Santorini, a medium-sized island in the Cyclades, many tend to consider the legendary Atlantis. Perhaps this is so, because its modern appearance arose due to the terrifying in its destructive power of a volcanic eruption that occurred around 1500 BC. As a result, most of the former Santorini went under water, leaving only miserable debris on the surface. Due to subsequent eruptions that took place here, their outlines changed many times. As a result, now Santorini (Greece) is a ring of small islands: Thirasia, Aspro, which means "white", Palea Kameni and Nea Kameni, respectively, "old stones" and "new stones", and Santorini itself.
He appears before tourists as a huge steep rock rising from sapphire sea waters. All life on the island takes place on the top of this rock, and at its foot there are numerous beaches and three ports: the central one - Fira, Athinios and Oia.
You can get to Santorini (Greece) by water andby air. The island has a local airport that receives aircraft from Athens, Crete, Rhodes and Mykonos. They are small in capacity, during the season you need to book a place a week or more in advance, although the ticket price is quite high. You can fly to Athens in 40 minutes by plane. By ferry, this will take from 5 to 8 hours, depending on which ship. Regular and high-speed ferries depart from the port of Athens Piraeus, which are multi-deck (with an elevator) huge structures on board which have comfortable TV rooms, sleeping cabins, shops, bars and McDonald's restaurants.
Where to stay in Santorini (Greece), you can easily find. Moreover, it is not necessary to book a hotel room in advance. In the port of Fira, as a rule, there are always barkers with detailed photographs of either hotel rooms or just rooms and entire houses. Although it is better to book a place. The volcanic formation of the island causes some problems with drinking water. It is more reasonable not to drink water from the tap, but to take bottled mineral water, which is not carbonated in Greece. Soda lovers will have to buy expensive and small soda bottles.
The cuisine of Santorini (Greece), as well as on other islands, offers a lot of meat and fish dishes, as well as shrimp, octopus, squid, lobster, cuttlefish, called locally "soupya". There are also many vegetable dishes available in every restaurant, including delicious gigantes beans and vegetables stuffed with meatless rice. Exotic for our touristsit may seem boiled grass "horta", which grows everywhere in Greece, but costs in stores from 4 euros per kilo.
For information, a kilogram of chicken costs about the same. Olive lovers should be prepared that in Greece they are very different from those sold here. The Greeks believe that good olives must be bitter. Of the alcoholic drinks in Santorini, they will definitely offer local wine, which comes in three varieties - white, pink and red. Ouzo and crayfish, that is, grape vodka, are also very popular there. It differs from Russian in smaller degrees.
Greece has many interesting islands rich in history. Santorini boasts its own Pompeii. The ruins, completely covered with ashes, began to be excavated at Cape Akrotiri. The city led an active life as early as 3000 BC, and even then they knew how to build three-story houses and lay water supply and sewerage. Still, having arrived in Santorini, it is worth visiting two neighboring uninhabited islands - Nea and Palea Kameni. There you can admire the bizarre ledges created by solidified lava. And the smell of sulfur will remind you that the volcano is not dead, it is just resting.
Island beaches deserve special attention. Their highlight is that each of them is bordered by a multi-meter steep rock made of solidified lava. You can climb to the city from the beaches by a multi-stage staircase, by funicular and, for a nominal fee, by donkey. With such an unusual mode of transport, you will get a wonderful photo shoot. Pictures can be signed: "Greece,Santorini". You don't have to sign the photo, and everything will be clear.
In the evening, an exciting nightlife begins on the island. Open night bars, numerous discos. Another sight not to be missed is the sunsets. This spectacle is even included in excursion programs.
