We woke this morning to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas as an alarm. Immediately that puts me in a holiday mood! I shook Conner awake so we could open presents. We got up and opened the balcony to look over the ocean as we ate our croissants for breakfast before he let me bring out our presents. I got him an Irish rugby jersey and he got me Celtic earrings and an Irish harp necklace! How fitting that we both got each other a gift that would remind us of our time spent this semester in Ireland. I can’t believe we are heading home in only 5 short days!!
After we opened gifts, we got ready, him with his Christmas button up and me with my Christmas sweater and jumped on the quad. Him and I took a little trip down to the town of Kamari where the black sand beaches are located. We walked along the beach, climbed over rocks out into the ocean, and sat on a bench talking about the holiday. It is absolutely beautiful here and we are enjoying celebrating together, but it doesn’t feel a whole lot like Christmas when you’ve spent the past 20 years of your life celebrating at home in Indiana. I’m so grateful to be here with Conner but also can’t wait to celebrate with his family and mine when we get back!
Leaving the beaches, we spent the rest of the morning driving around the southeastern part of the Island. We made a stop in Pyrgos and did a short hike to Diaplo, which is a viewpoint looking over the entire western coast. It’s an incredible view and we took our Christmas picture from up there! Conner and I got back on the quad and drove back to Fira where we knew a few places were open for lunch and for coffee. We first parked in the car park before walking around the town and stopping at Magma Café. There, I had an espresso freddo, which is an iced espresso in a tall glass. It is only made this way in Greece! It was delicious and cool little café filled with locals enjoying Christmas with their friends.
For lunch, we went to El Greco Taverna. We sat upstairs where the windows were open and Christmas music filled the air! They had the best Christmas playlist going the entire time we were there. They gave us free wine with our meals as a Christmas gift! I had the lamb, Conner had the pork gyros plate, and we had fresh Tzatziki sauce with our meals. It was the most perfect holiday meal. I can’t even describe how delicious it was but if you ever visit Santorini, El Greco is the place to go!
After lunch we chilled out in our hotel room for a while, considering we can open the doors and just enjoy the view from the comfort of some chairs before heading back to Oia! Every drive we take, I can’t stop smiling because of the amazing views I’m seeing around me. I’m just so happy to be in such a beautiful country!
We got to Oia an hour or so before sunset and got some frozen greek yogurt from a little café. We played with the town dogs and cats that were outside while we were eating! The sunset tonight was different and just as beautiful in its unique way as there were some scattered clouds that covered the horizon and jet trails covering the bright blue sky. The sky changed from orange to deep purples and blues as the sun sunk behind the clouds. I couldn’t tell you which one was more breathtaking, but the sunsets here are ones that will stay with me!
On our drive back to Fira after the sunset, we stopped in a little pull off area on top of the mountain to watch the moon rise over the ocean. It was an incredibly deep red that cast orange glow over the water. It was so beautiful! I got to watch it rise higher and higher, changing colors all the way as I held on to Conner the whole drive back! It couldn’t have been a better end to the day.
We went to get gyros at our favorite place we have gone to the past three days for dinner after we returned. The owner recognized us and greeted us warmly! The waiter also remembered us and came over to talk with us too. The people living in Santorini are the nicest people I’ve ever met! The food was amazing yet again, and after dinner, I thanked them in Greek and they all were very happy to see me trying to speak in the language! Wishing them a Merry Christmas, we left to go back to our hotel. It was another busy day, and as it was Christmas, we still had to watch a movie! We watched the Grinch and are now turning in for the night because we have another long day ahead of us tomorrow!
Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones! I miss you family and friends and love you all very much!
After we opened gifts, we got ready, him with his Christmas button up and me with my Christmas sweater and jumped on the quad. Him and I took a little trip down to the town of Kamari where the black sand beaches are located. We walked along the beach, climbed over rocks out into the ocean, and sat on a bench talking about the holiday. It is absolutely beautiful here and we are enjoying celebrating together, but it doesn’t feel a whole lot like Christmas when you’ve spent the past 20 years of your life celebrating at home in Indiana. I’m so grateful to be here with Conner but also can’t wait to celebrate with his family and mine when we get back!
Leaving the beaches, we spent the rest of the morning driving around the southeastern part of the Island. We made a stop in Pyrgos and did a short hike to Diaplo, which is a viewpoint looking over the entire western coast. It’s an incredible view and we took our Christmas picture from up there! Conner and I got back on the quad and drove back to Fira where we knew a few places were open for lunch and for coffee. We first parked in the car park before walking around the town and stopping at Magma Café. There, I had an espresso freddo, which is an iced espresso in a tall glass. It is only made this way in Greece! It was delicious and cool little café filled with locals enjoying Christmas with their friends.
For lunch, we went to El Greco Taverna. We sat upstairs where the windows were open and Christmas music filled the air! They had the best Christmas playlist going the entire time we were there. They gave us free wine with our meals as a Christmas gift! I had the lamb, Conner had the pork gyros plate, and we had fresh Tzatziki sauce with our meals. It was the most perfect holiday meal. I can’t even describe how delicious it was but if you ever visit Santorini, El Greco is the place to go!
After lunch we chilled out in our hotel room for a while, considering we can open the doors and just enjoy the view from the comfort of some chairs before heading back to Oia! Every drive we take, I can’t stop smiling because of the amazing views I’m seeing around me. I’m just so happy to be in such a beautiful country!
We got to Oia an hour or so before sunset and got some frozen greek yogurt from a little café. We played with the town dogs and cats that were outside while we were eating! The sunset tonight was different and just as beautiful in its unique way as there were some scattered clouds that covered the horizon and jet trails covering the bright blue sky. The sky changed from orange to deep purples and blues as the sun sunk behind the clouds. I couldn’t tell you which one was more breathtaking, but the sunsets here are ones that will stay with me!
On our drive back to Fira after the sunset, we stopped in a little pull off area on top of the mountain to watch the moon rise over the ocean. It was an incredibly deep red that cast orange glow over the water. It was so beautiful! I got to watch it rise higher and higher, changing colors all the way as I held on to Conner the whole drive back! It couldn’t have been a better end to the day.
We went to get gyros at our favorite place we have gone to the past three days for dinner after we returned. The owner recognized us and greeted us warmly! The waiter also remembered us and came over to talk with us too. The people living in Santorini are the nicest people I’ve ever met! The food was amazing yet again, and after dinner, I thanked them in Greek and they all were very happy to see me trying to speak in the language! Wishing them a Merry Christmas, we left to go back to our hotel. It was another busy day, and as it was Christmas, we still had to watch a movie! We watched the Grinch and are now turning in for the night because we have another long day ahead of us tomorrow!
Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas with your loved ones! I miss you family and friends and love you all very much!