Santorini Traveler Newspaper https://santotraveler.com/newspaper Travel Responsibly in Greece and the Aegean Sea Sun, 24 Mar 2019 13:19:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ST_WEBlogo-65x65.png Santorini Traveler Newspaper https://santotraveler.com/newspaper 32 32 Santorini Newsletter: 31 October 2018 https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/santorini-newsletter-31-october-2018/ Fri, 22 Mar 2019 14:07:22 +0000 http://santotraveler.com/newspaper/?p=337 Good morning, dear friends!

After 250 days of vacation, 235 days with sun, 2,000 ship arrivals,  3,000,000 visitors, 100,000 new bottles of champagne, 5,000
honeymooners, 3,000 hours of sunbathing, 500 new friends, 10,000 new readers και 100,000,000 new photos from Santorini, it is time to say goodbye…. for a little while!
Have a great winter from us all who live in the island where it is always summer!

…Greek Seas, a Photographic Journey In Time

If you are flying to the capital, then you can admire a special photographic journey down memory lane in a unique photographic journey through Greece in the past. The Athens International Airport hosts the exhibition Greek Seas, A photographic journey in time through the Benaki Museum Photographic Archives. The photographs presented are divided into four chronological sections and they investigate the way in which Greek photographers and their foreign colleagues who visited or lived in the country for long periods of time, approached and interpreted the Greek seas from the mid-19th century until the late 1970s.

At Exhibition Area “Art & Culture”, Arrivals level – Exit 1. The entrance is free. We are sure you will be moved by it!

Trail Perissa – Ancient Thera

Duration: 1 – 1 ½ hours

Today the weather favours trekking, so we recommend a trail that many trekkers in Santorini enjoy. It is the trail that leads to the archaeological site of Ancient Thera which is open from 08.00 – 15.00 Tuesday to Sunday. So, it’s a good idea to start early in order to visit the site.

The path goes uphill (unless you leave your car at Ancient Thera, if you come from Kamari). It starts at the end of the paved road at the foot of the mountain, where there is a red sign “Ancient Thera” and it is of no significant difficulty. On your way uphill, the trail forks to the right leading to the small church Panagia Katefiani, protected under a huge rock. There are climbing fields there! The views are sweeping and the traveler can rest for a while in the shade and enjoy absolute serenity. There are climbing fields there too.

Then back to the main trail, surrounded by oregano bushes. After a while, you will notice old traces of excavations and, in a short distance from the top, an ancient cemetery has been unearthed. It is the area where a beautiful statue of a girl (“Kori”) was discovered in 2000, which is now in the laboratories of the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, but cannot be visited.

TIP:

You need plenty of water, a hat and sunscreen and there is no shade throughout the trail.

Beach & Weather Report

October says goodbye with pleasant weather and almost no wind. What a great day to enjoy our island and visit the beautiful villages and the warm black sandy beaches.

The sea is calm and you can go for a dip in the refreshing water in whichever beach you choose. We suggest our all time favourite Vlychada. The impressive relief, the lunar landscape and the black beach give particular colour to your snaps, especially during evening hours when the sun sets.



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Santorini Newsletter: 30 October 2018 https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/santorini-newsletter-tuesday-30-october-2018/ Tue, 30 Oct 2018 13:01:04 +0000 http://santotraveler.com/newspaper/?p=347 Good morning, dear friends!

The most famous wine in Santorini is the so-called vino santo. Do you know it?

In great travelers’ old manuscripts, we can find quotes like this “… no dessert wine compares to vino santo from Santorini, white or red. It is produced from a grape called black crispy (Mavrotragano, a grape variety of Santorini), which lies under the sun for 15 days, drying on the roofs of houses, before being placed on the wine press. After a year, it is an excellent liqueur, which exceeds even the Muscat of Samos.”
Other travelers’ manuscripts addressing to the readers of Paris compared the wine of Santorini with Marsala from Sicily and Lacrima Christi from the Vesuvius, wines which were in fashion at that time.

…Sailing in the caldera

Have you tried sailing in the largest volcanic caldera in the world? If not, then this is your chance. It’s a breathtaking experience as it combines geology, swimming, dining and of course, plenty of photographs.

You can scan our QR code to see some images from our recent sailing excursion!

Sailing

Sailing by the south side of Santorini

تم النشر بواسطة ‏‎Santofriends‎‏ في الاثنين، ٢٩ أكتوبر ٢٠١٨

Beach & Weather Report

The rare eastern wind remains in Santorini and brings light waves+ to the eastern beaches. Most umbrellas have been put down, so you can enjoy the warm black sand and the pleasant sun.

Few beach bars in Kamari, Perissa and Perivolos remain open and offer food and drinks on the beach loungers. Of course, you can always choose the hotel pool for relaxation and tranquility, together with a glass of wine!

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5 & 7 October: 4th Santorini Experience https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/4th-santorini-experience/ Wed, 19 Sep 2018 09:30:27 +0000 http://santotraveler.com/newspaper/?p=270

“Santorini Experience” continues its preparations in anticipation of the races that will be held between October 5th and 7th, in the enchanting island of the Cyclades.

At the same time, the successful event continues to be distinguished, as another prize was added to its collection. “Santorini Experience” won the gold award at the Sports Marketing Awards 2018, in the “Integrated Marketing Campaign” category in the “Sports Organizations” section.

Running

Regarding the racing part of the event, on Saturday October 6th, the schedule includes 3 different trail running routes especially for fans of running, which have as background the unique images of the volcano overlooking the Caldera as well as the stunning settlements at Imerovigli, Firostefani and Oia. In particular, the 5 km “Aristides Alafouzos” route, is ideal for running and dynamic walking, the 10 km route is designed for the experienced runners and the 15 km route for those who love power, stamina, technique and adrenaline. All routes start from the desalination plant in Oia, including parts of trail track, and finish in Oia. The running routes are designed by the former marathon runner, Greek classic route record holder, running trainer and director of All About Running, Nikos Polias, who stressed: “It is a great pleasure for us, to be on the beautiful island of Santorini, for the fourth consecutive year, to live another breathtaking experience with 3 splendid routes on the Caldera, having as a backdrop the island’s world-famous volcano. Three quite demanding routes, with a 135m. minimum altitude and a 334m. maximum altitude. On a dirt path with recessed stones, with paved and asphalt road in some points, making it even more difficult for the runners. Our goal this year is to see as many runners as possible from many places around the world, since last year we had the impressive number of participants from more than 40 countries. Santorini Experience has been established in the runners’ consciousness and we wish everyone who chooses this event to be completely satisfied”.

In the following link you may see the details of the routes:

http://www.santorini-experience.com/en/event-info/the-routes/the-routes-(2018).html

“Santorini Experience” has joined the World’s Marathons world running community (which counts more than 4,146 races all over the world).

 

Swimming

As far as the open water swimming race is concerned, we must highlight that any event involving an open water swimming race should take place only by having the approval of the Hellenic Swimming Federation, in accordance with FINA’s safety rules; as is always the case with “Santorini Experience”.

This year many great Greek athletes will participate in the open water swimming race. Members of the Greek National Swimming Team, such as the world champions Kelly Araouzou and Antonis Fokaidis, European champion Giorgos Arniakos and Greek champions Dimitris Negris, Stellina Aplanti, Dejan Jovanovic and Dimitris Manios.

 

Social Events

Regarding the social events of the island related to “Santorini Experience”, the Municipal Sports Cultural Environmental Organization of Santorini (DAPPOS) will organize an open concert for the public in the surrounding area of ​​the Indoor Hall DAPPOS on Saturday afternoon, on October 6th, with the music band C: Real; a concert that will be offered for free to all the participants of “Santorini Experience”.

 

Official Hashtag: #SantoriniExperience

Website: www.santorini-experience.com

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/SantoriniExperience

Instagram Page: https://www.instagram.com/santoriniexperience/

Twitter Account: https://twitter.com/Sant_Experience

YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGconq7q45TYim8qFg71XlA

 

Photos: Loukas Hapsis, ELias Lefas

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30 September: Corinth Canal SUP Crossing https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/30-september-corinth-canal-sup-crossing/ Wed, 19 Sep 2018 08:00:50 +0000 http://santotraveler.com/newspaper/?p=327

Participants will paddle 6.343 meters across the Canal of Corinth

The starting and ending points of the contest will be announced five (5) days before the starting date and all participants will be informed through the event’s website and via e-mail by the Organizing Committee.

This is due to the existing currents (2 1/2 – 3 knots) along the Canal, which change direction every six (6) hours.

For the participants’ safety, the starting point will be on the canal side where sea currents flow beneficially.

The starting line will be in the sea, just before the one of the two (2) sinking bridges (either Isthmia or Posidonia) – depending on the currents flow – where the width of the channel is bigger. The end will be either on the beach or in the sea, depending on the weather conditions.

Ending time limit is set to two (2) hours.

4 Registrations:

tel: +30 210 6856946

corinthcanalsupcrossing.gr

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Santorini Traveler: September & October 2018 https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/santorini-traveler-september-october-2018/ Wed, 19 Sep 2018 06:50:24 +0000 http://santotraveler.com/newspaper/?p=300

Santorini Traveler: September / October 2018

 

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The Corinth Canal is not just a canal https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/the-corinth-canal-is-not-just-a-canal/ Tue, 18 Sep 2018 15:23:02 +0000 http://santotraveler.com/newspaper/?p=296 As strange as it may seem, the most popular attraction for foreigners after the Parthenon is the Corinth Canal.

There is no way not to go from Attica to the Peloponnese and not stop on the old bridge to admire the view and take pictures. The canal is not fully exploited yet but the canal was the largest technical project in Greece in the 19th century. Everyday hundreds of tourists cross the canal by boat but also try bungee jumping, kayaking, SUP, swimming and other activities.

 

Location

The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf in the Aegean Sea. It cuts through the narrow Isthmus of Corinth and separates the Peloponnese from the Greek mainland, making the peninsula an island. The canal was dug through the Isthmus at sea level and has no locks. It is 6.4 kilometres (4 mi) in length and only 21.4 metres (70 ft) wide at its base. In this way, a 3-day trip around the peninsula is done in just a few minutes.

 

Some history

The Isthmia area, due to its strategic location, was inhabited since the 5th millennium BC.
In the area, the celebration of Isthmia became the second most important celebration in the antiquity after the Olympic Games. The celebrations began in 582 BC and ceased after the destruction of Corinth by the Romans in 46 AD.
The archaeological site of ancient Isthmia may not be well known nor a priority for the visitor today. However, it is worth a visit to the place where Isthmia celebration took place and to the museum, where many glass artefacts found in a shipwreck from Alexandria, Egypt
are exposed. In the archaeological site you will see the ruins of the Temple of Poseidon, the stadium, the theater and the Roman baths where an enormous mosaic similar to those in Ostia and Pompeii is preserved in excellent condition.

In the 7th c. BC, the tyrant Periander constructed an overland portage road, named the Diolkos or stone carriageway, along which ships could be towed from one side of the Isthmus to the other and transported merchandise and ideas, making Corinth a commercial and spiritual center. The visitor can see today the ruins of ancient Diolkos at the northern exit of the Isthmus towards the Corinthian Gulf in the area of ​​Posidonia and visit the Center of History and Science. It was about 7.5 kilometers long and was considered a miracle of engineering as its construction took advantage of the slopes of the soil.

Construction of the canal

The Roman emperor Nero was the first to attempt to construct the canal in 67 AD, but the project was abandoned when he died shortly afterwards.

The idea of a canal was revived after the Greek war of Independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1830. In 1881, the Société Internationale du Canal Maritime de Corinthe was commissioned to construct the canal and operate it for the next 99 years. Construction was formally inaugurated on 23 April 1882 in the presence of King George I of Greece. After the company went bankrupt, construction resumed in 1890 when the project was transferred to a Greek company, and was completed on 25 July 1893 after eleven years’ work.

Serious damage was caused to the canal during World War II. On 26 April 1941, Nazi German invading parachutists attempted to capture the main bridge over the canal, defended by British troops. The bridge had been wired for demolition. The Germans surprised the defenders with an assault in the early morning of 26 April and captured the bridge, but the British set off the charges and destroyed the structure.

Three years later, as German forces retreated from Greece, they used explosives to set off landslides to block the canal, destroyed the bridges and dumped locomotives, bridge wreckage and other infrastructure into the canal to hinder repair work – the relevant footage can be found in youtube.

 

Nowadays

Crossing the canal with a tourist boat is an awesome experience. The trip starts from the Coast Guard Office at the end of the canal in Isthmia and cross the whole channel to the other side and back. There are more boats doing longer trips to Aegina and Agistri islands that pass through the canal too.

Naturally, due to its difficult terrain, the canal has experienced financial and operational difficulties. The narrowness of the canal makes navigation difficult; its high rock walls channel high winds down its length, and the different times of the tides in the two gulfs cause strong tidal currents in the channel. This year landslides blocked the canal and ceased its operation for several days.

© Santorini Traveler 2014 – 2018

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When in Greece https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/when-in-greece/ Tue, 18 Sep 2018 14:36:52 +0000 http://santotraveler.com/newspaper/?p=285 By Marietta Papathanasiou

You are strolling down the narrow streets of Fira in a sunny, hot afternoon. You are craving for something to eat, but you don’t want to eat too much. What would a Greek do?

In Greek culture, good company and relaxation come first, and food is a closer second. Even on a tight budget, a group of friends would never miss the tavern, but instead of a luxurious meal they would rather have a bottle of wine and lots of “mezedes”, small, tasty dishes of anything you can imagine. They might even find flavors they have never tasted before, as it all comes down to the imagination of the cook! So why not do it our way- no need to rush, just relax and enjoy what is served before you…

You are off to a great start with feta cheese in pastry leaves with vinsanto wine and a plate of grilled mushrooms, a match made in heaven.  Why not try a light and savory dish of sun-dried fried tomatoes with tzatziki? You should definitely not miss “fava”, a Santorinian split-pea puree, accompanied with onions and caper.  Also, tomato balls, a local recipe of the island or even crispy zucchini croquettes. As far as salads go, there is always the hearty Greek salad, or, if you are feeling more adventurous, try “Dakos”,  which, in its simplest form  is barley rusk with tomato and feta cheese, great for a hot summer day. Not full yet? Ask for the Santorinian white eggplant and you can’t go wrong!

Something to drink maybe?  If you are not a friend of strong alcohol you should probably stay away from ouzo! Try a glass of cold beer instead or some local white wine which is also served cold.  You might even want a glass of vinsanto wine – it’s usually served after lunch, as a digestive, but hey, it’s a matter of taste!

Great food, beautiful music, hot summer nights and a long talk with your friends on a Greek island.  What more could you ask for? Well, maybe for a shot of home-made “rakomelo”, on the house!

 

© Santorini Traveler 2014 – 2018

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Greek Seas https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/greek-seas/ Tue, 18 Sep 2018 13:30:12 +0000 http://santotraveler.com/newspaper/?p=282 Over the centuries, the Greek sea – inextricably interwoven with the history of the place and with the life of the inhabitants – has not ceased to inspire poets and artists.

Following the invention of photography around the middle of the 19th century up until today, countless photographs of the Greek sea have added to the representations of the same subject in painting. Ports, islands, coastal areas, seascapes and scenes from the life of sailors and fishermen have been captured both with a view to their documentation and with artistic intentions. The photographs presented are divided into four chronological sections and they investigate the way in which Greek photographers and their foreign colleagues who visited or lived in the country for long periods of time, approached and interpreted the Greek seas from the mid-19th century until the late 1970s.

The four sections include:

1. The Sea in the 19th century Photography. An accidental Presence.

2. The Sea as a reflection of human activity at the beginning of the 20th century. The Magic of the snapshot.

3. The Photographic Depiction of the Sea in the interwar years. Attempts at artistic expression.

4. Towards the sea landscape after the war. The Aegean Sea as a representation and sense.

The exhibition contains photographic material from the Benaki Museum’s Photographic Archives, presented in a video entitled “Greek Seas- A Photographic Journey in Time”. It includes a selection of photos that were presented at the exhibition held at the Benaki Museum (Piraeus 138) from 10 October 2013 to 14 January 2014.
The exhibition “Greek Seas, A Photographic Journey in Time is presented at the Art & Culture Exhibition Center (Arrival Level – Entrance 1) at the Athens International Airport. 24hour Free Access

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A day out of the ordinary https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/a-day-out-of-the-ordinary/ Mon, 09 Jul 2018 14:57:09 +0000 http://santotraveler.com/newspaper/?p=251 By Marietta Papathanasiou

If you are one of us, the ordinary people, you rarely have the chance to walk on an active volcano. On my trip to Santorini I decided to become one amongst the blessed few and take a trip there, it seemed like the perfect opportunity.  There was not much chance of doing it any place else, was there?  It truly was an amazing experience but a few tips might save you a lot of trouble…

 

Down to the harbor

I booked our tickets in Fira, a few days in advance. We chose to take the boat that was conveniently leaving from the old harbor in Fira. As I have a fear of heights I preferred not to take the cable car but use the steps instead.  Well, I shouldn’t have,   it’s no piece of cake walking down there! Not because of the sun that made me sweat all the way or because of the distance. But I never expected that these wide steps would be so extremely slippery that I would almost slip and slide every ten meters. Most of the people that were near would also go extremely slowly, reaching for the rocks in order to keep their balance.  And as if that wasn’t enough, the donkeys that carried people from the harbor to Fira seemed to have no sense of direction!  Some of them would go right, some left, leaving me wondering if they at last started a rebellion and decided to tread on every tourist in sight. And trust me, you do not want to know anything about the smell…

When we finally reached our destination in one piece, we bought hats and water- things we should have done an hour earlier but hey, it’s never too late to do the right thing!  Our boat arrived on time and it was from another era, probably a better one. We started our small journey to the volcano feeling like Jack Sparrow, only with beer instead of rum. The sun was shining, music was playing, the air was playing with our hair, life was good.

Riding on an active Volcano

The volcano in Nea Kameni is surprisingly close, about 10-15 minutes by boat. When we hit the shore it became apparent that this time we had to climb up. Not to worry, it’s not a big deal even for us who do not like exercise much.  The most tiring walk is the one up to the first stop – it gets easier from there. Besides, you can stop at any time, though it would be a pity.  Our guide told us all about the story of the island, how it used to be round, about the Minoan eruption and how we had nothing to worry about being on it – some of the group were rather worried about it, believe it or not. There were huge black and red rocks everywhere, it felt like a giant’s playground.  Rather impressive, but we expected no less. Seeing Santorini from the top was great but you also shouldn’t miss the view from the back side of the volcano, where you see Old Kameni (the older, smaller volcano) and the almost emerald sea between the two Kameni.  Who knew that Santorini would also have green waters? We took some photos to prove that we made it all the way – if anybody asked – and the next part of the trip began, this time to the hot springs.

 

The hot springs

The hot springs, as they are called, are not springs and are not hot. It’s a part of the sea near the shore of the volcano that has an almost orange color due to the high percentage of sulfur in it. They say it is luke-warm and healing, but we were warned that swimming there might leave a stain on our bathing suits. Either way, it seemed rather weird to me to swim in orange waters so I avoided it by splashing near the boat where the sea has its original color –blue, that is.

 

Next stop, Thirassia

The boat stopped a little off the shore for a swim, and I must tell you that the water there has a color that I have never seen before. It’s not green, orange, turquoise or deep blue, it’s rather something in between the last two. It is actually beyond description, I highly recommend taking a dive there. Do not forget to take pictures like I did, I’m still regretting it.

After all that exercise – and beer – a barbeque was just what we needed. We were served local dishes, Greek salads, potatoes, meat on sticks and local wine, all that you can eat and all very tasty. When the feast was over we headed to Oia where we made a stop to watch the sun set.  Out of the blue, a young saxophonist started playing, just to make a great moment perfect. I have to admit he caught me by surprise at first but music easily took all the cynicism away after just a few notes.

But that was just our trip. Every cruise might offer a different schedule, different menu, different surprises. If you decide to go for it, check these things out. It doesn’t matter if you are a couple on a honeymoon or a group of friends, you are bound for a lovely time out of the ordinary – and that’s a promise!

On our arrival, six hours later, we took the cable car back to Fira, I was not about to make the same mistake twice. I dared take a look outside and the view was well worth it. The ride only lasted a few minutes so even if you are afraid of heights, please don’t miss it. There are some things that photos just can’t describe and Santorini is the living proof of that.

So, until your next trip… ahoy mates!

 

© Santorini Traveler 2014 – 2018

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Santa Marina https://santotraveler.com/newspaper/santa-marina/ Mon, 09 Jul 2018 13:40:40 +0000 http://santotraveler.com/newspaper/?p=225 By Vangelis I. Paravas

“Santa Marina, one of the hundreds of hidden chapels of Santorini”

Santa Marina of Megalochori (Aghìa Marìna) is a small basilica chapel, laying just before the cliff of the caldera, facing the Kammenes islets in central Santorini. The small church was built between 1537 and 1650, out of the boundaries of the nearby settlement, surrounded by the famous vineyards of the island. The chapel is privately owned by the Akylas family.

Recent renovations under the auspices of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture revealed an interesting part of the history of the church. Bellow the ubiquitous white plaster covering the exterior walls, thumping ancient carved marbles were discovered, many of which decorated with inscriptions and reliefs.  Considering the lack of such building material on the island, the origin of the marbles is thought to derive from ancient temples that were dismantled to provide those valuable elements. Apart from its unusual past, Santa Marina possesses icons of unique beauty, as well as an important wooden temple including a captivating orthodox painting of Archangel Gabriel on its left door.

However another important aspect of Santa Marina, omnipresent in all Santorini’s chapels and religious history, is the celebration of the nameday of the Saint. Early in the morning of the 17th of July, as well as at its eve, the Akylas family prepares a full feast, with the traditional panigìri, during which food, wine as well as the blessed bread is provided to more than 500 of revelers that visit the chapel to celebrate the Saint’s day. Traditional delicacies like split peas, stewed beans, sardines, local tomatoes of Santorini, and dry white Assyrtiko wine is prepared in the small kiosk by the church and served to visitors, after the morning mass.

These feasts, still widely observed on the island are some of the few surviving old cultural customs of the Aegean Archipelago. Once these celebrations served the purpose to provide food to the poor, especially when the populace of Santorini used to be famished only half a century ago. Nowadays this custom has evolved to a celebration of the unique cultural identity of the Cyclades, and hopefully will be preserved by the generations to come.

© Santorini Traveler 2014 – 2018

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