Oia, pronoun - ced Eeh-Ah and called La by the locals is famous for its sunsets and the historic blue domes that been featured on a thousand travel posters. It can be a one horse town. The scenery is spectacular, although it is as easily taken in from Fira or anywhere else on the island.
But it was the sunset we came to see. We left our villa to see it at 7pm. Fifty stairs to the main floor of the villa, where we stopped to catch our breath. Plunged onwards to the top. Breathing gradually returned to normal, the heart rate slowed, as we followed people along the main street, which is called Marmara (Greek for the marble laid down on the street). It should be noted that once inside the village there is no vehicles of any sort allowed in the streets.
Once we got to the sunset point we realize we left late, although the sunset won't occur for another hour and a half. Easily a thousand people line the steps, sit on stone railings, are sequestered in nooks, hanging off balconies and then there are the few smart people that booked view seats at the restaurants that overlook the sea.
At sunset the sun became a giant red orb, due to particalization, before it dropped behind northern islands. Spectacular, but not unique and we returned along Marmara street thinking it was okay. I had seen more dramatic sunsets in northern Alberta, overlooking the Athabasca river in the winter, when the air is crisp.
We ate at the Cafe Bistro Floga that evening. The name Floga means flame in Greek, but is used primarily to signify the "passing of the flame". It is also the name of a Greek association of parents who have children suffering from cancer.
The restaurant itself is excellent and is highly rated. Karen raved about her Santorini salad with rocket, dry cherry tomatoes, smoked pansetini, grapes and dressing Mezzo. I had the Chicken fillet with farfale, porchinni mushrooms, with Vodka flambe and smoked cheese "metsovone." It was superb. The house red was easily the best wine I had tasted on the trip. I ordered a second. Highly recommended, with moderate prices.
We stared out at the caldera from Floga and later we sat on our patio and drank wine and stared out at the lights that rimmed the caldera. Karen told me it reminded her of the North Shore mountains.
But it was the sunset we came to see. We left our villa to see it at 7pm. Fifty stairs to the main floor of the villa, where we stopped to catch our breath. Plunged onwards to the top. Breathing gradually returned to normal, the heart rate slowed, as we followed people along the main street, which is called Marmara (Greek for the marble laid down on the street). It should be noted that once inside the village there is no vehicles of any sort allowed in the streets.
Once we got to the sunset point we realize we left late, although the sunset won't occur for another hour and a half. Easily a thousand people line the steps, sit on stone railings, are sequestered in nooks, hanging off balconies and then there are the few smart people that booked view seats at the restaurants that overlook the sea.
At sunset the sun became a giant red orb, due to particalization, before it dropped behind northern islands. Spectacular, but not unique and we returned along Marmara street thinking it was okay. I had seen more dramatic sunsets in northern Alberta, overlooking the Athabasca river in the winter, when the air is crisp.
We ate at the Cafe Bistro Floga that evening. The name Floga means flame in Greek, but is used primarily to signify the "passing of the flame". It is also the name of a Greek association of parents who have children suffering from cancer.
The restaurant itself is excellent and is highly rated. Karen raved about her Santorini salad with rocket, dry cherry tomatoes, smoked pansetini, grapes and dressing Mezzo. I had the Chicken fillet with farfale, porchinni mushrooms, with Vodka flambe and smoked cheese "metsovone." It was superb. The house red was easily the best wine I had tasted on the trip. I ordered a second. Highly recommended, with moderate prices.
We stared out at the caldera from Floga and later we sat on our patio and drank wine and stared out at the lights that rimmed the caldera. Karen told me it reminded her of the North Shore mountains.
Picture: The famous sunset at Oia, Santorini.
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