The orange crate story reminds me of these deliveries -
https://postalmuseumblog.si.edu/2013...eliveries.html

For an interesting combo of Greek musical style mixed with rock, check out the below link for the song 'America's Veins' by Canada's great 'Max Webster' band. It dates from 1977. There was no 'Max' but their zany guitarist-singer, Kim Mitchell, had once played in a back-up band for a famed Greek vocalist all across Hellas and its isles (he's second from left on the album cover photo). Honorable mention song by same band for its Greek influence: 'Coming Off the Moon'.
If you could possibly spare the time, please listen to this remarkable music and crank the volume as loud as you can withstand.
Endahksi! Opa!


I am done. The deaf.

<<Current plans - a couple of nights in Athens. A couple of nights in Oia on Santorini at my bucket list (too expensive) hotel with terrace overlooking the caldera. That leaves 2 nights to be decided. A (much) more moderate hotel near the water/ beach on Santorini or maybe another island. That part of the vacation would be a mix of images = Mamma Mia meets Shirley Valentine. Walking to a local restaurant/ bar at night. No big plans. Just being there.>>

I would not move hotels in Santorini, stay in Oia the whole time, if you want beach time in October (too cold for me) you can take the bus to Kamari or elsewhere/rent a car. You can also have a dip at Ammoudi where there are several traditional tavernas. Much is said about the crowds, if you have your own terrace overlooking the caldera you will have the views to yourself. We stayed at Old Oia Houses in one of the lower level rooms, had a large terrace where we took breakfast. It was hard to tear ourselves away from the views, it was quiet, you would never know there were crowds elsewhere. Very traditional accommodation carved out of the rock. And the mules & donkeys should not be ridden in Santorini, they really do suffer bad treatment.

If you want Mamma Mia type scenery, head to Pelion. Beautiful traditional villages, very green, mountainous with cliffs right down to the sea, part of Mamma Mia was filmed around Damouchari. It's a very pretty part of Greece.

We want different experiences. When I said "beach", I was describing the experience more than an intent to swim at the beach. It's October.

Last night I was looking at options on Mykonos. I found a beautiful place but it was a bit isolated. Was looking at options in Mykonos Town.

Perhaps I am not describing this well. We will be moving 3 times. Athens for a couple of days. The Oia hotel, with a view of the caldera. The 3rd location = TBD, but one that offers a different feel. Walkable to restaurants/ bars. Less expensive than our Oia option. On Santorini is fine. On another island is fine.

I have reservations back in Athens for the night before our departure home. Now I'm wondering if we should return to Athens earlier and go to Delphi, etc.

Thank you! Researching...

Starrs,
You might find Kaisarianni Monastery to be an interesting place to visit. Removed from the main Athens crowds, nice atmosphere. Its a low-key place and we recommend it.
Endahksi.
I am done. The end.

Thank you! I just checked it out on TA and it sounds like a great idea.

HappyTrvlr, both of those ideas sound wonderful.

Thoughts of rental cars for visiting Delphi and Meteora from Athens?

<< We want different experiences. When I said "beach", I was describing the experience more than an intent to swim at the beach. It's October. >>
I still say that moving hotels in Santorini is not something I would suggest. You can visit beaches, the area around Perissa is ok, the Red Sand Beach if safe enough to visit is very interesting. Maybe a different island or another beach area on the mainland would be better for a beach experience.

We've rented a car from Athens and driven to Meteora, then to the villages of the Pelion (very very beautiful beaches in Pelion eg Milopotamos and tavernas above in the cliffs), then to Delphi, a stop in Galaxidi (recommended lovely town) and back to Athens. A trip such as this gives you a mix of everything, beach, mountains, pretty villages, unique experiences and a city.

I think that may be the perfect solution.

If we do that route you just suggested, where would you suggest we stop for the overnight(s).

Monday and Tuesday at Oia
Wed - back to Athens and driving route
Thursday - exploring
Friday - back in time for an overnight stay in Athens before a flight out the next morning

Fond Memories Part 1
When I was a teenager living in California I was required to read Edith Hamilton’s enduring work, Mythology : Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, for a high school English Literature class. At first I was bored. I thought those old stories were silly and not worth my time. But soon my imagination was stimulated; the book became one of my favorites. Later, when I was in college, I enrolled in a course titled, “Myths and Legends of All Nations.” As it turned out this same book was one of the required readings. I still remember my first day of class when the professor’s love for these classic myths inspired me and helped transport me through time to Ancient Greece where I was stirred by the heroic deeds and mischievous acts of the Greek gods, causing me to vow to someday make my way to that enchanted country to find for myself what countless others before me had already discovered.

Many years later I happened to watch a movie called “Summer Lovers,” a romantic comedy that takes place on a Greek island. I was strongly drawn to the village and the house where the main characters lived, because they were so appealing and because they somehow seemed very familiar to me. I knew that if I ever had the chance I wanted to find that village and have a closer look. At the end of the film I saw that the island's location was listed as Santorini. I’d never heard of it but I was determined to go there some day.

The opportunity eventually presented itself in 1985. I sold my business, put everything I owned in storage, hopped on a plane and went travelling for the very first time in my life. After two wonderful weeks exploring Athens and the Peloponnese, it was time to go to Santorini. I’ll never forget the approach by sea from the deck of the ferry boat. At first, from a distance, there didn’t seem to be anything special about the island, but as the ferry moved closer I began to make out its unique shape and geological qualities. I heard others around me talking about the island’s unusual origins. The mysterious "Lost Continent of Atlantis" was mentioned more than once. As we approached from the north it was obvious that this was no “ordinary” island but the remains of a volcano that had erupted many times to create the alternating layers of red and black lava rock that formed its foundation. Apparently this volcanic mass had exploded violently 3500 years ago, creating a giant tidal wave that wiped out the Minoan Civilization on the north shore of Crete 75 miles south. Subsequent eruptions caused much of the original island to disappear into the sea leaving behind the crescent-shaped island I was seeing for the first time that day. Perched on the cliffs high above me were several villages of whitewashed houses cleverly built into the exposed layer of white ash that over the centuries had settled and compressed since the eruptions had ceased. Known as “cave houses” because they were constructed by digging into the ash instead building on top of it, they were interconnected by zig-zag pathways meandering over and under, through and around each cluster. Eventually these clusters grew into what I was seeing that day, small communities overlooking the volcano's caldera. I can still hear the ship’s horn blasting out the announcement of our arrival, and the surprising echo as it bounced back at us off the cliff face.

Once settled in the island capital of Fira I was more determined than ever to locate my “dream village.” After finding a map of the island I started my search at the south end, taking the bus to Akrotiri where Santorini’s most important archaeological site is located. It became obvious to me right away that I was in the wrong village. I was enjoying this exploration, but as I made my way from village to village over the next two days I began to worry a bit that perhaps I was on the wrong island. Finally there was only one village left on my list, Oia (pronounced ee-yah), at the very northern tip of the island. I made plans to be on an early bus the next day.


Fond Memories Part 2
My first bus ride to Oia was something I’ll never forget, for a variety of reasons The bus must have been the oldest on the island, pre-World War 2 vintage, and looking like it had barely survived the conflict. It had definitely seen better days. Then there was the road itself. There were stretches along the way where the bus could fall at least 500 feet or more if the worst occurred, with no guardrails to prevent this from happening. In some spots the road was so narrow that no other vehicle except a motor scooter could pass by at the same time as the bus.

Large chunks of asphalt were missing. The bus bounced and rattled on its way north, stopping occasionally to pick up or drop off passengers. On the positive side, the views of the far side of the island visible from the high road were spectacular. Beautifully terraced fields separated by walls of lava rocks formed a vast checkerboard over the landscape down to the shore off in the distance. Out in the Aegean are several neighboring Cyclades islands, including Anafi, Amorgos, Koufounisia, Naxos and Ios, to name just a few. While sitting on the bus taking it all in for the first time it occurred to me that what I was seeing had not changed much at all in the many centuries since the island had been repopulated once the volcano fell silent. The closer I got to Oia the more I felt like I was traveling back in time, and the more excited I became.

There’s a precise spot on this winding mountain road where Oia suddenly comes into view off in the distance. Words cannot describe how I felt when the bus pulled around that last curve and I beheld Oia for the first time.

Even though I was not yet there, I knew in my heart that this was the village I had been searching for. I could hardly contain myself as the driver coaxed his rusty old metal turtle the last few kilometers into the village. Strange as it might seem I felt as if I were returning home after a very long journey, and by the time we pulled into the bus square I was convinced that I had found what I was looking for. I stepped off the bus into the brilliant sunshine. The excitement I felt only strengthened my conviction that I was exactly where I needed to be. I inhaled the clean, fresh morning air and started into the heart of the village along a narrow, winding cobbled footpath that led me towards the view of the sea I had come to find. This was not the main walk into the village, more like an alleyway, but I was drawn to take it nonetheless.

I made my way through more back alleys to the main thoroughfare which I followed to an overlook where I stopped to enjoy the view. I was in the heart of the village surrounded by timeless architectural beauty, dazzled by the bright sunlight reflecting off the snow white walls of all the quaint blue-trimmed houses cascading in disorderly array down the face of the cliff. I couldn’t help thinking what a fantastic place for a painter or photographer this must be, with the intense light and shadows and angles and colors. It was truly an artist’s paradise.

As I stood there admiring my surroundings something remarkable happened. I noticed below me, just a short distance away, a familiar group of houses. I suddenly realized that I was looking at the house from the movie! Without ever having been there before, with no idea of where it might be, I had instinctively been drawn right to the very house that had inspired me to go there in the first place. I just stood there speechless, not believing my own eyes. Finding it this way was such a strong validation of my decision to go to Greece that I decided to stay in Oia for a while to see what else might happen. I rented a small house and didn't leave for 6 months. It was the best summer of my life so far.

I met many interesting people from all over the world that year, made some lasting friends and experienced Greek life in all it's wonderful facets. I have returned to Oia many, many times since that first wonderful summer and will continue to do so as long as I am able.

Wonderful story, brotherleelove! I watch the same movie, just for the scenery. I can't wait to be there!

Odin, I'm not sure why not. I've used Google Maps to check the distances. It seems fairly easy to get to those locations. Remember, I will have started the trip earlier with three days in Athens. Can you share more information as to why it's not doable. Maybe I'm missing the obvious.

Thanks and thanks!

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned or what your Athens plans are but I'm hoping you've put the Byzantine and Christian museum on your Athens itinerary. It has icons, amazing icons and other items such as vestments, parchments, in a lovely, cool, well signed building. It has much more than what most people would picture of the usual icons - for example a wooden board, maybe three ft. by four ft. with maybe 30 O.T. scenes painted in miniature - I could have spent quite a bit of time in front of just that one item. Since your travel mate is a seminary student, I would think it would be very interesting and meaningful. It is not difficult to get to by public transportation and IMO a lovely way to spend several hours seeing some very unique historical items.

And wondering about what you decided about the ferry from Santorini. My visit to Greece, we ferried both ways to Naxos. I thought it would be a quintessential Greek isle experience - we got bored, even with adult beverages and making some friends to play cards with. The food onboard was horrid It was interesting when we pulled into ports, but there weren't many, watching all the passengers pour off but I found it several hours too long. So I'd advise flying back to Athens. I also think it would be preferable to move to another part of Santorini rather than adding another island (unless a very close one) or a driving trip. Are you planning a caldera rim hike while on Santorini? - that would be nice in Oct.

I loved the food in Greece - fresh grilled fish, the wonderful Greek salads, lamb, and eggplant! esp. the friend eggplant. Enjoy your trip!