Opening Santorini> Travels

You know that feeling when you were a kid and you had a birthday, Christmas or Chanukah present all wrapped up and you had no idea what would be inside, but you knew it would be good. That kind of excitement is unfortunately lost in adulthood for the most part with perhaps the exception of a clothed woman soon to be undressed.

Last night I arrived on the island of Santorini at 10:00 at night. I had read about it, seen pictures, but everything was all dark when I my boat pulled in to a small port at the base of a 400 foot cliff.

I was lucky to be there, having found out I could catch a free to Santorini from Crete at the last minute. After catching a lift into the main town on the island, Thira, I walked around looking for a hotel. Unfortunately pretty much every place was closed, but in my search I caught some amazing views in the dark. It was kind of like peaking under the lid or shaking the box and Santorini was my present.

When I woke up and walked out of my hotel the next morning it was like unwrapping a present and finding a Ferrari with the Mona Lisa in the driver's seat. Sitting shot gun? Mr. T circa 1986. (For security... "I pity the foo that tries to steal this Ferrari and Mona Lisa or isn't enjoying this analogy.") I don't think I have ever been anywhere that is quite as fetching as Santorini. A local told me that men don't need pornography here. They just look out the window. I sort of believe them. OK, I made that up.

Santorini is part of the Cyclades Islands and is actually one huge, active Volcano. It's eruption in 1650 BC was the largest ever in recorded human history. It caused the entire center of the island to sink underwater. Some think this was the mythical lost Continent of Atlantis. My theory? I may not be a big city archaeologist, but I do know this: Santorini isn't exactly Continent size so it probably isn't. But again, it's lovely.