Deep reddish hues of a splendid sunrise lined the ridge of the island of Santorini as we approached the great caldera. After disembarking on a local tender, we made our way from the port of Athinios up the many switchbacks, then proceeded to drive to the northern end of the island, arriving at the picturesque town of Oia. With its blue domes and whitewashed houses, Oia is a photographer’s dream, and our early arrival meant we dodged many of the tourists who emerge by midday.
We then continued on to the fascinating Museum of Prehistoric Thera, where Neolithic tools, Cycladic figures, and household items painted for us a vivid picture of life in the Bronze Age town of Akrotiri. This Pompeii of the Aegean was covered by tons of volcanic ash when the island’s volcano erupted in 1628 BC. After a local lunch featuring many of the island’s delicacies, such as fava, white eggplant, and stuffed cherry tomatoes, we headed to the archaeological site of Akrotiri. It was difficult to comprehend the great antiquity of this Bronze Age site, but the many multistory structures, stairways, and roadways made it easy to imagine a bustling ancient town.
Completing our tour, we headed back to the port and rejoined Sea Cloud. Captain Komakin arranged an unexpected treat for us: a swim within the caldera of Santorini. Refreshed after our long day enjoying the island, we retreated to the Lido Deck for a Greek buffet dinner complete with ouzo and a stunning Santorini sunset.
