Off the coast of Santorini - 36° 26' 24" N 25° 22' 43" E

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Observations regarding the Greek islands we visited.

Rhodes:
  • get there by ferry if you can.  Entering the Port of Rhodes made me feel like an ancient mariner.
  • once you have settled in your accomodation, rent a scooter.  You can visit different beaches and you can shop for pool/beach food at supermarkets for half the price.
  • have dinner at a restaurant on the harbour of the old port.  It won't be as expensive as you think.
  • when you have your scooter, go south to find the nicer beaches.
  • Anthony Quinn Bay is sheltered by headlands; it isn't as tourist-y as it could be and it provides some great fish-viewing, even with just swim goggles.
  • take swim goggles.
  • restaurants outside of Rhodes town are 1/2 the price of restaurants in town.  Ones away from the beach can be really good.
  • buy or bring some tupperware sandwich boxes and pack a lunch and snacks for the beach.  We bought some when we got here, and it was 3 Euros well-spent.
  • beaches without surf are much nicer for swimming.  Stick to the east side of the island for these.
Paros:
  • I remember next-to-nothing about my first trip here.
  • even during Tourist Season, it is a quiet place.  Aliki has a population of 600 - 800 people and provides a marvellous balance of solitude and tourist services.  It is located at the least-busy end of the island, too.
  • the wind almost always comes from the north.
  • a scooter is a cheap, easy way to get around the island.
  • I should learn to cook octopus and squid.  It's delicious, and now that I've seen my talented brother-in-law do it, I know it can easily be done.
  • beaches with some type of shade are better than wide, open beaches.
  • Ka Vos is a local (Paros) white wine that is tasty, inexpensive and is
    sold in convenient, don't-have-to-go-back-to-the-store-because-we're-out-of-wine-again, 1.5 litre bottles.






Santorini:
  • pay for accomodation that has a balcony with a view of the caldera, or have friends that do.
  • expect hordes of tourists between May and September.  Not that it will be unbearable, but expect them.
  • find a way to get to a south-facing beach, even if it means walking down a donkey track carved into a cliff face.
  • travel with at least a partner.  Visiting Santorini by yourself would be very lonely.
  • be prepared to take many pictures and to say "wow" more than you thought you would.
  • locating yourself in Oia is the least-busy of the cliff towns.
  • the sun is hotter than you think, even when you take heed of this statement.


Goodbye, Greek Islands.  We will be back.

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