Coming to Greece without visiting certain places—such as Santorini—is like you’ve never been to this country! The queen of the Aegean—the most unique and photogenic of all islands—is where we spent our entire day today.

Early in the morning we entered the spectacular caldera and saw the sun rising and clearing up the misty skies. As soon as we boarded the buses we drove up the winding road and headed north towards Oia (pronounced “ee-ya”). We walked through the village, admired the breathtaking views of the buildings perched on the cliff side, and ended our walk at the ruins of the old Venetian fortress. There was not much left standing, but it was well worth a visit for its excellent views and angles for photography.

The second part of the outing was even more interesting as we drove to Pyrgos village and enjoyed a typical Santorinian lunch with a variety of “mezedes.” In short, we managed to sample all of the traditional dishes of the island in one meal! A bit of white eggplant, some of the small tomatoes cooked in various ways, local “fava” beans, or chickpeas, salad, and of course our meal wouldn’t be complete without the renowned Santorini white wine that is grown in the low, nest-trained vines.

After a delightful lunch, we drove south and reached the other end of the island, where the archaeological site of Akrotiri is located. There are many stories written about lost Atlantis and many countries make claim to this legendary city, but the most plausible is right here on Santorini where this Minoan-age site was uncovered in the mid-1960s. The massive volcanic eruption that occurred in the 17th century B.C. destroyed one of the most advanced civilizations of the ancient world. Luckily, more than 1/10th of the city has been revealed. So we had the opportunity to wander around the excavated city and listen to our guides Effie Perperi and Sophia Theona talk about the amazing frescoes that decorated their multi-storied buildings. We actually saw their pottery, staircases, bathtubs, and more in situ! This visit was an experience not to be missed, as the entire history of the island was determined by Akrotiri’s life and death.

Later in the afternoon we returned to Sea Cloud, and we enjoyed our Captain’s Cocktail Party on the lido deck with the sunset on the colored layers of the volcanic cliffs offering an incredible closing of a very full day, full of images and experiences!