Buzz
Not finding the white sandy beaches or the iconic houses on the first day in Santorini, Greece, didn't deter Thu Phuong, who fell in love with the place after three days of exploration.
A Hanoi girl's adventure from dismay to awe in Santorini
Thu Phuong, from Hanoi, embarked on a European trip with her friends in early May, with Greece being one of the stops on the itinerary. Here's her take on the paradise island of Santorini tourism.
The more we explored the nooks and crannies of Santorini, the more surprised we became, as if savoring a cup of delicate tea; initially bitter, but leaving a sweet taste lingering from the tip of the tongue to the back of the throat.
There are two ways to reach Santorini for tourism: by plane from Athens, which takes about 40-50 minutes, or by sea from the port city of Piraeus in the urban area of Athens (takes 6-8 hours). The Blue Star Ferries can carry up to 2,000 passengers per trip. I couldn't experience it due to time constraints, so I flew to the island instead.
My first impression of Santorini wasn't the iconic cliffside houses or the pristine white sandy beaches, but rather the majestic brown-red mountains. Santorini, also known as Thera, lies in the southern Aegean Sea, dividing Greece and Turkey, essentially remnants of a volcanic eruption. So instead of dreaming of a poetic beach to check-in and live virtually, all I saw initially was a dark, coal-colored shoreline combined with black stones.
People can pick up a few stones here, believed to carry different lucky energies according to Feng Shui; predominantly black, but occasionally with hints of gold, brown, white, or red.
First, we ventured through narrow pathways to reach the village of Pyrgos (meaning castle in Greek). It's an ancient, tranquil village with familiar architecture of old white and blue buildings. However, these weren't the cliff-perched houses overlooking the sea. On these whitewashed walls, remnants of clumsy Greek mortar work still linger. I was somewhat disappointed not to find those 'sacred' check-in spots as often portrayed on social media.
But it was upon reaching Fira, the capital of Santorini, that I finally laid eyes on those iconic cliffside houses. Looking down from above, houses nestled tightly together in a stair-like fashion. Stepping down from one, I'd find myself on another's rooftop. Hence, if one's house overlooked a neighbor's courtyard, likewise, the neighbor above could see into theirs.
This area buzzes with activity, mainly restaurants, souvenir shops, cafes, bars, and upscale hotels facing the sea. Amidst the village, occasional red paper flower arrangements adorn white walls, mingling with romantic green doors. Yet, the distinct green-domed churches are still relatively sparse here.
The real paradise lies in Oia village. Pronounced 'ia' in Greek, you have to pronounce it correctly to find this gem. Here, it seems everyone is compelled to exclaim, 'Oh, it's so beautiful!' In front of me then were pristine white-walled houses, azure domed roofs, bell towers, and sacred crosses.
To me, Oia is the most charming village, with its pristine white houses nestled closely together, adorned with countless blue and white doors. As a relatively new village, Oia was completely rebuilt after the 1956 earthquake.
The islanders have chosen two dominant colors, blue and white. Besides being the characteristic colors of the Greek flag, they symbolize the merging of the azure sea and the soothing sunlight atop the hills of the Mediterranean region.
The April sun blankets the slopes in gold as we venture to the villages of Firostefani and Megalochori. While these villages still exhibit similar architecture to Fira and Oia, their highlights are the old-style Cycladic churches. These beautiful churches overlook the deep blue sea below.
As we wander deeper into the village, we come across more houses built in the 'eternal garden' architectural style reminiscent of Vietnam. Occasionally, we stumble upon abandoned houses with moss-covered walls. We stumble upon a house with a cellar. The locals boast about its value, mentioning how it stays cool (20 degrees) in summer and warm (30 degrees) in winter.
Throughout our three-day Santorini journey, we ascend high peaks, silently admire the deep blue ocean, explore mountain trails at dawn, and await the sunset casting its glow upon the sea until Santorini lights up.
Before returning to the mainland, we decide to revisit Oia on our last day in Santorini, as we have left our hearts in this place. The local bus is the mode of transportation to Oia. It takes about 20 minutes from Fira, costing 1.8 Euro. Buses run every 20 minutes, punctual and reliable.
The whole group eagerly awaits the second encounter. We embark on the earliest journey of the day, the wheels rolling as the sun gently rises from the sea. The sunlight still gleams golden on the mountain slopes. The drivers here maneuver with finesse. Despite the narrow winding roads, they steer the wheel as if effortlessly.
The early morning air in Oia is cool and refreshing. We wander through deserted alleys, before the shops have opened and before the tourists rush in, as if this place belongs solely to us.
Source: Thu Phuong/Vnexpress
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Reference: Travel guide Mytour
MytourJuly 7th, 2018
