Our final destination in our Greek adventure brought us to the romantic island of Santorini. While others travel to this island to seek out the film locations of Mamma Mia or The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, I was drawn to the island based on its natural beauty. It’s a  photographers heaven to snap shots of the little villages nestled into the cliff side, stumble upon blue dome churches, and watch the sunset paint the sky with an array of pastel colors.

With a tendency to shy away from large crowds we chose to stay in a hotel based in Thera. This allowed us to hop on the bus whenever we wanted to spend time in Oia and provided an oasis when we wanted to relax. We were blessed with yet another beautiful hotel that had the most stunning views. A few nights we opted to forego a sit-down dinner and bought gyros back to the hotel to eat by the pool. The view was just breathtaking!

When most people think of Santorini they picture the beautiful village of Oia. It is home to the famous blue dome churches and striking cliff side views. We chose to take the first available morning bus to Oia in order to avoid the crowds and experience the  full charm of the village. We got caught in a rainstorm that brought in strong winds, but we still had a wonderful time dashing around the village taking in the sights and popping into little shops.

We were thankful to have a home base in Thera since it allowed us to step away from the crowds and enjoy a similarly stunning view. Thera offers a beautiful view of the caldera, delicious restaurants, and shops that offer discounted prices for the same items sold in Oia.

One of the most memorable events of our trip was embarking on a four hour hike from Thera to Oia. While it was a difficult hike with a lot of cliff side paths, the views made every step worth it. As we winded along the path we came across donkeys roaming in the fields, rural churches perched on hilltops, and sweeping views of the sea.

After one last sunset, we packed our bags and climbed up the stairs to the main road for the final time. We took a ferry back to Athens then boarded our flight home. It was a whirlwind of a trip and I have to keep reminding myself that it actually happened. If you ever get the chance to travel to Greece I would highly recommend it. It was unlike anywhere I have ever traveled and it will always hold a special place in my heart.