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A scenic island!
Narrow roads!
pool at Thira's Dolphin
View of the Port from the Bus
I'll be landing on the 30th of July for a period of 7 nights. I'd like to do a super whirlwind tour of the Cyclade Islands....preferably Santorini, Naxos, Paros Ios and some other island. Its basically for photography that i'm coming so i'd like to visit all the scenic islands.
Also need REALLY cheap accomodation. I am not at all fussy about the place. I just need a place for the night on each island. I will be travelling most of the time and a posh room will do me no good. I dont even mind camping sites. Can anyone make any suggestions ?
Thanks a billion !!
Pradeep
Those particular islands are all easily connected by Ferry so moving between them is not a problem. If you want one more island you can take the small local shuttle ferry from Paros to Antiparos, or you can take a daytrip excursion from either Paros or Naxos to Delos with a short stop on Mykonos for a couple of hours. Starting in Athens/Piraeus your first stop would be Paros. Look here for ferry departures on July 30.
http://tinyurl.com/lnqrnh
There is an airport express bus (X96) to Piraeus that leaves the airport every 30 minutes or so. It costs 3.2 euro and takes about an hour. The bus stop is outside Arrival door 5. There is a ticket kiosk nearby.
On Santorini the most beautiful village of Oia is the best one for photography. The cheapest beds are in the Youth Hostel Oia.
http://www.santorinihostel.gr
The cheapest private room I know of there is Casa Francesca.
http://www.santorini.com/hotels/casafrancesca/hotel.php
Thanks a lot Brotherleelove ! Do I need to book these excursions online and in advance or will I be able to do this when I get to Paros ?
I was checking out www.excursions.gr and they have an impressive array of trips. Could you suggest any others who might be cheaper ?
I recommend that you just wait until you're there to see what's available then since sometimes the schedules change or an excursion might be cancelled because of high winds. The Delos Excursion isn't every day, by the way, another reason to wait to see what the current schedule is. And if you stay on Paros you'll have to get to the village of Naoussa for the pickup.
Thanks for that tip bro. Any recommendations for hostels in Paros ?
Would it be advisable to buy the ferry/flying dolphin tickets in advance or should i get them when i arrive at the port ? Can they be bought at the ports considering its peak season ?
Sorry, I don't know about the hostels on Paros. Last time I stayed there I got a 20 euro room as a walk-in at Alexandra's Rooms, but it was off-season so I doubt you'll get that price. When you get off the ferry walk to the left along the seafront for about 1/4 mile to the Hotel Paros. Alexandra's is next door set back off the street. There will be people meeting the ferries with offers, so you might find something more affordable that way.
The large conventional car ferries don't need advance purchase, even in high season, but the faster ferries do. FYI-the Flying Dolphins haven't been used in the Cyclades Islands for many years. The fast ferries are all newer, enclosed catamarans.
The best place to view the sunset is by the Kastro Walls in Oia. It's a bit difficult to explain where this is exactly, but you have to walk through the main square and through some narrow winding streets. There'll be hundreds of people going the same way about an hour or so before the sun sets so you should find it OK. Do get there early for a good view!
Please note this tip has been edited to meet guidlines. My favorite thing about Santorini is you have a great atmosphere to let your hair down and be silly and have fun. Please relax while you are here.
If you would like to know more or want to know what the tip was about before, please email me.
Greeks smashing plates to accompany musicians is a mental image of Greece practically as common as the sight of the Parthenon. But if it were really as common in Greece as foreigners believe, there wouldn't be a saucer left intact in the entire country. How did this noisy custom get started?
Ancient Origins
In its earliest form, plate smashing may be a survival of the ancient custom of ritually "killing" the ceramic vessels used for feasts commemorating the dead. The voluntary breaking of plates, which is a type of controlled loss, may also have helped participants in dealing with the deaths of their loved ones, a loss which they could not control.
Similar offerings may also have been presented at other times to include the dead in festival proceedings, with the result that this custom for the dead began to be tied in with all kinds of celebrations.
Breaking plates can also be a symbol of anger, a classic part of domestic disturbances. Since plate breaking often occurs at happy occasions, it may have begun as a way of fooling malicious spirits into thinking that the event is a violent one instead of a celebration.
Worldwide, noise is believed to drive away evil, and the sound of the plates smashing against the stone or marble floors of Greek houses would be loud enough to scare off almost anything.
Step lively, children
There is a phrase used by children about sidewalk cracks - "Step on a crack or you'll break the Devil's dishes". In early Crete, ritual offerings and vessels were thrown into cracks and fissures located near peak sanctuaries. These "cracks" would certainly have had "dishes" in them, and later followers of Christianity may have demonized the old practice.
Since the children's chant is actually a caution to avoid stepping on cracks, it may refer back to ancient associations with these "dishes". So breaking plates during a performance may be a way of protecting the dancers and musicians by destroying supposedly evil influences present in the poor plates.
At Caldera Beach you will find the Diving centre. It is a small remote beach with traditional caves below the cliffs of Akrotiri.
Ask to be transfered from your hotels here.
Santorini Dive Center has an office also in Perissa village, at the southeast part of the island and is located in Perissa Camping in front of the famous Black Sand Beach, between the Beach Bar and Yazz bar.
Oia, (pronounced E-ah).
'The enchanting sunset' from high on the cliff-top you can witness the most magnificent views on Santorini. With picture-book roads winding around the cliffs that over look the sea you'll be lost in a dream in this romantic town.
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