Santorini

Santorini is an absolutely gorgeous C-shaped volcanic caldera island, boasting white, red and black sand beaches! Claire and I rented a moped and tootled around its curvy roads in search of anything and everything saffron-related. We initially chose to travel here because one of the island's archeological sites has a bizarre fresco of blue monkeys picking saffron! What could it mean? We also happened upon a bakery that makes saffron rolls and a group of ladies who pick wild saffron on a remote hillside. Score!

We stayed in Perissa on the black beach and learned that footwear is essential-- very hot pebbles=ouch.

The town of Oia is perched on the edge of the caldera. The iconic white and blue buildings provide such a contrast to the dark volanic rock.

Beach umbrellas at sunrise.

The black sand makes for great reflections.

Orthodox Church #47... Just kidding. I don't know the name of this church, but they were all starting to look pretty similar at about this point in the trip.

Stunning sunset! I still dream about it.


Claire and I may have been a bit excited when the sky blew up in fluorescent shades for about 40 minutes.

Red beach

Ancient octopus pottery! How cool.