Sundowrini

Santorini is a place of some of the most amazing natural beauty I've seen. The incredible, improbable topology of the islands was created by one of the biggest natural disasters in human memory - a volcano that nigh on wiped out the Minoan civilisation and covered most of Europe, the Middle East and North Africa in ash.

What is left behind is the stunning remains of the mountain; the islands are literally the edge of the caldera, forming a broken circle around the still-active centre of the volcano. Oh, and not a bad vantage point from which to take a few snaps of the sunset over the Mediterranean...


Of course, I wasn't the only one with the idea.

Nope - not the only one.

Santorini saturation

Santorini could not be more photogenic if it was built from the ground up - and I went duly snap-happy. Although there is another brilliant view or street scene around every corner, it still is a challenge to get things right with the whites of the stonewashed houses contrasting with the dark volcanic soil and the deep blues of the sea and sky, and to find truly interesting viewpoints. I took hundreds of shots here, but I'll only inflict a few on you.

Mykonos by moonlight

The good life

Mykonos was another surprise for me - expecting a town which was about partying and not much more, I was pretty amazed by the laid-back, friendly feel of the little town huddled around the harbour. While the party atmosphere, and all the boutique stores and cafes a tourist could want, were there, the place still seems to keep a very strong hold on it's identity, with very few of the (understandably) weary, put-upon attitudes you see so often from people in such super-destinations evident. Definitely a place I could spend some more time.

The harbour market at which fishermen and farmers display their goods for the cafe and restaurant owners was a brilliant chance to see the locals in action. The Mediterranean tone of conversation (like their attitude to road rules) never ceases to amaze me - if only I could understand what it is they were discussing so heatedly and yet seemingly without causing any offense whatsoever!

Party animal

What was I doing on my first night in the Greek Islands? Hanging around on rooftops taking photos of course... Click to enlarge if you'd like a better look.