greece: oia

when i told the guys at my hostel in fira that i was going to oia for the rest of my stay on santorini they stared at me in surprise, "but there's nothing to do in oia," they told me. which, to be honest, is exactly how i like it.

my feelings about santorini (fira specifically) in general surprised me because yes, it is just as idyllic and gorgeous as people say and the pictures show, but it was sooo touristy. crowds of people off of the cruise ships poured in every day and while i am jealous that they got to see more of the greek isles and spend time on/in the water than i did, it is also the same 'ole cruise problem - you get a few hours in each place which is time to snap a few photos, eat something, and then you are rushed off without getting the opportunity to experience or soak in a place. the onslaught of tours is just ... not my thing (which is not to say that it is not for others!). although i was relieved to see that tourism is obviously still quite high in greece (given greece's current economic situation)(and if it's low, my goodness, i am only coming in the low season), santorini was not quite my preferred "off the beaten track" sorta place.


[white-washed buildings overlooking the sea]

which is why i liked oia more. most people who are staying on santorini stay in fira and they all flock to oia for the sunsets (of which, p.s., the three i saw had nothing compared to tucson and baja/peñasco sunsets), but then they mostly leave.



oia was still touristy and crowded, but less so. so i felt like, even though still quite the tourist, i was able to feel the town a bit more.


[oia on the outside part of the caldera]


[oia on the inside part of the caldera]

i walked down a winding path on the very tip of the caldera to the seaside fishing village of ammoudi [the lonely planet called it a fishing village. there were boats, but i saw no fishermen/fishing industry looking sorts of things].


[looking down at ammoudi during my walk]


[donkey rides were available once again so that, if you choose (which i did not), you don't have to walk back up]

upon arrival, i followed a little walkway along the seas edge to check out the volcanic rock tide pools (of course i had to go tidepooling in the aegean sea!). saw pretty much nothing except for some cool salt crystals drying in the sunshine.




[cool!]


[view back towards ammoudi. note steepness of cliffs and oia above]

i had a delicious lunch sitting literally on the edge of the sea, from my table when i looked down i could see tiny fishes waiting for crumbs. let me just say, that i could eat a greek salad everyday for forever and be perfectly content. combine that with the grilled fish (that i selected inside the restaurant) and you might just call life perfect.

but really. how can you not be awestruck by such a lovely place?