Greece

In Santorini, the sea is all aquamarine and the traditional Greek architecture is all white stone, but the sunsets are every color you could imagine. Birthed from a volcano millions of years ago, the Greek island of Santorini floats in the southern tip of the Aegean Sea. Volcanic activity has left the majestic island with black and red sand beaches and a mountainous terrain.  The terrain adds so much romance to the already charming, cosmopolitan island. The perfect location for romantic strolls, intimate outdoor dining, and smooth sailing!

THE HOTEL CANVASES OIA SUITES

White from the walls to the furniture, our suite at the Canvases in the village of Oia could be compared to fresh air — simple and clean and great for relaxing, deep breaths.

The suites are built right into the cliff side overlooking the Aegean Sea, where the buildings have stood since the 1600’s. Originally built as wineries, all the suites have been impeccably refurbished and decorated with much sophistication. The layout includes a King Size bed in the open plan bedroom, a spacious living room and the option of private jacuzzi and/or plunge pool.

The calming atmosphere definitely cools off even the driest of hot of summer days. As the temperature lingered in the high 80’s the majority of our stay, the pool became part of our daily routine. Nothing like a big umbrella and some smoothies to kill the heat!

Topping of our three night, four day stay, we stopped by the spa for a soothing massage. The massage rooms were indoor/outdoor with an incredible view of the sea. The ocean breeze added a whole other level of serenity to our relaxation, recharging us as we said our goodbyes to Santorini.

THE LAND

Santorini is the most famous of its neighboring islands for a reason. Apart from its magical landscape, Santorini is busting with bustling villages, a variety of unique shops and exquisite dining.

As we stayed in Oia, we spent most of our days perusing the maze of the cliffside town. Time flew browsing down cobblestone streets, stopping in almost every storefront we passed — clothing shops, souvenir shops, storefronts packed with paintings of Santorini, even fish spas! We let the fish nibble off and exfoliate our feet for a good ten minutes, before returning to our travels. Overall, the shops were great for strolling and window shopping, though I did walk away with two sun hats for some much needed sun protection, and a couple postcards to send out to my brothers.

Needless to say, all the walking certainly built up an appetite! By the end of the day we were always ready for some nourishment, which Oia had plenty to offer.

My favorite spot — Ambrosia. With two gorgeous terraces overlooking the sea and amazing Modern Greek Cuisine, Ambrosia found a special place in my heart and my stomach. Our first night in Santorini, we dined underneath the stars, which I highly recommend. It may have been the 20-hour flight from Los Angeles, but I was starving upon arrival at Ambrosia. I ordered a bread basket with homemade dips, a warm tomato soup, rocket salad with spinach, slices of parmesan and walnuts with a pomegranate dressing, and Tagliatelle with cherry tomatoes and shrimp to finish. I was definitely more than satisfied.

THE SEA

What’s an island with out the sea, and what better way to explore than an afternoon cruise?

We chartered a boat from Sunset Oia and spent the day sailing the Aegean Sea, lounging and admiring the soothing waters as well as the spectacular view of the island. We plugged in our own music and let the songs sway with us on the sea, visiting Santorini’s neighboring islands. The red sand beach most vividly stands out in my mind — the setting, the deep, alluring red against the aquamarine water, was more dream than reality.

The food, the shops, the cliffs, the suite, the stars and the sunset — Santorini was truly a picture-perfect fairytale getaway!