My Favorite Place on Earth - Part 1

Oia (Island of Santorini, Greece)

Lately, I've been thinking a lot about the Holiday we took to Greece, in May of 2009.  It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip and the memories are never far from my mind.  Words cannot describe the serene and  majestic beauty that enveloped us, the moment we stepped off the plane in Thira, located the southern Aegean Sea.  The Island of Santorini is about a 50 minute plane ride from Athens and is one of the most picturesque places in the world.  The island itself, sits atop a volcano, which last erupted in 1950.  It is approx. 80 square kilometers around and has a population of approx 11,000.  Unique Villages fill the island with tourists from May thru October.  During the winter months, most locals relocate back to Athens, leaving the island virtually closed.
We were so lucky to have had the opportunity to visit this incredible place for 2 weeks.  We stayed in the Village of Oia, in a traditional cave house.  I wish I had the words to describe the feeling of tranquility that washed over me, when we arrived at our little apartment, that we would call home.  I think the first thing out of my mouth was "Wow!  It's so peaceful here!"  These were our views from our patio:

Looking out over Oia Village, Greece

A view of the Capitol City of Thira (Fira)

Chris and I enjoying pure bliss!

Our traditional cave house - The Aegeas Houses

We had the only red house in the Village of Oia, so it was easy to pick out in the distance, when we were out sight seeing.
While I would love to share every minute of our journey thru Santorini, it would be a very long post and people would probably leave my blog in droves.  I'll share a few more pictures and maybe you'll be able to capture a little bit of the beauty that is Oia and the Island of Santorini.

Dusk in Oia and the famous blue domed Churches

Iconic image of the Greek Islands

Stairs are everywhere here.  You cannot use a car on the streets
of Oia.  Walking up and down is your only choice here.

It's almost 300 steps down to the water's edge.  It's not about
going down....it's all about coming back up.

Windows that were so inviting

Doors that lead to beautiful sanctuaries

Grape Vines grow close to the ground here, allowing the grapes
to get much needed water.

Stray Cats and Dogs were everywhere

One of the biggest draws to Oia, was the nightly
sunsets.  Tourists from all over the island would arrive
around 4pm and wait for the sun to set.

Shopping on the main streets of Oia

Baklava and cakes, oh my!!!  

Fresh Fish in Thira (Fira)

Capitol City of Thira (Fira)

For some reason, this planter intrigues me.

Inside of the dome of a Greek Orthodox Church

Just one of the many places to stay in Oia

So many hidden gems to photography.  Such beauty to behold.

That's it for now.....I'll post more photos another day/time.  For now....Kalinihta (Good Night)