A Day of Adventure

Monday, August 19, 2013

On our first afternoon in Santorini we walked over to the village of Fira to go on our boat excursion. In order to get down to the water, we two options: the cable cars or a donkey. My vote without a question was the cable car. And it was one Euro less so even better!

After our cable car ride down the cliffside, we met our ship. The excursion took us first to the Santorini volcano, which we climbed up, then an oceanside natural hot spring, then to a spot that had the most royal blue, yet extremely clear, water to swim in. After that there was food and Greek dancing on the boat as we watched the sunset off the bay of Oia.

Just another magical day in Santorini with a spectacular sunset.

* The only item from my outfit I can find online still is my super-cute sunglasses print bathing suit which I love love love! Buy it here!

The cable cars that take you down the cliffs of Santorini. This is option one.

And here is option two. The donkeys. No thank you.

Waiting for our boat to arrive. How amazing is that water?!

Our ride for the day!

On our way to go climb the volcano!

This is what a volcano looks like up close. Not so scary when it's not erupting.

If you can see those green spots, that's where you can actually see and feel volcanic heat coming out. Make this giant hill seem more like a volcano when you notice that!

The pathway up the volcano.

At the top!

Cover-up: H&M
Shoes: Walmart and in the trash! Worn once to get up that volcano and then they were runined. 
Bathing suit: ASOS



The orangy-brown area is the hot spring. In order to get there, you had to swim from the boat to that spot where it got pretty shallow.

Andrew swimming in the unbelievably blue ocean before dinner on the boat.

I was all done swimming after the hot spring so I got dressed in my clothes from yesterday's post.

Hanging out on the boat ready to watch the sunset.
Scarf from Madewell (love this one)



Some interesting little cave houses for the fisherman.

Oia from the boat! Just beautiful. You can see a winding stair path on the right.





Greek Dancing on the boat at sunset.

Our view on out walk back home. It was all so pretty at night all lit up.

A relaxing end to our evening in our personal hot tub on the balcony.

First Morning in Santorini

Friday, August 16, 2013

Our first morning in Santorini, we awoke to the spectacular blue sky you see below. Our buffet breakfast was selected and brought down to our room - down the many stairs you saw yesterday - and was enjoyed on the balcony terrace (see the third pic below). After that we took a walk to the village of Fira, which is the central part of the island where the port is. Tomorrow you will see what we did there, but for today I hope you enjoy the incredible sights from our stroll around town!


 Top: Old Navy
Skirt: Pink Tartan (similar option from Modcloth for just $20)
Shoes: ShoeMint "Lina"
Hat: Randolph Street Fest (same idea here)
Necklace: Vintage
Watch: Michael Kors
Sunglasses: Target
Lips: Heatwave by Nars



 You have to walk up to the top to go anywhere, and it's a long way up!

 A long way down, too! 154 stairs to be exact!

The main hotel terrace all the way at the top.

 This is what counts as a main sidewalk in Santorini.



 This was my favorite pool we passed, especially at night when it was all lit up. So pretty.

 Just so you get an idea of just how high up the city is. 




 There were so many cool doors, I couldn't resist a few picture stops.



 If you have a fear of heights, I do not recommend Santorini!


A very helpful suggestion on the map.

Absolute Bliss: Santorini

Thursday, August 15, 2013

I don't even know how to describe how amazing Santorini is. We arrived at sunset, and it was like heaven on earth.

I've been to a number of beautiful countries all over the world, but none more insanely, unbelievably gorgeous as Santorini. It's almost as if you are afraid to take your eyes off of it, in fear of missing something. And everywhere new you look is just something incredible. 

Our hotel, Absolute Bliss in the city of Imerovigli, was recommended by one of my favorite bloggers Liz. (And if you want to experience some severe travel envy, check out her blog.) Every room comes with its own large private balcony, and ours had a jacuzzi to watch the sunset from as well. We were greeted with a bottle of wine and such warm hospitality. The staff was amazing! They helped us plan everything we did in the days to come, and they even offered to lend us cash if we needed to borrow some!! I mean really, who does that? Sometimes family members aren't even that generous or trusting!

If you are thinking of ever staying in Santorini, I can't recommend this hotel enough. Take a look below at just what the first night there was like. Enjoy.

 Our balcony where we enjoyed our welcome wine.

 The sunset view from our room.

 Guests at the neighboring hotels were enjoying the sunset too!

This is just a small preview of the view down from our room. There were LOTS of stairs involved.





 Dress: Zara (no longer avaliable online)
Blue Bracelet: Oia Jules
Love Bracelet and Hoops: Forever 21
Wavy gold bracelet: Charming Charlie



Last Night in Naxos

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Our last night in Naxos was bittersweet but we made the most of it. It began with a stroll into the square where I got to experience tiny fish nipping at the dead skin on my feet (very attractive thought, I know - see the pictures below). I'm not really sure why I thought this would be a good idea considering I have very ticklish feet. Let's just say it was a very long 15 minutes, but fun! Glad I can say that I tried it and made it through. Definitely an experience!

After that we walked around the square a bit and went into some of the shops where I purchased my only fashion-related item of the whole trip (shocking, right?), a really cute striped skirt that you will see in a Santorini post coming up!

We then waked down to the waterfront where we had the best of our Naxos dinners. I had a salad that changed my world, which was basically just red and white cabbage shaved with greek dressing (olive oil and yummy vinegar). It's all I've been eating for lunch since I got back. Goodbye lettuce!

After that we went through the old market which is just a jumble of narrow, winding alleyways lined with shops. It's what I imagine shopping is like in a mall made of caves.

Tomorrow's post holds pictures from the most magical place we visited on our trip, Santorini. Can't wait to show it to you!




Sandals: Shoemint "Lina"
Shorts: Zara
Tie-front top: Forever 21 (unavailable but others still available like this, this and this)
Bracelet: Forever 21 (old)
Watch: La Mer (similar here but really want this one SO BAD)

The town square at night.

Trying to hold it together while the fish did their work.


The ice cream/sweet treat hub of the town!

In one of the alleyways of the Old Market.