Ah Santorini. A paradise to some, a tourist trap for others and a way of life to those who live on this island. Over the years I have been asked by friends why we keep returning to Santorini. Why here and not some other place. I answer, “Because Santorini is not just a place, it’s a feeling.” Of course when asked to explain, I found it hard to explain because what I feel and how Santorini feels seems intertwined. To me, Santorini is a feeling I can not quite describe yet it’s a feeling which I feel deeply. It is not just the way I feel when I’m in Santorini but the feeling of the ambiance, the place itself.
My first trip to Santorini and also each subsequent trip has given me a feeling of peace, serenity and holistic calmness. Despite all the hustle and bustle throughout, I still feel a connection to the nature, the simplicity and honesty of the land. To me it is more than this.
The moment I land, either by sea or air, an excitement fills me. This excitement continues to build as we travel to our hotel. Once out of the vehicle, as I walk down the many steps, the anticipation of what is to come consumes me. I can feel the sun shining hot upon me while smelling the deliciousness of flowers, food and sea all blended together. Then suddenly spread below me is the caldera in all its glory. The shimmering water of the deep blue Aegean Sea is hypnotic while it reaches out to the equally blue sky as it has for millennia. Mother Earth is at her finest.
Later on, walking along the caldera in Imeroovigli, I stop to gaze at Skaros Rock which stands majestically near the sea. Looking old and a bit rough yet holding hundreds of years of secrets around and within it. Secretes of both of triumph and disaster. This rock, to me, symbolizes peace, strength, and grandeur. It also represents timeless changes, which are seen all around Santorini. Yet at this moment, it is if I can sense all of this wrapped into a feeling I cannot describe.
As I stand here I am at total peace. I feel one with the land, sea and sky. A feeling of tranquility, agelessness, and wholeness combined continues to engulf me. Yet it is more than how I feel and what I sense. It is more than my words can describe.
All of this together is the feeling of Santorini.
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If you want to read more detail about this trip and read more of my short stories, you can click on the following links!!
First Taste of Greek Wine-A Short Story
What’s Souvlaki?- A Greek Travel Short Story
The Promendade- A Santorini, Greece Short Story
5 Great Beaches in Milos, Sept 2018
8 Day Greece Itinerary, Sept 2019
Books About Greece I Love!
The following books are books that I have read about Greece and totally love. You can order them through my link on Amazon. I do get a small commission from these but at no extra charge to you!
