Travel Postcard-pretty Santorini villages e next morning, we viewed our ship’s entrance into the caldera (cauldron-like depression) formed by the largest volcanic eruption in recorded history. We joined Celestyal’s excursion to Oia, one of the whitewashed villages that cling to the steep, 29-kilometre-long, crescent-shaped caldera rim. e unspoiled village of Megalochori was our rst stop. Its narrow streets wind past pistachio trees, white buildings, blue doors and bell tower-topped churches. Yiannis, our guide, showed us the vineyards that produce grapes for Santorini’s delicious wines. “ ey grow low to the ground to trap humidity,” he explained. e picturesque village Oia is breathtaking. From the central square, dominated by a white church topped with six bells, we followed a cobblestone street past cafés and shops to alluring viewpoints. Beautiful blue domes crowned whitewashed buildings nestled into niches in the volcanic rock above the sea. Many of the original cave homes are now luxury hotels that charge as much for one night during the summer as the entire price of our inclusive seven-night Celestyal cruise. A er the 7.6-Richter scale earthquake that destroyed much of Oia and Fira in 1956, both villages were beautifully restored. Located above the caldera on multicoloured 366-metre-high cli s, Fira is traditionally accessed by climbing 600 stone steps on foot or on donkeys. Our tour included cable car tickets, so we could ascend the blu in only two minutes. From Fira, we looked down at the Celestyal Crystal moored in the collapsed, sea- lled caldera, surrounded by horseshoe-shaped cli s that remained a er the volcanic explosion sunk the centre of the island 3,600 years ago. If Plato was correct, that catastrophe submerged the advanced civilization of Atlantis. We Deliver! Wintering in Florida, Arizona or California? By Individual Driver Door to Door or Truck For more information about our services call: We pick up your vehicle from your doorstep and deliver it to your winter destination… and get it safely back home when you’re ready. www.torontodriveaway.com The Premier Driveaway Service in North America! I N T E G R I T Y • H O N E S T Y • C O U R T E S Y 416-225-7754 Toronto Drive-Away Service Nationwide Inc. TRUSTED Since 1959 Fira clings to 366-metre-high cliffs above Santorini’s caldera Whitewashed buildings, cave hotels and blue domes, Oia CSANews | FALL 2019 | 21
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