Santorini is a dark beauty located in the southern Aegean Sea. An island perched on the rim of an ancient volcano, it s a hot, romantic paradise that is unlike Asia’s tropical beaches. There is an eerie juxtaposition between the honeymooning couples that litter the island every year and the seemingly bottomless caldera that it hugs. The terrain is rough, parched and unforgiving and arriving here for the first time, it is nothing like we expected.
From the ferry ride, it rises out of nowhere, massive cliffs of land jutting from the sea. In the summer heat, the ferry terminal is almost always fogged in from humidity, the kind of humidity that hits you like a brick the moment you step outside.
It’s best to rent a car if you’re staying several days and want to explore the excellent beach bars around the island. The roads are hilly and steep, and with the evening winds, a ride home on a scooter would border on dangerous.
This photograph was taken during a pre-dinner stroll along Oia’s main pedestrian walkway. Hot, breezy evenings are what make this place so incredibly romantic. Dinner on the terrace after a day of sunning on the beach. Rinse and repeat.
