Santorini Greece

Posted on Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Luciano Travassos, shore concierge for Silversea Cruises, shares his knowledge of Santorini, the beautiful Greek island.

One of  the most touristy, visited and crowded islands in Greece, Santorini still has a lot to offer if you ditch the crowd and find a place that you can claim for your own.

Part of the Cyclades, Santorini forms a “ring shape” that offers visitors fantastic views of the typical villages with white houses perched on the edge of the cliffs that ring the island’s rim.

The center of the ring is called Caldera, Santorini’s main natural attraction. Many visitors make their way to Nea Cameni Island, located in the Caldera a few minutes away by boat. Once there, you can climb to the top of the island or swim in a hot spring.

Many people believe that when the central part of the volcano sunk it took the legendary city of Atlantis with it.

Peloponnese Greece

Posted on Tuesday, August 23, 2011

The southernmost geographic part of mainland Greece with a purely Mediterranean climate along the coast invites you to unravel its magic of a mythical land composed of images, music, and the unforgettable image of the sea. While the island of Peloponnese is surely endowed with exciting ancient splendors; such as the scant remains of Sparta, the hilltop Temple of Apollo, and the even older Mycenaean ruins of Nestor's Palace, the island offers so much more than its illustrious past.  

Within this sun-drenched landscape of olive groves and mighty mountain ranges resides golden-hue palaces and monasteries and pretty ports of Pylos and Methoni dispense a Greek tonic of blue sea, cloudless sky, and sandy beaches, which are some of the finest and least developed in Greece.   Costa Navarino stretches over a spectacular sunset-facing seaside area in the Greek region of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese.

Discover the beauty and culture, engage in traditional activities ranging from fishing to olive-oil and wine-making and mingle with the local community, becoming part of an age-long heritage that spans the millennia. Largely undiscovered, Messinia harbors a history of 4,500 years, with palaces and vaulted tombs from the Mycenaean era, classical temples, Byzantine churches and medieval castles, all set in a breathtaking, sun-drenched and lush landscape, that enjoys a temperate climate, making it an ideal year-round destination.

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Visit an Ancient Site Preserved by Volcanic Ash

Posted on Saturday, April 09, 2011

The Amazing Island of Santorini

Posted on Saturday, January 15, 2011

I climbed around corner after corner up more than 500 steps, passing donkey teams headed up or down along the way. The donkeys all wore colorful beaded neck collars with a bell attached that jingled as they clomped along. Each switchback brought the tinkling of bells and better views of the crystal clear waters below.

After about 45 minutes we reached the top eager to explore Fira, and then afterward set out by local bus to the small town of Oia, located at the north end of the island. My immediate impression was that this magical place should definitely be on a travel bucket list. Oia is situated atop an impressive cliff with more views of the sparkling expanse of sea, and the charming village is made up of traditional white houses and blue domed churches, with the narrow streets between buildings just wide enough for pedestrians and the occasional passing donkey. We discovered that many artists have made this picturesque setting their home and enjoyed wandering through the array of art galleries full of original works.

After a day in this island paradise, it was time to head back to Fira where we would descend down the cliffs to our anchored ship. Again I decided to make the journey by foot, once more passing the donkeys and their sweet sounding bells along the way. When I got to the bottom, I realized I had encountered a sound I did not want to leave behind. And as I really do like to support the local economies of the places I visit, I had the perfect idea for a souvenir!
Kristen talks the donkey herder out of her perfect souvenir. Not speaking any Greek, I somehow was able to communicate with a donkey herder that I would like to buy one of the donkey bells with the colorful beads. What a perfect addition to my collection of authentic animal bells (I have many…really…including cow bells from Bali and Switzerland). Although it did take some time to convince him that it really wasn’t a ride on his donkey that I was after, I finally was able to walk away with the perfect memento of this perfect day. Now, as I sit in our cabin in Alaska, our wonderful cruise may seem a distant memory, but I keep my donkey bell in a spot where I see it often and can reflect on my journey to the cliffs of Santorini. Posted by Kristen Helgren Rooms Department Manager, Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge Princess Cruise Line

Greece :: Customs and Manners

Posted on Friday, February 12, 2010

No Matter where you travel, it’s always best to understand a little of the language, manners and customs of your host country in order to be polite and respectful to the locals. A few of these hints and tips may help you out as you tour through Greece while it’s also helpful to know a little Greek.

Tour managers live and work in Europe full time and are also on hand to help you out throughout your tour.

• Although you will see and hear the Greek language everywhere (still written in the same characters developed by the ancients 1000’s of years ago) nearly everyone speaks English, if they don’t, like everything else, it doesn’t matter, the locals are always friendly and ready to help.
• Greece is a country of islands and the Greeks have a deep affiliation with the sea while their economy is built on shipping and trade (made most famous by Aristotle Onassis). It’s almost impossible to get around the country without using boats and ferries, an experience that must be had.
• The Greeks have a super relaxed and casual attitude towards life. Time means very little and most of the country operates on ‘Greek time’.
• Family, food, and dancing are very important
• Tipping of around 10% is considered polite