A word or two on Santorini

As I look at the photos from our vacation to Santorini, I'm falling in love with the island all over again. But strangely enough my first reaction to it was one of disappointment.

My association with this island began when we purchased a print for Medha's room. It was of a pristine white building with a blue roof, red flower pots and looking out into the most amazing blue sea. It was no doubt a scene from the island of Santorini. Looking at it everyday, I grew to love it more and more. And so was born the vacation plan.

Did anybody warn you of expectations? Especially high ones?

Even before landing in Fira, the capital of Santorini, I was expecting to be wowed! I read all forms of literature on the island, decided that arriving by ferry is the best approach. But the charming port everyone talked about was the old one. We arrived into the new port - in the bright and hot mid-day sun, tired and expectant. The busy port, full of tourists arriving from numerous ships and boats, the hundreds of marketing folks from the hotels in Fira looking for customers and the dry steep cliff directly in front of us did little to endear Santorini to me. ( And the heat! - even the memory of summers in India didn't compare to the heat in Greece. This brown skinned girl of Indian origin learned that she too could get sun-burnt! It's important to re-apply the sunscreen)

But still I was optimistic. All that ravings of travel writers should be based on facts - shouldn't it? The island must be enchanting - I was sure. Once we reach the towns, the white and blue buildings would captivate me. However the white and blue was not be seen in Fira. We traveled closer to Oia in the coach that the hotel helpfully sent for us (for a fee, I must add) and each mile closer to Oia, I was hoping for the wow factor.

But - nothing!

We checked into our hotel, a cave dwelling. That was interesting. The Greeks do know a thing or two about architecture. The underground room was cool, and my mood improved drastically. We went out for lunch and took a siesta, wishing we had planned for just one day here instead of the two and half.







When we went out again in the evening the island was transformed! With the sun lower in the horizon, the place had turned magical. I took photos of the same things that I had shot in the morning. I couldn't believe the change. Then I shot them again a couple of hours later. The golden glow from the setting sun reflected off of everything - the white buildings, the cliffs, the people, everything, and made them look enchanting. What a difference a few hours can make! Now I understood what all the fuss was about! The colors of the sunset was wonderful. I wish I was a better photographer to capture the beauty. It was awesome, inspiring and magical. The sun brought out the beauty in everything that it touched. I wish I could bottle the effect of the sun's rays and bring it back with me. After all, I was glad we were staying for another day! For who wouldn't want to experience the beautiful setting and the magic of the place one more time.

Sometimes high expectations can be met at first glance, sometimes they take a while to establish, to soak into your system. With Santorini it was the latter.

But my God! how they were met!!