I live in the most beautiful country in the world: In Italy
But Greece comes as a fairly good number two.
Greek people are gentile and honest as far as it comes to normal local inhabitants.
In my past I have visited the island of Skiathos, Skopelos, Crete and in mainland Athens and Thessaloniki.
This summer I chose to visit Santorini.
My travel buddies are the same as in South Africa and I was pleased to get the invitation to join them.
I booked for 14 days, but my opinion is that 10 days would do perfectly well; the three first days are necessary to figure out where I am and what to do. The other 7 days to discover the island.
We stayed in Kamari, that is close to the airport. This town is excellent for night life and an easy access to many places visitable by car.
The airport of Santorini is small and it is request at least 2 hours travelling with a luggage.
I had just a trolley and it was more than enough. All I needed was swimming suit, something to wear for the diner and few pair of shoes among washing and make up stuff. Shampoo and other items not suitable to trolley are to find at the many local mini markets.
Our choice to book a hotel or rent a house turned out to a lovely hotel, just 10 minutes from the beach by foot, 5 minutes by car and only 10 minutes by car from the Airport. Most of the cases we used the car to visit places and other beaches.
As Santorini is a volcanic island, beaches are covered by black sand. At Kamari the beach is rocky and special shoes helps to get to swim easier. While in the southern part the beach is finer black sand and access to the sea is easy by bare feet.
My advice is to take snorkelling mask from home or buy one in loco; I bought one for €15.
Most beach beds are free of charge if using the beach restaurant services. But in high season (July and August) the price might be €10 for each umbrella and two sun beds.
Best restaurants are out of town, such as Cretan Restaurant near the city of Pyrgos, or a local Taverna just out of the city of Mesaria.
But I can't complain eating out in towns as Fira, Kamari and Oia.
Besides visiting beaches and towns, what else you may do at Santorini?
Enjoy the Greek life with it's food, music and the romantic sunset best seen from Oia, or in one of the catamaran trips organised from several companies.
Most of these companies do pick up service from hotel.
I noticed that car is useful in this island. But the local bus services are equally good and with fare prices.
We europeans like sun bathing; at least I do. Every day we headed to our favourite beach at the southern part of the Island and enjoyed the luxurious service our waiter Georgios offered. But most of the overseas travellers seemed to stay away from beaches as a waist of time and money for the value of their trip.
In that case 5 days would do perfectly to visit Santorini. the island itself is pretty small and in just one day one cultural site and a local village is visited.
During the high touristic season several cultural events take place at Santorini and many villages offer local party offering food and beverage, either free of charge or with small fee. We visited the Kamari festival and got soup, bread and wine for free. Plus a local band playing typical Greek music.
Due to the climate and volcanic soil, besides grapes, pomegranate, spiny figs, figs, tomatoes and white eggplant, in the island barely no other fruits and vegetables grows. And due to the dry summer there is very little water in the island. Most of the food is coming from the mainland.
To use the toilet, the toilet paper is not allowed to flush, but set in the waist bin.
This rule is the same in Caribbean Islands. It might feel a bit strange in the beginning, but now I'm so used to it that I feel awkward to throw the toilet paper in the closed.
The best period to visit Santorini is April, May, June, September and October. The most busy months are July and August, when Europeans have their school vacations.
A special precaution is to be taken in the streets that are narrow, stairs often steep. To get an ambulance in Fira or in Oia could take some time, and as we saw someone got hurt, the medical appliances aren't the easiest to carry up or down.
Although Greek may seem to drive like crazy, I never noticed anything out of order. But streets are not in their best shape and after a glass or two too many, driving might turn out dangerous.
As I mentioned earlier, the island itself is pretty small, there is plenty to see, and each person need to plan their itinerary as they wish.
I was in need of relax and good food; we enjoyed the sun, the sea, and plenty of food in many of those Tavernas Santorini can offer.
To your personal guided tour in Milan, feel free to send a request
Group reservations throughout www.kairos-travel.eu
More photos of Santorini: Please ask permission to copy and paste elsewhere
But Greece comes as a fairly good number two.
Greek people are gentile and honest as far as it comes to normal local inhabitants.
 |
| view at Santorini |
In my past I have visited the island of Skiathos, Skopelos, Crete and in mainland Athens and Thessaloniki.
This summer I chose to visit Santorini.
My travel buddies are the same as in South Africa and I was pleased to get the invitation to join them.
I booked for 14 days, but my opinion is that 10 days would do perfectly well; the three first days are necessary to figure out where I am and what to do. The other 7 days to discover the island.
We stayed in Kamari, that is close to the airport. This town is excellent for night life and an easy access to many places visitable by car.
The airport of Santorini is small and it is request at least 2 hours travelling with a luggage.
 |
| One of the many churches |
I had just a trolley and it was more than enough. All I needed was swimming suit, something to wear for the diner and few pair of shoes among washing and make up stuff. Shampoo and other items not suitable to trolley are to find at the many local mini markets.
Our choice to book a hotel or rent a house turned out to a lovely hotel, just 10 minutes from the beach by foot, 5 minutes by car and only 10 minutes by car from the Airport. Most of the cases we used the car to visit places and other beaches.
 |
| the sun and the sea |
As Santorini is a volcanic island, beaches are covered by black sand. At Kamari the beach is rocky and special shoes helps to get to swim easier. While in the southern part the beach is finer black sand and access to the sea is easy by bare feet.
 |
| Georgios Beach |
My advice is to take snorkelling mask from home or buy one in loco; I bought one for €15.
Most beach beds are free of charge if using the beach restaurant services. But in high season (July and August) the price might be €10 for each umbrella and two sun beds.
Best restaurants are out of town, such as Cretan Restaurant near the city of Pyrgos, or a local Taverna just out of the city of Mesaria.
But I can't complain eating out in towns as Fira, Kamari and Oia.
 |
| Me at Fira |
Besides visiting beaches and towns, what else you may do at Santorini?
Enjoy the Greek life with it's food, music and the romantic sunset best seen from Oia, or in one of the catamaran trips organised from several companies.
Most of these companies do pick up service from hotel.
I noticed that car is useful in this island. But the local bus services are equally good and with fare prices.
We europeans like sun bathing; at least I do. Every day we headed to our favourite beach at the southern part of the Island and enjoyed the luxurious service our waiter Georgios offered. But most of the overseas travellers seemed to stay away from beaches as a waist of time and money for the value of their trip.
In that case 5 days would do perfectly to visit Santorini. the island itself is pretty small and in just one day one cultural site and a local village is visited.
 |
| View over the bay from the lighthouse |
During the high touristic season several cultural events take place at Santorini and many villages offer local party offering food and beverage, either free of charge or with small fee. We visited the Kamari festival and got soup, bread and wine for free. Plus a local band playing typical Greek music.
 |
| Our free meal |
Due to the climate and volcanic soil, besides grapes, pomegranate, spiny figs, figs, tomatoes and white eggplant, in the island barely no other fruits and vegetables grows. And due to the dry summer there is very little water in the island. Most of the food is coming from the mainland.
 |
| Zatziki |
To use the toilet, the toilet paper is not allowed to flush, but set in the waist bin.
This rule is the same in Caribbean Islands. It might feel a bit strange in the beginning, but now I'm so used to it that I feel awkward to throw the toilet paper in the closed.
The best period to visit Santorini is April, May, June, September and October. The most busy months are July and August, when Europeans have their school vacations.
A special precaution is to be taken in the streets that are narrow, stairs often steep. To get an ambulance in Fira or in Oia could take some time, and as we saw someone got hurt, the medical appliances aren't the easiest to carry up or down.
 |
| Oia |
Although Greek may seem to drive like crazy, I never noticed anything out of order. But streets are not in their best shape and after a glass or two too many, driving might turn out dangerous.
As I mentioned earlier, the island itself is pretty small, there is plenty to see, and each person need to plan their itinerary as they wish.
I was in need of relax and good food; we enjoyed the sun, the sea, and plenty of food in many of those Tavernas Santorini can offer.
 |
| My lunch |
To your personal guided tour in Milan, feel free to send a request
Group reservations throughout www.kairos-travel.eu
More photos of Santorini: Please ask permission to copy and paste elsewhere
 |
| View from Phyrgos |
 |
| Sunset seen from Fira |
 |
| The symbol of Venice Republic |
 |
| Sunset seen from Oia; Photo of Natasa Popovic |
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| Sunset drink at Fira |
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| My Greek friend |
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| Olives |
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| Akra Skaros |
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| Typical view at Santorini |
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