Santorini: Day 1

{ Our first moments in Santorini- so happy! }

I couldn’t believe how quickly five days had passed in Istanbul, and our long-awaited honeymoon was down to only another five days. Nevertheless, we were on our way to the relaxing portion of our trip- Santorini, Greece. It had been over three years since I had last enjoyed the Mediterranean and Petar and I had especially anticipated seeing his parents and younger brother.

We were greeted at the airport by my in-laws and Petar’s thirteen year old brother. It was such an emotional welcoming. Even though Petar and I had been best friends for over seven years, this was the first time I was meeting his parents and now more importantly, being introduced as his wife. Hugs and kisses were exchanged and we made our way to a teeny tiny yellow Hyundai. This would be our form of transportation for the rest of our vacation on the island.

{ Our yellow Hyundai– perfect for a summer vacation on the islands }

Our hotel was located in the town of Imerovigli; the highest point in Santorini known for some of the best sunset views, next to Oia. Finally making it up the mountain in this poor little car, we drove around in circles searching for our hotel. When we did find it, the practically non-existent sign, nailed into the side of a cliff, made me feel a bit better about seriously hunting this place down. We were greeted with fresh orange juice and the keys to our apartment…. And what a surprise that was. We’ll get back to that later…

{ A first glimpse of our hotel, Andromeda Villas }

{ Vibrant blues and calming whites- the iconic colors of Greece }

{ The tunnel through the caves and the entry to our hotel }

Famished from our two morning flights and our pre-existing jetlag, eating quickly became the top of our priority list. We found a local taverna and sat down to indulge in traditional Greek food. It was absolutely lovely to not be on the clock; to eat and sip house wine and chat at our leisure. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed. We spent hours (as dinner usually is in Greece) getting to know one another, exchanging stores of Petar’s childhood and our life now together in the states. This was the last piece of the puzzle to truly feeling that Petar and I were a family and at that very moment, we finally were. I had never seen him happier- surrounded by the people that he loves.

{ Dinner with the family at a local Taverna }

The evening took us down to the beach where we walked around exploring the small shops and tavernas that lined the walkways. Nights in Santorini were just as chilly as Istanbul. The open sea causes a strong breeze so make sure to always have a sweater with you. The island had a nostalgic and quaint feeling about it- I wasn’t sure if it was my memories of summers in Greece or the new ones I was creating with my other family. Regardless, with an ice cream in one hand and my husband’s in the other, I was completely content. It was the perfect beginning to the end of our trip.

– Y