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Santorini, Greece
October 2014
#1/3
Crete to Santorini
In the morning at the port of Heraklion in Crete, I depart for my next destination, Santorini, by high-speed boat.
Photo by author, 2014
Photo by author, 2014
Photo of author, 2014
Crete to Santorini
Santorini Port
(Assinosport Santorini)
I arrived in Santorini about 2 hours from Crete.
Photo by author, 2014
The inner part of the outer ring mountain, formed by volcanic activity, is a steep cliff called the “caldera wall“, and the harbor is located on a very narrow flat land under the cliff.
Photo by author, 2014
As soon as I arrived, I was shocked by the rock face that stood in my way.
Photo by author, 2014
At the bottom of the exposed rock cliff, buildings for bus companies, rental car companies, taxi companies, travel agencies, etc. are scattered haphazardly.
Photo by author, 2014
At luxury hotels, if you tell the them the number of the ferry ship, they will pick you up at the port. However, I tried to find the hotel car that is suppose to pick me up at the port in vain. As for taxis, they were based on a first-come, first-served basis, and all of them had already been used, so there was not a single one left.
So I went to the bus company counter, found out there was a shared bus to my hotel, and bought a ticket. I had to wait a while for the bus to fill up. I took my time and took some photos of the beautiful scenery around the port.
Photo by author, 2014
A major eruption around 1650 BC is said to have created this landform. And it is said that this eruption caused a huge blow (destroy) to the Minoan civilization.
Photo by author, 2014
The outer ring of the mountain formed by a large eruption is the part of the ridge that corresponds to the edge of the caldera, and is also called the caldera rim. In addition, the inner slope of the outer ring mountain is called the caldera wall.
Here is a testament to the earth’s orogenic activities.
Photo by author, 2014
From the port, I took a shared bus climb the winding slope as shown in the map below to the edge of the caldera of the outer rim of the volcano, about 300 meters above sea level.
This route is the only access from the port to the town.
The spectacular natural formations of volcanic activity can be observed from the bus window.
Photo by author, 2014
It is a simple climb from the foot of the outer ring mountain to the town of Fira, which at its peak of about 300 meters above sea level. Our destination is the white town on the cliff. It is a rare wonder in the world.
Photo by author, 2014
The white townscape spreads out as if covered in snow on the cliffs towering above the sea. It is like a town in the sky floating on the cliffs of the deep blue sea, creating a fantastical sight. This extraordinary space is so close to the sea and sky, and it is a distant view of a village that is unique in the world.
Photo by author, 2014
Photo by author, 2014
Approaching the city center of Fira.
Photo by author, 2014
The main streets and bus terminals of the city of Fira
At the top of the outer ring mountain on the cliff, the city of Fira is formed.
The city’s roads run north-south along the Outer Ring Mountains.
There is a bus terminal on the right (east side) of the road. We were dropped off here and had to walk with our heavy luggage, relying on the map, to find the small hotel.
Photo by author, 2014
Metropolitan Cathedral
The promenade in front of the cathedral is one of the most popular tourist spots in the city of Fira. From the top of the cliff, you can see the caldera sea and the volcanic island below.
The surrounding area is full of stairs. I find myself wandering down the stairs carrying my heavy luggage and trying to find the accommodation I had booked.
Photo by author, 2014
Santorini’s unique geography.
Santorini experienced a major eruption around 1650 BC, causing the center of the island to sink and forming the caldera that is today’s Santorini.
The brown area on the sketch map below is the outer ring of the mountain, which is about 300 m above sea level and was formed by a large eruption. The part corresponding to the caldera plain is submerged and becomes a sea. Nea Kameni Island, located in the central part of the caldera, is an active volcano that is still active.
Author’s sketch
I made a map of the caldera of Mt. Aso, one of the largest in the world, and its outer ring mountain, Mt. Aso’s Nakadake crater, in order to compare it with the islands in Santorini and make a sketch at the same scale.
The town of Fira is densely populated with white-walled houses on the outer ring mountain overlooking the caldera bay.
The red circle is the location of the hotel I booked.
There is a small harbor below, which transports and drops off cruise ship tourists in small boats.
Author’s sketch
A narrow passageway built on the steep cliffs of the outer rim of the mountain. Only people and donkeys are allowed to pass through. It has been carefully waterproofed.
Because below the passageway are the rooms of a cave hotel.
Photo by author, 2014
Stay in a cave hotel built on a cliff!
STUDIOS CALDERA
After dragging my luggage down the narrow slopes and stone steps from the driveway in the center of town, and struggling to find the hotel, I finally arrived at the sign of the hotel I was looking for.
There was a sign, but I couldn’t find the hotel building. I wonder where it is?
Photo by author, 2014
There was a small wooden door about 1 m high near the sign. Beyond that was a narrow staircase that led further down. When I went down one floor, there was a small office where the manager was. The office is on the left of the photo. A small open lounge is on the right of the photo.
Photo by author, 2014
Resort hotels origin from cave dwellings
Originally, cave dwellings were built for sailors sailing the Aegean Sea to stay in, and were used for many years. In the last 20~30 years, these cave dwellings have been reborn as resort hotels.
It is characterized by cool summers and warm winters. The building behind is a chapel.
Photo by author, 2014
Cave bedroom under the promenade passageway!
The cave bedroom. There is a passageway above it, and sometimes you can hear the sound of donkeys’ hooves coming from the ceiling. It’s an experience that you can only get in Santorini.
Photo by author, 2014
There are no rivers or ponds in Santorini. Water is transported by tankers and stored in tanks at the port like fuel. From there, water is distributed to each house by a large pump. In the event of a power outage, water distribution stops.
This is Santorini’s Achilles’ heel. The water in the shower room must also be used carefully.
Toilet in the bedroom of the cave.
Photo by author, 2014
My first experience in a cave bedroom.
Photo by author, 2014
If you go down the stairs along the cliff, there are one room on each floor.
This hotel has 4 floors and a total of 4 rooms. All of them are built on a cliff.
Photo by author, 2014
Balcony of the hotel room on the lower floor. Other guests have just checked in.
Photo by author, 2014
An impromptu sketch of a cross-section of a cave hotel leaning against a cliff overlooking the sea. With no obstacles in front, you have the sea and sky all to yourself. You can experience a feeling of luxury.
Author’s sketch
View of the hotel next door from the balcony of my room along the cliff.
The hotel where I stayed does not have a pool, but you can see the pool next door.
Photo by author, 2014
In the opposite direction, the hotel next to the south can be seen through the gap in the wall.
Photo by author, 2014
Large ocean-going cruiser ships below looks smaller from top.
Photo by author, 2014
The balcony of the hotel next door.
Photo by author, 2014
Photo by author, 2014
In 1956, it was struck by an earthquake of magnitude 7.8.
After that, it was rebuilt as shown in this photo, and it has become the tourist island that it is today.
Photo by author, 2014
On the right side of the photo, you can see the stepped side of the hotel that clings to the rock face of the cliff. It is a typical structure of hotels in Fira.
Photo by author, 2014
Mediterranean Cruise ships
A cruise ship touring the Mediterranean is anchored right below the hotel.
The cruise ship tourists have probably already returned to the ship and are enjoying the sunset while waiting for dinner.
Cruise ship tourists stay overnight, have breakfast and dinner on board, and only land in Santorini for sightseeing during the day, spending money only for lunch and souvenir shopping.
I learned from the locals that they are not great customers for this tourist island.
Photo by author, 2014
A special time in Santorini.
The sun is setting over the Aegean Sea. It’s a unique and precious moment.
Photo by author, 2014
(1) The caldera sea that has caved in directly below
(2) An active volcano that has emerged above the sea beyond it
(3) The photographer in the foreground is at the top of the outer ring mountain
(4) and the setting sun.
I was very pleased to be able to take these four photos in one set at the location in Santorini.
Photo by author, 2014
All photos by author, October 2014
