| Most people come to Greece for one reason - island | | | | sights, the volcanic island of Santorini. One of nature's |
| hopping on the Aegean Sea. One of the easiest and | | | | most incredible creations, this is the island that |
| most enjoyable ways to do this is by cruise ship. A | | | | everyone plans to revisit. One day here is definitely |
| variety of boats leave from Athens' port of Piraeus | | | | not enough to absorb the splendor of what has been |
| on a regular basis. Some cruises are short and visit | | | | often referred to as Greece's most beautiful |
| only a few islands in three to four days. Others visit | | | | island.Santorini is considered a caldera - a volcanic |
| more islands over a longer period of time. Although | | | | depression in the shape of a basin. The caldera was |
| the ships only stop at each port for several hours, it's | | | | created thousands of years ago when the Strongyli |
| usually enough to get a feel for each island and | | | | volcano collapsed. Santorini is the portion of the |
| decide at which one you'd like to spend more time | | | | submerged caldera that remains above sea level. The |
| on your next visit.Mykonos. Almost every ship docks | | | | apocalyptic event that resulted in present day |
| at Mykonos, one of the most famous and most | | | | Santorini is one of the explanations for the demise of |
| visited islands. Small enough to walk from one end to | | | | Atlantis, the fabled island kingdom described by |
| the other, the streets are lined with gorgeous white | | | | Homer and believed to have existed about the time |
| washed houses. Shutters, window and door frames, | | | | of the volcano's eruption, 12-14,000 years ago. This, |
| along with doors and banisters are painted in bright | | | | however, is only one of the possible sites of Atlantis, |
| colors, which emphasize the stark whiteness of the | | | | the Canary Islands and the Bahamas being the two |
| houses even more. Blue is the most popular, but | | | | most prevalent among the believers in the |
| green and red are also common. Mykonos is a | | | | story.Approaching the crescent shaped island from |
| beautiful but very crowded island with a very few | | | | the deep sea, you may be astounded by its size. The |
| calm places.In front of a white church with a red | | | | most southern of the Cyclades islands, Santorini looks |
| domed roof stands Petros the Pelican. The huge bird, | | | | like a massive, snow capped mountain dropped into |
| perched on the edge of a white wall, cleans himself | | | | the middle of the sea. As you get closer, you'll see |
| as tourists timidly approach for a photo. His pink and | | | | that the enormous island isn't covered in snow at all - |
| blue beak is nearly the size of a man's arm.Near the | | | | it's the thick spattering of typically Greek white |
| sandy beach sits a white washed church with a blue | | | | washed houses that turns its top layer completely |
| dome roof - the epitome of Greece. A white cross | | | | white. The sides of the island are too steep to bear |
| crowns the blue dome. Farther along the beach at | | | | any buildings and the majority of the island's |
| the top of a gentle hill, a row of windmills form a | | | | structures are built on its flat top.Numerous cruise |
| straight line. Their base is whitewashed, but the | | | | ships anchor in the harbor, but the massive island |
| cones topping them are covered in straw. Thin sticks | | | | dwarfs even the biggest vessel. Small boats |
| of wood latched together comprise the wheels that | | | | transport tourists from the cruise ship to the shore, |
| spin slowly on the light breeze coming off the | | | | where buses wait to drive them up the skinny road |
| sea.Delos. An island close to Mykonos is famous for | | | | that winds its way up the side of the island. Their |
| its ancient temples. Daily excursions can be booked in | | | | destination is Oia, a small village set at the edge of |
| Mykonos. Delos was the most important Panhellenic | | | | the caldera's steep slope.Oia's bars, restaurants and |
| sanctuary and, according to mythology, the | | | | homes sit along the perimeter of the island. Relaxing |
| birth-place of Apollo and Artemis. The first signs of | | | | at one of the cliffside restaurants provides you with |
| habitation on the island date from the 3rd millenium | | | | an unbeatable vista of the island and surrounding |
| B.C. and important remains of the Mycenaean period | | | | water. The blue sea glimmers in the bright sun and |
| have been uncovered in the area of the sanctuary. In | | | | Santorini stretches on and on. Smaller islands, part of |
| the 7th century B.C. Delos was already a known Ionic | | | | the same volcanic group, are speckled throughout |
| centre because of its religious importance as the | | | | the sea. The east coast of the island boasts the |
| birth-place of Apollo. During the period of the alliance | | | | most beautiful beaches, but beware - the black |
| of Grecian kingdoms under Athenian domination, | | | | volcanic sand may look spectacular, but it's extra hot |
| Delos was the designated treasury. Athens, being the | | | | on the feet.When it's time to head back to the ship, |
| capital city and more avaricious than its partners, | | | | you have two options. A set of stairs leads down |
| began to plunder the treasury and used the wealth | | | | the rock face to the shore, but taking the cable car |
| to build the Acropolis.Santorini. When you've had just | | | | is recommended. Not only is it a lot easier, but the |
| about all the history and white marble you can take, | | | | final view of the island in its spectacular setting is one |
| along comes one of Greece's most breathtaking | | | | you'll savor forever. |