Jul 2, 2013
Postcards: Sunsets in Oia (GR)
Santorini is one of the most beautiful islands that I’ve been. After wistfully going through photo albums of several friends who visited this very Cyclades island last year, I decided to push it up high on my priority list as well as into my 101 goals list, which is met by F’s approval. It is a very popular holiday destination, and there are good reasons for it – picturesque villages, friendly locals, ease of communications, delicious food (and wine), fascinating (geological) history, sunny weather, intense sunset – take your pick.
The village of Oia (pronounced “ee-yah”, not “oy-yah”; also written as Ia) is the one spot everyone seem to converge come every evening. There are other view points on the island for beautiful sunset, but between various recommendations (and a good dose of clever tourism marketing I guess), Oia becomes *the* prime sunset-watching spot. We tried to photograph the sunset – something not particularly easy as we attempted to master our new camera – from various points of Oia and not just where everyone goes. It does get uncomfortably crowded with everyone clamouring for the perfect view of the sunset!
While the showdown was spectacular, I prefer it when we were not at the most wanted viewing platform of Oia’s sunset. The sheer number of people around reminded me of a circus, with a gazillion eyes staring intently on the main attraction, and a gazillion other cameras trained on it. We were part of the guilty ones. There were so much expectations sizzling in the air, it was almost a relief when it ended.
On the other hand, the evening when F and I were walking back to Oia from Thira, we wished we could have stayed up on the quiet cliff overlooking the entire Oia to watch the sunset. Everyone we encountered on the route had rushed ahead so not to miss the sunset in the village. We were all alone up there, in our own little world. Unfortunately, we did not come prepared with torch lights, and to try to walk back in the dark after that may not have been the smartest of idea. I think this means we should return, better equipped next time, and celebrate our own sunset-viewing ritual ;)
All posts in this series:
Greece: Postcards: Sunset in Oia
Greece: Chóra, Hora or Náxos Town? | Flickr Photoset
Greece: The Venetian Museum of Náxos | Flickr Photoset
Greece: An afternoon walk from Firá to Oia | Flickr Photoset
Greece: Caldera, volcano and hot spring | Flickr Photoset
Greece: Island time(table), Santorini edition
Greece: Postcards: Blue in Oia
Greece: Postcards: The idyllic village of Oia | Flickr Photoset
Greece: Just keep swimmin’, just keep swimmin’
Greece: Touring southern Santorini | Flickr Photoset
Greece: Postcards: Athens and the Acropolis | Flickr Photoset
Yeay…see…the trip did materialize and what a beautiful place indeed!
great shots of the sunset lil ;) white wash facades = niceeeeeeee
I have taken waaaay too many photos over the trip itself it’s taking quite some time to sort through them!