cactus juice in the island’s capital of Fira.
We take the cable car down to the port and enjoy a light lunch of fava and tomato balls,
both very traditional examples of Santorini cuisine (and two of the dishes I learn to cook later in the week)
Another wonderful day spent wine tasting, cooking and eating with Santorini Wine Adventure.
An early morning, walk along the beach to watch the sunrise followed by a trek on the mountain overlooking Kamari
and a visit to the ancient village of Thera. I take the bus most of the way up, saving my energy for the hike back down.
Half way down the mountain along a narrow track is this lovely little chapel and a cave with the only natural,
fresh water sourceon the island. It was a hell of a hike down the mountainside for me
but that is the only way to get there.
Throughout the week we’d heard a lot of good things about Alexander Restaurant in Kamari
so, on our second to last night, we checked it out.It didn’t disappoint.
In fact we enjoyed it so much that we returned the next evening for our final meal in Santorini.
Our last day on the island. We explored the lovely village of Pyrgos. With the exception of one or two tourist shops and cafés (and telegraph poles), it is just as it would have been hundreds of years ago.
The locals were very friendly too!
On the way back we stopped off at Fira for some important food research.
And sadly that’s the end of a really fabulous week as seen on my Instagram feed.
But I have so many more photos to share and so much to write about. Watch this space!
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Hi Kathryn! Thanks for letting me know your blog, I have lot of pages to read for now on 🙂 Beautiful photos from Santorini, it’s one of the place where I want to go some day.
Best wishes, Susanna
Thanks for popping by Susanne. Hope you get to see it all for yourself one day. 🙂
Great IG photos! I want to go back!!!
Hope you get to go back soon 🙂
The scenery is gorgeous, but the food is what really draws me in. Simply must see Santorini one day! Great photos 🙂
Thanks Molly. The food was indeed superb and I’m looking forward to writing more about that soon too.
I am so excited for my trip to Greece in January 2015. Not the best time to go, but an opportunity I am not about to pass up!! Wishing I could see the outer islands, but it seems it is not in the cards. Will be heading to Rome and Paris too. It will be a crazy 12 days, but oh so fab!! Now to find the perfect footwear for all the walking I will be doing. Your pictures are gorgeous!! Thank you!!
Have a fabulous time Nancy. I hope the sun shines for you but I’m sure you’ll enjoy it all no matter what the weather. Rome and Paris are both fabulous too. Each different, all wonderful!
Lovely post Kat. Stirred fond memories. I can still taste those green tomato keftades!
Santorini has been high on my wishlist for a long time now but I’ve never got around to it… I’ve been to many of the Greek islands over the years, but not yet Santorini unfortnately. Would love to take in some of the island’s wonderful views – seems like some fab photo opportunities!
You’d love it Paul. I’m sure your whole family would! Go beginning or end of season to avoid the crowds though and yes, there is no end of photo ops.
Wow! I’ve wanted to have a holiday to Santorini for a while now. You’ve just given me more than a few reasons why I should go soon. You packed so much in and it looks like you had a wonderful trip. Can’t wait to read more.
The plan was to mix exploring with a little lazy beach time but there were so many lovely places to visit. all within easy reach, that the later never really happened!
I really do have to go to Greece one day…soon.
Indeed you do Debra! 🙂
Absolutely gorgeous photos Kat – I spent only one day on Santorini about 7 years ago and it wasn’t nearly long enough. It really struck me that the blues are really as blue as the photos we see on framed pictures around that pop up all over the world.
Thanks Pam, it’s such a wonderful place to photograph!
It looks just as fabulous as I remember, Kat. 🙂
I hope it brought back some happy memories. And I really hope we both get to go back one day.
Wow Kathryn!!
Lovely photos!!
Thanks sis! And thanks for sharing such a fabulous week with me.