After arriving at Santorini port, one needs to take a bus to the Fira main bus stand, which has excellent bus service in all directions of the island. One can go to Perissa (Black beach), Ancient Thera, Oia, Megalochori, Perivolos, Nea Kameni volcano, Fira, Pyrgos, Emporio, Santa Wines, Akrotiri, Red Beach etc. Each place has a characteristic of its own which make them worth exploring.
I took an afternoon bus to Oia to spend some time there and watch the famous sunset from the cliff-top. It is useful to note the bus schedule from Fira while planning the 45 minute trip to Oia.
In the late 19th & early 20th centuries, Oia flourished because of seaborne trade in the Mediterranean. Excellent wine was produced & exported to France amongst other places. However, the concentration of shipping at Piraeus caused the town's seagoing trade to collapse and agriculture also diminished as people emigrated to other cities.
The old market area is full of souvenir shops and cafes/restaurants. The souvenirs in the market hold you under a spell and it is pretty tough to resist the charm of taking them home.
Oia is built on the steep slope of the cliff and the restaurants & houses are built on the seaward side. There are narrow passageways and a central square. It is famous for its white washed and blue domed churches. On top of the cliff, there are cave houses which have been carved into the rock face.
The village is located on top of a hill and known as the "Eagles nest" from where Palia and Nea Kameni volcanoes are seen and also the island of Therasia. I took my own sweet time marvelling at the views - it is a stunner alright!
At the top of Oia is the ruined castle which was under the Venetians and serves as a lookout point with panoramic views. One of the most recognizable buildings in the town is an old windmill, which often appears on postcards.
The area of Oia hosts around 70 churches. This large number of churches in such a small region is due to the maritime life of its habitants as people used to build churches in order to ensure that the God would favor them with safe journeys. Most of these churches are privately owned as they were inherited by the ancestors of each family.
Oia was once home to prosperous sea merchants until an earthquake gutted the area in the 1950s and it was redeveloped almost exclusively for tourists. The area is now dotted with high-priced hotels and restaurants. It is one of the best places to watch the sunset.
Make sure you reach the sunset view point in time to catch a good seat. You really can't go wrong in Oia. Whether you are on the donkey trail, at a terrace restaurant, or standing up by the windmill, you will get a stunning view. The sunset here makes the cliffs & the buildings look like they are on fire.
The sunset is a special time and it was not a surprise when a boy took advantage of this opportunity to propose to his girlfriend on top of the cliff. Good for him that she accepted or else, it could have been a tad embarrassing in front of the whole crowd!
After sunset, we stayed put as we wanted to get a view of all the lights coming on in the houses and restaurants.
We roamed in the market area for some time before making our way back to Fira. It is recommended that one keeps track of the bus timings (especially the last bus) from Oia to Fira so that you are not stranded here - taxis are expensive.
Santorini is a much hyped travel destination but after my time here, I can vouch for the fact that Santorini (in fact, Greece) is worth all the hype!
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