Santorini Island, cruising in the afternoon
The Panorama entered the caldera of the Santorini archipelago at 7:00am this morning. Once inside the protection of the high walls of the caldera the winds softened and the Panorama cruised quietly towards her mooring buoys. During breakfast our Expedition Leader laid out our excursions for the day. After breakfast a local tender would be coming alongside and we would be ferried over to the local port of Athinios, where two buses would be waiting to take our group from the north to the south of the island of Santorini.
Beginning at sea level we climbed over 300 meters to the top of the rim of the caldera heading towards the north tip of the island and the town of Oia. The southernmost of the Cyclades, Santorini is a circular archipelago of islands, which are remnants of one of the most legendary volcanic explosions in Mediterranean and world history. This cataclysmic eruption buried the sophisticated Minoan village of Akrotiri more than 3,500 years ago and for many who visit Santorini, learning about the Minoan people and visiting the archaeology museum which houses much of what has been uncovered in Akrotiri is a highlight. Upon the islands left after that phenomenal volcanic event, human population has gradually returned and settled. In recent years, the buildings, many of which are built into the steep walls of the caldera, have created one of the most photographed and visited islands in Greece.
Our two buses dropped our group off at the base of a narrow street that led up and into the town of Oia. As we came around the corner, near the large Greek Orthodox Church in the main square, we were greeted by singing coming from the Sunday service still under way inside the church. Stopping at many lookouts we turned our cameras out on the famous blue domes, whitewashed buildings, rounded doorways, and lovely early morning shadows all creating breathtaking images.
Our morning passed quickly, and soon we were back on board our buses and heading to the southern end of the island to a local restaurant called Aeolus. A tiny restaurant, aptly named for the God of Wind, sits on the edge of the southern end of the caldera, with a view across the 76 square kilometers of sea, cliffs and whitewashed villages. We were seated at two long tables with a lovely breeze and a view of the caldera just over our shoulders! A home-cooked Greek lunch began pouring out onto the tables, which included several special dishes the island of Santorini is famous for, along with exquisite white wine grown and bottled on Santorini. After coffee, dessert and some last photos we returned to the buses and one last short trip to the central town of Firá.
A visit to the archaeology museum was our first stop, giving many of us a better idea of what life might have been like 3,500 years ago in Akrotiri, before this Minoan village was smothered by the eruption that created the Santorini caldera. The town of Firá is a maze of densely packed jewelry shops, clothing and souvenir shops. The Panorama was not the only boat in town, in fact there were three very large cruise ships that had unloaded their passengers along with our tiny group, making walking the streets of this small town extremely crowded. Negotiating the multitude of people, we made our way towards the cable car, and donkey path which would provide one of three ways for our group to return down over 300 meters to the port and a waiting tender that would return us the comfortable and spacious Panorama.
Our day on shore had been extremely full, and once back aboard we were informed about the increasing wind in the Aegean outside the Santorini caldera. It was our Captain’s wish to get under way as soon as possible, and head towards the Island of Folégandros our next morning’s destination. As we made our way out into the Aegean we encountered strong winds, which of course, meant it was time to raise the sails! Much to the enjoyment of guests, staff and crew, our Captain unfurled our three sails and we heeled ever so slightly as we motor-sailed northwest into the Cycladic Islands. Salt spray occasionally covered the bow as the Panorama moved gracefully, and according to staff and crew, made one of the best windward passages of the season. Some of us remained on the forward deck enjoying the warm wind, salt spray and the feeling of being at sea, with the sound of wind in our sails; we understood we were honoring the God of Wind, Aeolus.
