THE BLUE AND WHITE PARADISE OF SANTORINI
Santorini. The name conjures up images of blissful summer vacations. In this strange year when so many struggle with the tragic impact of the virus and all of us spend long periods of time isolating in our homes, the idea of travel, let alone visit to this sparkling island, felt like an out-of-reach dream. But sometimes dreams do come true.
I know how lucky I am to have been able to make this trip. My Czech passport and my flexible company allowed me to escape New York to spend time in Prague with my family. From there, I was able to make the additional trip to Santorini. I know many others can’t do that right now. I hope that sharing my experience here will serve as a momentary reprieve from our shared quarantine lives and will allow you to enjoy the beauty that Santorini offers at every step. Hopefully, it makes you smile.
ART OF STUNNING WHITES AND MESMERIZING SHADES OF BLUE
You have seen the pictures. You have perused websites and travel blogs. Yet nothing prepares you for the first time you see the stunning scenery with your own eyes. Standing on the top of the steep caldera cliff you take it in. Stunning white houses perched precariously along the edge or burrowing deep into the rock. Azure blue of the countless infinity pools. Steep black lava cliffs dropping into the deep blue of the sea. Sailboats making their way through the waters of the caldera carrying visitors to the White and Red beaches or the hot springs of the Palea Kameni, the old volcano. And the blue domes and bell towers of the many churches that dot the towns from Oia to Imerovigli, Firostefani and finally, Fira. It’s all here. They are even more beautiful in real life.
ART OF THE COLLECTIBLE KIND
The island’s beautiful architecture is enough to keep any contemporary art lover happy. You can’t help but become an artist yourself, trying to capture the interesting angles, bold color contrasts and the typical Mediterranean shapes that surround you at every step. Your camera becomes a part of you and you snap, snap, snap away aiming for that unique shot.
Skaros, Imerovigli. Photo by Kimon Kaketsis
It is no surprise then, that most of the contemporary art that I saw on the island celebrates its beauty. Two caught my eye:
In the wonderfully minimalist AK Galleries I was drawn to the subtle, captivating paintings of Christophoros Asimis. He captures the atmosphere of Santorini and its simple, clean lines and the play of light and shadows brilliantly. Looking at his work, you are tempted to peek inside, to see what might be just around that inviting corner or imagine what is waiting for you at the top of the gorgeous staircase. He pulls you in and brings you back to Santorini with a single glance.
The second artist I discovered works in Santorini as well, but his chosen medium is my favorite - photography. In his daily work Kimon Kaketsis captures people and families coming to the island but in his spare time he discovers the little island details: church bells and steeples, vistas and subtle mementos of the island’s past. His prints are lovely.
WILL YOU HAVE SOME ART WITH YOUR WINE?
Santorini is also an island of vineyards. For the undereducated wine lovers like me, this is easy to miss when driving around town because vineyards here look nothing like the orderly, structured estates in France or Italy. No, Greek winemakers organise their work differently. Starting with the vines themselves. From their early days, the young vines are not tied up to a pole to shoot up towards the sun. Instead, they are nudged to make a ¨basket¨ that stays close to the ground, preserving the nutrients and the moisture that the growing grapes need during the long, hot summer days. As a result, unsuspecting visitors might drive past one vineyard after another and miss it entirely. I sure did - until I learned what to look for.
One place that I would recommend you look for is the Art Space Santorini. A winery that combines the tradition of wine making with the love of contemporary art and sculpture. The small winery relies on organic farming to produce limited quantities of the local Assyrtico, Saint August and lovely Vinsanto wines that you can taste in their old, carved cellars surrounded by contemporary art that spans different genres from portraits to landscapes to metal sculptures. It would be hard to imagine a more enjoyable setting and a lovelier team to take care of you there. If you are on the island, stop by. You will enjoy it.
FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET, SANTORINI CAPTIVATES
Santorini, and Oia especially, is known for its spectacular sunsets that draw the crowds to the old castle ruins every evening. That said, I found the sunrise more appealing. Watching the caldera emerge from the soft, pink morning fog while most of the tourist crowds are still asleep fills you with calm and joy. The more ambitious among us can head out on the famous hike from Oia past Imerovigli, Firostefani to the capital of Fira, the sailing enthusiasts can head out to chat with Peter at Spiridakos to put together a plan, and others can stop by a local bakery to start their day the local way, with some freddo espresso. The day starts and you should enjoy every minute of it. Get ready for Santorini to work its magic on you.
