Sunscreen with SPF 30, check. Broad-brimmed hat, check. Oversized sunglasses, check. Colourful stole to cover arms and shoulders, check. Walking shoes, check. Medicines for nausea (do they even work?), check. Ten minutes on the rickety boat and it becomes pretty darn evident. They don’t.
We are on our way to Thirassia from Santorini. And about to launch into an intrepid exploration of its biggest draw – the volcano. Cheers go up as the majestic geological formation comes into view. Alas, the excitement is short-lived. The climb to the top is not for the faint of heart, the tour guide warns. A fellow tourist, hope writ large on his face, promptly raises his hand. No food or water stalls on the way either, the guide pre-empts the query. The tourist’s face and hand both fall.
Some (more) sunscreen gets slathered on, hats gets patted down, a colourful stole gets thrown around the arms and shoulders, bottles of mineral water are gulped down, and then it begins, the tortuous ascent.
Huffing and puffing, pausing for breath every few minutes, slipping on jet black rocks, crawling on all fours from time to time, the seemingly improbable feat is achieved. In pain, out of breath, doubled up, half suspecting a coronary, all I can see is a giant red dot dancing in front of my eyes. But then, spectacular panoramas have a way of sneaking up on you. The view alone is worth a hundred (okay, a dozen) sore joints. The sky shimmers above, the island cluster of Santorini glitters below. Poky whitewashed houses snuggle up against sheer cliffs. The sea sparkles an incredible shade of blue.
The descent is made in awed silence. Nothing could have prepared us for that gorgeous shade. Is it cobalt? Turquoise? Azure? Aquamarine? The debate rages on all through the exploration of Thirassia, a quaint fishing village, peppered with cute li’l houses painted in a riot of colours, chatty locals and a charming windmill.
Day Two ushers in another debate. Eat in? Head out? Staying at a relatively new hotel, a respectable distance away from the capital Fira, means a long trek to and fro Every. Single. Time. A good thing, too. Not because the best way to see a place is on foot. Because, binge eating sessions need to be desperately balanced with some semblance of exercise. The local cuisine is, in one word, legen - wait for it – dary! The Mousakka (layers of meat and vegetables), Gyros (rolls made of refined flour, stuffed with chicken or lamb), Souvlaki, Dolmadakia (stuffed vine leaves), Tzatziki sauce (yogurt and cucumber dip) are food coma material.
A coin toss later, heading out wins. The exploration of Fira - a picturesque town punctuated with churches, museums and beaches – is embarked upon. Under the blazing Aegean sun. Over slippery cobbled slopes. Down narrow alleys. Resisting the temptation of ducking into one of the many restaurants hugging the cliffs. Catching the breath and mesmerising views of the caldera (as the crater is referred to). The expedition comes to a close at the market square, reportedly the favourite haunt of Hollywood celebrities, who stop by while cruising through the Greek isles. Several fancy watch boutiques and exotic jewellery stores later, all hopes of celebrity spotting are dashed. Like always, retail therapy helps get over the disappointment.
Day Three is designated for the gods. Our first stop is the Catholic Cathedral dedicated to St. John. After this spiritual experience, it’s time for spirits of another kind. The second stop is all about the God of Wines. In other words, an organised tour of the Santorini vineyard that’s renowned for its wine making (and tasting) tradition. We pay homage to the Sun God during the last stop. As we watch the fiery orange ball plunge into the sea, countless sighs escape all around.
Santorini goes by so many names - Thira, the Gem of the Aegean, the Queen of the Cyclades, Wine Island. We add another to the list: the Isle that Launched a Thousand Sighs.
Volcano, vineyards, wines, to say nothing of the sandy beaches, Souvlaki, and shopping, make it Destination Number One for magical weddings, romantic honeymoons, and dream holidays.
