We really lucked out on hotels during our honeymoon. There are so many options and since neither of us had been to Italy or Greece, we really didn't know what to expect. We chose our hotels solely based on pictures and reviews. We didn't go for the most expensive hotels, but we also didn't hold back when it came to deciding on a room. Atrina has complimentary breakfast that is served to you on your private balcony. French-pressed coffee/tea, juice, jams, greek honey, and a variety of fresh pastries and breads are served to you with every breakfast option. You also get a choice of a Mediterranean, English, or Greek-styled breakfast. For our first morning, we both chose the Mediterranean breakfast.
Mediterranean breakfast on our balcony.
The mornings were beautiful. Sunny skies the entire time we were there.
Off to the distance, you can see some boats down at the bay. This is where we would spend most of the day today (Amoudi Bay.)
All of the hotels are very unique. Some of the staircases have signs that say 'private' or 'guests only,' but a lot of them don't. This is how I got some of my best pictures, especially at sunset.
The main alley leading you through the town of Oia. At times, this area can be very crowded, especially when cruise ships arrive and their tour groups scurry through the shops. Early in the morning or late afternoon are good times if you'd like to have quiet time to yourself.
Exploring one of the staircases. Santorini is filled with some of the most simple and beautiful churches.
The 300 (large) steps leading down to Amoudi Bay.
The hike down to (or up from) Amoudi Bay can be taxing, but well worth the view.
As you can see, even though there are only 300 steps to Amoudi Bay, the steps are longer than the average step (about 2-3 feet in most places.) So, it will take a bit more time to descend/ascend.
Getting closer to Amoudi Bay
We made it! If you pass the restaurants and keep walking to the left, there's a small (and slightly dangerous) trail that'll lead you to a swimming area.
This part of the trail is fine, but some parts are very rocky and steep. We were wearing sandals since we planned to go swimming, not the best choice of footwear.
The swimming area near Amoudi Bay. The water is clean, but chilly. Be careful if a small speed boat or large cruise ships coasts by, as the waters will become very choppy and there are many rocks nearby.
After swimming, we walked back to Amoudi Bay and ate lunch at Katina's, which is well-known for their lobster spaghetti and fresh seafood.
Calamari
Eggplant; a popular dish in Santorini filled with lots of flavor
Steamed mussels
Grilled Octopus
Katina's in Amoudi Bay
The colors were so vivid and bright, like a dream!
Freshly caught octopuses, hung out to dry
After spending most of the day in Amoudi Bay, we didn't really feel up to walking back up to Oia in our sandals. These donkeys were conveniently waiting for us at the bottom of the stairs. For 5 euros each, it's not a bad deal. Be careful though, these donkeys aren't the best at walking in a straight line and they hit the walls quite frequently (watch out for your legs!)
We spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Oia.
Whatever you imagine Santorini to be, it will be exactly as you picture it in your mind (or even better) when you arrive here.
Some of my favorite views weren't from areas marked as "scenic look-out points"; there's a lot of exploring to be done in Santorini.
Back to our room for some relaxation time before dinner
Lolita's was recommended to us for their (locally) wine-infused gelato.
To be honest, we ate so much gelato in Italy and Greece that I can not tell you what these flavors were. I do know that we indulged in every bite and it was delicious!
Surprisingly, it was hard to find gyros and hummus in Greece. Pitogyros was one of the highest rated places in Oia for gyros.
Not the best gyro that I've had, the meat was dry and somewhat flavorless. However, we did find a place with good gyros in Fira (next blog post, stay tuned!)
The garlic pita bread and greek salad were delicious
The Church of Panagia Platsani
Another view of Fira in the distance, it's been calling our name. One of the most recommended things to do in Santorini is the hike from Fira to Oia. This is what we'll be doing tomorrow...wish us luck!