Black Beach, Red Beach Of Santorini

You'd be forgiven if you thought that the Greek Island of Santorini was all white-wash buildings and blue domes - because that is mostly the images you get as standard travel photos of this popular island.

Lots of the island is, of course, white buildings, blue church domes and church bells, bars and hotels, overlooking the caldera. But it is well worth the effort of heading to the other side of the island to check out the other gems of this volcanic rock. You will get away from some of the crowds, and it will also let you see everyday life going on by the little winding roads you need to take to trek across to see the other colours.

The black beach was the first of the two surprise colourations of sand I visited. Kamari was a feast for my eyes, after all the typical and expected colours of the rest of the island.

The volcanic pebble reminded me of walking on a beach in the UK - but these were hot! Of course, as black absorbs the sunlight!

This beach was a delight to visit, with the deckchairs all along the edge of the water, plus a promenade full of restaurants and shops, to allow you to make a day of it. There was also a regular boat that would take you around the mountain you could see, via the sea, to the other Black beach.

The other colour that is worth making the drive down to see is the Red Beach. Again, a force of the minerals of the island, the contrast of red cliffs and stones, and resultant beach, is pretty spectacular!

This one was not as easy to get to, and required a little bit of a hike up and down a slope to get in there once I found the right road and double checked that the nondescript carpark was indeed for the Red Beach.

This, of course, and the fact that it is toward the South-West tip of the island, means that there are even fewer people crowding your view and access to the water.

There is more to Santorini, if you go deeper afield on the island and look for it!



jouljet Notes
Serious Tip: Take the chance to see some more of Santorini, away from the tourist areas. This island has a thriving community away from the busy hospitality spots, and the people are seriously so friendly!
Time Taken: I spend most of an afternoon relaxing and taking in the Black Beach, but I also just stayed on that one beach - there is another one to explore if you want more black sand! Getting to the Red Beach from the car park took around 15 minutes on foot.
Cost: The bus from where I stayed in the centre of the island of Santorini to the Black Beach was less than 3 Euro. To get to the Red Beach I ended up hiring a car, due to timing on my last day - which was around 40 Euro, and allowed me to explore other spots in the area at a whim.
Quirky Tip: Down near the Red Beach on the island there is also an archaeological site, which was worth going into to see the relics.

Glimpsing The Santorini Windmill At Sunset

Sunsets on Santorini continued to impress, with the view from the edge of the land jut into the Mediterranean at the Oia end of the island.

The image of the iconic windmill at the sea's edge here at Oia was the symbol of the sunset we were about to enjoy, and gave the view a focal point.

After walking from Fira, I made my way through the small, cobbled laneways of Oia to the peak of the island - with everyone else on Santorini, it seemed!

After having the Fira sunset practically all to myself, here at Oia I was battling on my tiptoes to get the view I wanted, with swarms of tourists, all vying for the chance to get their sunset photos.

Every available vantage point was taken, as the sun started to make it's progress towards the water. Rooftops, balconies and terraces were filled, and it seemed like many people had been there at their spot for some time, to secure the view. Being a solo traveler, though, I could work my way through the crowd, and find a good spot on my own.

The colour hue show that nature put on for us all to take in was spectacular, leaving no doubt that these sunsets are the most beautiful in the world. You just can't beat the sun dipping into the ocean.

The overwhelming crowd ooed and ahhed as the colours changed, and the sun disappeared. We were lucky on this evening too for some random clouds across the sky, which I think always makes a sunset more impressive, catching and enhancing the colour show.

Once the actual sun had disappeared from view, much of the crowd headed back into the streets of Oia to the restaurants and market stalls. This gave me a slightly better view of the terraces below, and the hive of activity all around this section of the little town.

So very pretty, this sunset is one not to miss on a visit to the Greek Islands.

Doors Of Oia: Santorini Photo Essay

As I made my walk down the hill from my walk from Fira to Oia, more of the iconic white buildings signature to the Island, appeared with each step. Claiming their space on the caldera edge towards the sea and the volcanic island in the bay, each was so pretty and unique.

As the light began to fade, the hues were made even more beautiful, combining with the pathways, the sea and the sky.

Caldera Walk From Fira To Oia, Santorini

Walking along the track on top of the volcanic caldera in Santorini provides contantly changing, spectacular views!

That top photo is the view looking towards Oia from the edge of the buildings and resorts in Fia. This one to the left is looking back to Fia. So dreamy!

Inspired by a post I read about the walk over on World Wandering Kiwi when I was researching the Greek Islands, I was determined to do this on my visit to Santorini.

The walk is about 9.6kms, and starts within the white restaurants and hotels of Fira. In my research I read one tourist saying it was hard to find the path, and whilst it wasn't marked, it was pretty easy to just walk in the direction of Oia, the peek of land you could see across the bay. The worst that could happen in this built-up area is that you wander through a pretty laneway, for yet another amazing view of the water!

The path is very defined once you are through the bulk of Fira buildings, and climbs up and down until you have a clear view of Oia town. At just one point it leaves you, making you veer onto the shoulder of the road connecting the two towns, but it is clear where it starts again, and you are once again walking along the edge of the volcanic cauldron.

I planned my walk to reach Oia around sunset, which also meant that I had avoided the heat of the day.

There were endless photo opportunities along the way, with a couple of iconic Santorini churches providing perfect white-and-blue contrasts, and the sun was obliging with great light. It's also hard to beat the view of the sun heading towards the water, and the reflections that that gives.

As the sun started it's seemingly faster dip into the blue Mediterranean, I reached the highest peek, and could see the white dotted town of Oia below. The path got easier as the destination was in sight, and was mostly downhill.

Weaving my way through the tiny streets as the building density thickened, the volume of tourists also increased. Whilst on the walk there were about 4 other people doing it around the same time as me, but as I walked through Oia, everyone in Santorini must have been there!

The beautiful sunset at the end of the jut of land was the reward for the walk, and worth every step!



jouljet notes
Serious Tip: There is only one spot along the way to buy water, so carry some with you.
Cost: Free!
Time Spent: I took just over 3 hours to complete this walk, but stopped to take LOADS of photos.
Quirky Tip: The little church right at the top has some random props for photos, like a standing bell tower, and an old upturned wheelbarrow, both with the most incredible views as backdrops.

Drinking In The Sunset At Fira

I had expected the terraces of white dwellings, restaurants and bars, fancy hotels, and walkways and laneways along the sea edge of Santorini's Fira to be overloaded with people trying to take in the sight of the sun setting over the volcanic island in the bay and sinking into the water.

But after wandering through the cute little white lanes, taking a peek at the view across the bay at every possible vantage point I could find, I found a cafe bar with a terrace, ordered a beer, took a table, and settled in for the show. During my walk around I rarely saw anyone else, and for quite some time, I had this terrace with the most spectacular views all to myself.

I wondered at one point whether there was somewhere else I was supposed to be, that perhaps I was missing out on something else. Where was everyone?

But looking further across the sprawl of white buildings, I could see the more central bars crammed full of people, and hear the usual bar-noise din floating across from these places. I figured I had scored the better option, just purely by chance.

The colour changes were breathtaking. As the sun made it's gradual path towards the horizon, the sky hues changed so many times. But also, the light reflecting across the Fira white buildings also gave a beautiful warm glow. 

The peace of my vantage point certainly enhanced the beauty of the nature show in front of me, with nothing but the sunset and stillness of the bay to focus on. The sunset show took the time of a handful of beers, ordered from the tiny cafe, with the setting certainly encouraging more.

There really is nothing quite like seeing the sun sink into the sea. But then the colour show that was put on just after gave the whole experience a new level of incredible.

Reds, Blues And Whites Of Santorini

The chapel before the red beach in Santorini....the colours!

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Sunset Over The Acropolis

Atop Filopappos Hill in Athens, the best view of Athens and the Acropolis with the sun setting awaits. A full view of the city is on offer, at the price of just a small climb through parkland.

Not far from the entrance to the Acropolis is the beginning of the parkland, which has several features, including the jail cell of Socrates. The highest point of this parkland has the Monument of Filopappos, where this view is available for savouring!

Walking up in the blazing summer Athens heat was certainly rewarded once the sun started to sink, and turn the ancient marble ruins on top of the Acropolis all shades of pink and orange.

jouljet Notes

Serious Tip: Don't miss this view when you are in Athens!

Time Spent: Around 20 minutes walk from the road next to the Acropolis, I then sat and waited as the sun set up the top for maybe 40 minutes.

Cost: Free!

Quirky Tip: There was just a handful of people on the hill when I was there, so by climbing up to the highest point, you feel like you have the view and the changing colours all to yourself. 

Oia Sunset

Santorini is definitely the place for the most beautiful sunsets in the world. The windmill at the end of Oia completes it.

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Sunset Colours And Bell Towers

Santorini at sunset really lives up to it's hype. Incredibly beautiful, at every turn.

Santorini Door

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Church With A View

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Filling In The Gaps Time Has Washed Away - The New Acropolis Museum In Athens

Dreamed for the crowds to Athens of the 2004 Olympics, the New Acropolis Museum replaces the very old and tired looking one up on the hill. Building started in 2003, but was not complete until 2007. The transfer of the artifacts from the Acropolis took some time, and the Museum actually opened in 2009. It looks pretty out of place, as the big, shiny and modern building at the bottom of the hill. But the content, and the curation make it well worth the visit.

The site itself is built upon the archaeological remains of life in the area long ago, and thus the entrance and the lower ground of the Museum display these below foot. Glassed floors, and open spaces around the paths to the doors, let you peer down into old walls and rooms, reminding you of the age of Ancient Greece.

Once you have entered, and paid admission, you then walk through the floors in a designated route, to allow you the process as if you are seeing the Acropolis on the hill - but this time, with all the ancient trimmings reconstructed.

The first spacious section is the Gallery of the Slopes, displays artifacts excavated from the ascent up the hill to the Parthenon. Plus you can see more of the excavated spaces below your feet, through the glass floor.

Up the stairs is the Archaic Gallery, a room filled with natural light, and dotted with ancient, restored statues. Whilst I was there, there was a guided tour for a school group, who was pointing out the different features of some of the statues that had been restored of their colours and details - overhearing some of this made me take closer looks at each of the painted idols and gods. The colours are brilliant. The displays are informative, in that some are not fully repainted, so you can see the differences between restoration and time wear.

The top floor is impressive for it's incredible views of Athens all around, almost as much as for it's exhibit content. The floor to ceiling windows allows for spectacular views, on a 360 degree scale as you take in the artifacts inside.

This floor has the Parthenon Gallery. Here is the space that truly fills in the gaps your imagination and the efforts of time, the elements and the deliberate removal has had on your vision of the detail of the Parthenon up on the hill. The frieze, which runs around the top of the great monument - all 115 blocks of it - are displayed here, in order as they were intended. Human figures to deities, and animals such as horses, are all depicted. As you walk around this to-scale model, some of the stone is original, but not many, you get a sense of what the Parthenon was like. It nothing short of impressive!

On you way down from the top floor, in the middle of the building, is an alcove with the Caryatids of Erechtheion. Well, five of them, with the sixth standing in London at the British Museum. Many of these have now been restored, although when I was there one of the lady's was shrouded in cloth as work continued in bringing her back to some of her former beauty and glory. Seeing the detail and shapes within the marble dress is really amazing.

The Museum visit complemented the time I spent up the hill taking in the ancient iconic ruins of Athens, and indeed Ancient Greek civilisation, piecing it all together, to complete the picture of what it all once was.


jouljet Notes:
Serious Tip: Go for the shade break in the heat of the day, at the very least, but I recommend going after you have visited the Acropolis on the hill, for context. Also, sit and watch the video of the imagined reconstruction of the Parthenon to really put the pieces together for you.
Cost: 5 Euro! Crazy cheap!
Time Spent: I probably spent over an hour to an hour and a half in here walking around, taking in all the details.
Quirky Tip: My most memorable vision within the gallery is a women's face, in marble, that looks like the sculpture has been crying black tears. She is so captivating! These tears are actually remnants of the dyes used in the colouring of her statue. There are many more treasures of enchantment to be found within the faces and scenes played out within the Museum, if you look out for them!

Blue Domes Of Santorini

They really are everywhere - domes in brilliant blue, doted all over the island.

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Looking Down On Fira

From the top of the caldera along the edge of the island of Santorini, this view looking back on the village of Fira is pretty spectacular.

Fira Sunset

One of the most beautiful things in the world is a sunset dipping into the sea - Santorini has this in abundance! This is Fira, showing off it's natural talent!

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Window On The View In Santorini

This is a window view out to the volcanic elements in the bay in Santorini from one of the pathways around Fira. Absolutely gorgeous, and I had this view all to myself!

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The Birthplace Of The Modern Olympics

Like walking into the Colluseum in Rome, walking into the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens seemed to have a sense of ceremony, and an echo of a whisper of an ancient wild and full crowd roar. Even on a hot Summer's day in June, with only a handful of other tourists around, and a pretty modern and formal looking function being set up in the centre of the stadium!

I got to this stadium of dreams and memories, and the place of the Opening Ceremony of the Athens Olympics, whilst I walked from ancient ruin to ancient site around central Athens. The entry fee was next to nothing, which included a free audio tour, and free reign to wander the stands and the under-passage entrance to the field.

The marble Panathenaic has been reconstructed, but is the stadium which held the first modern Olympics, back in April of 1896. Here, 14 countries competed, with all male competitors. The first medal was awarded that opening day, for the triple jump, and the Marathon, which finished in the Stadium, was the first win by a Greek.

These two royal boxes are the only variation around the stadium of seating - now for 45,000 but once at an 80,000 capacity - but are actually the second version of these, after the view was thought to be better in the middle of the hairpin design rather than midway through the longer section.

The double headed herms in the middle of the track are striking, said to be gods overseeing the athletic pursuits set to happen around them. According to some, the heads are that of Apollo and Dionysus, traditional Greek gods of arts. The audio guide spoke of them representing young and old.

The vaulted passageway was another feature to stand out in this uniform stadium of marble seating - as a visitor, I could trace the steps of athletes ancient and recent, as this was the entry for competitors for the first and most recent Olympics here. Inside the tunnel, there was an exhibit with some further history about then events that have been held here in this great stadium of the world.

As a sports fan, a visit here to the Panathenaic was pretty special. All that history and sense of occasion held within the horseshoe bowl of seating. The hopes and dreams of athletes and indeed nations, all whisper around here, with sport still being a great social equaliser. A meaningful visit this European summer.

Getting Close To The Fira Sunset

One of the most beautiful sunsets in the world is usually seen from two top vantage points on the Greek island of Santorini - this is the town of Fira, one of these places, getting ready for the sun to dip into the water. The whites seem more brilliant as the sun gets closer and closer to the sea.

Typical Santorini

The dream of going to the island of Santorini and seeing the white churches with the blue domes - the typical and famous scene - was too easy. These visions were at every bend in the road!

Old Athens' Tower Of Winds

The octagonal marble clock tower of the Roman Agora in Athens is striking, and enchanting. It has a weathervane, and a sundial. The deities around the top are wind gods. Inside was a water clock, which was triggered by the water running down from the Acropolis above. Ancient science is fascinating!