Top Eight Items to Pack for Santorini

I was not expecting to fall in love with Santorini. It was the island I was the least excited to visit on our Greek odyssey, being far more interested in the historical sites in Athens. But here I am, about to wax poetic on this fabulous Greek island.

Officially known as Thira, the island is the remnants of a huge volcanic eruption about 1500 BC. What’s left is steep-sided caldera with white-washed cities clinging to the cliff tops. I avoided the crowds by staying in a traditional cave house in Exo Gonia.

An absolute must is lunch at Metaxi Mas, this absolutely fabulous restaurant with sweeping views of Kamari Beach. The food was local, rustic and super fresh. Maybe it was local white wine, maybe it was the company but soon I was overtaken by the most relaxing, contented feeling. I looked around at my dining companions and knew they felt it too.

We headed down to Kamari Beach after lunch, relishing the sound of the waves on the black pebble beach and watching local families take advantage of the afternoon sun. The cadence of life seemed slower, more peaceful and I was catching on.

The next day, the feeling of calm and relaxation persisted. We idly walked thru Oia and watched the sun set over the Aegean. Every local we met was gracious and charming, greeting us with a “Kalimera!”. Santorini is one of the most magical places I’ve ever visited.