worldtravel 2016 Issue Two
Korea’s Big City of Seoul African Towns Taken by Nature Stunning Greek Isle of Santorini
Moscow
Capital of Unreal Architecture
Plus All New Top 5: Wonders of the World
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Street with shops in Santorini
Contents worldtravel Seoul City
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Moscow
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Top 5 Wonders
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Sandstorm
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Santorini
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Seoul City Words & Photos By Jamie Brown
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서울시 제이미 브라운
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f you are lucky enough to visit Seoul you will more than likely be arriving at Incheon International Airport. The airport is located about 70 Kms west of Seoul city but has excellent transportation to downtown Seoul. The easiest way to reach Seoul city centre is to take the airport express train. The train runs every 10 minutes and costs only a few dollars to take the 45 minute journey. The airport train station is located right beside Incheon airport and you can follow the signs to the station. After you have arrived at your accommodation in Seoul, it is time to head out and enjoy the city. The most convenient way to get around Seoul is by using the subway. There are hundreds of stations in Seoul city serving the 10 million people that live in the city, and 25 millions people that live in the metro area. Don’t worry about all these big numbers and stations. The subway system is very easy to use. All the lines are different colours, the station names and announcements are in Korean and English. In the morning and evening the trains can get quite crowded during rush hour so if possible travelling during this time should be restricted. The fare for the subway journey is only 1 dollar plus a 50 cent deposit for an electronic card. There are touch screen machines beside the subway gate. On the touch screen you touch the destination station you would like to visit and insert your money. The machines are in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese. When you have gotten your ticket you head through the ticket gate to your train. To enter the ticket gate you must swipe your card over the top of a sensor and the barrier will open. It is very simple to do and you can watch others and see how they enter. Now that you have mastered the subway it is time to head off and see the sights. A popular first stop destination for tourists is City Hall. City Hall seems to be the most central location in Seoul and were most of the important government buildings are but they aren’t the main attraction. In the city, you can see the Castle Peak, beautiful parks and museums, including the Korea National Museum and Leeum Samsung Museum of Art. They are collecting ancient works and art and display contemporary art museum. You can also find plenty of top class hotels and palaces.
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There are five main palaces in Seoul that were all built during the Joseon Dynasty over 500 years ago. All the palaces are in excellent condition and you can buy a pass to visit them all for 10,000 won. The palace that is closest to the station is Deoksugung Palace and a little down the road you can find Gyeongbokgung palace. One of the gates South Gate in the center of this bustling is a subject of pride for Seoul. It used to be the main entry to the city. Moreover the architectural excellence of South Gate is what makes tourists to visit the old city first. Deoksu Palace is set in a park and is a nice place. The beautiful pavilions and museums in the Kyongbok Palace attract many visitors to the older part of the city.
“Seoul has the perfect mix of modernism and tradition.” Another popular area after that is the Dongdaemun area. Dongdaemun has a great night market. The market is open 24 hours a day but really comes alive at night and when all the shop owners are there buying the latest in fashion at cheap prices. There are also a lot of street vendors selling delicious food. If you have time I recommend you visit Seoul Tower in the centre of Seoul on Namsan mountain. The tower is open until 10 pm or 11 pm depending on the day but offers stunning views of Seoul city and beyond. The summer Olympic Games were held in the summer of 1988 added to the advancement of the city. The Olympic Park is a good starting point to explore Seoul. There is the peace gate at one of the entrances which is one of the best-known landmarks of the city. In addition to ladies’ shirt full of romantic temperament and Eskimo style jacket, the fashion trends in Seoul have no many differences from Tokyo and Shanghai. Although young people here on the streets look very modern and stylish, this kind of fashion comes from their hats and unique hairstyles. Seoul has become a very fascinating and unexpected city, it is so charming in reality.
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신이 서울을 방문 할 정도로 운이 좋은 경우에 당신은 더 이상 가능성이 인천 국제 공항에 도착 될 것입니다. 공항은 서쪽으로 서울시의 약 70 킬로미터에 위치하지만 서울 도심 우수한 교통이된다. 서울 시내 중심에 도달하는 가장 쉬운 방법은 공항 익스프레스 기차를하는 것입니다. 기차는 10 분마다 실행되며 45 분 여행을하기 위해 몇 달러의 요금으로 제공됩니다. 공항 기차역 바로 인천 공항 옆에 위치하고 있으며 역 표지판을 따라 할 수 있습니다. 당신은 서울에서 숙박에 도착한 후에는 밖으로 머리와 도시를 즐길 수있는 시간입니다. 서울의 주위에 얻을 수있는 가장 편리한 방법은 지하철을 사용하는 것입니다. 도시에 사는 천만명를 제공하는 서울 도시 방송국의 수백, 그리고 메트로 지역에 사는 25 수백만의 사람들이있다. 이 모든 큰 번호와 방송국 대해 걱정하지 마십시오. 지하철 시스템은 사용하기 매우 쉽습니다. 모든 라인은 역 이름과 발표는 한국어와 영어로, 다른 색상입니다. 이 기간 동안 가능한 여행을 제한해야합니다 그래서 만약 아침과 저녁에 기차는 러시아워 매우 혼잡 얻을 수 있습니다. 지하철 여행에 대한 요금은 1 달러 플러스 전자 카드에 대한 50 %의 보증금입니다. 지하철 게이트 옆에 터치 스크린 기계가 있습니다. 터치 스크린에 당신은 당신이 방문하고 당신의 돈을 삽입하고자하는 상대국을 터치합니다. 기계는 한국어, 영어, 일본어, 중국어에 있습니다. 당신이 당신의 티켓을 찍었을 때 당신은 당신의 기차 티켓 게이트를 통해 향한다. 개찰구를 입력하려면 센서의 맨 위에 카드를 슬쩍해야 장벽이 열립니다. 할 매우 간단하며 다른 사람을보고 그들이 입력하는 방법을 볼 수 있습니다. 이제 지하철을 마스터했다고이 떨어져 머리와 명소를 볼 수있는 시간이다. 관광객을위한 인기있는 최초의 정지 대상은 시청입니다. 시청은 중요한 정부 건물의 대부분은 가장 서울 중심에 위치하고 있었다 것 같다 있지만 주요 관광 명소되지 않습니다. 도시에서는 캐슬 피크, 한국 국립 박물관과 미술관 리움 삼성 미술관을 포함하여 아름다운 공원과 박물관을 볼 수 있습니다. 그들은 고대의 작품과 예술을 수집하고 현대 미술 박물관을 표시하고 있습니다. 또한 최고 수준의 호텔과 궁전을 많이 찾을 수 있습니다.
모든 500 년 전 조선 시대 만들어진 서울의 다섯 가지 주요 궁전이있다. 모든 궁전은 최상의 상태를 유지하고 있습니다 당신은 만원에 대한 그들 모두를 방문하는 패스를 구입할 수 있습니다. 역에 가장 가까운 궁전은 덕수궁 및 경복궁 궁전을 찾을 수있는 도로 아래로 조금. 이 분주의 중심에 게이트 사우스 게이트 중 하나는 서울에 대한 자부심의 대상이다. 그것은 도시의 주요 항목으로 사용됩니다. 또한 사우스 게이트의 건축 우수성 먼저 오래된 도시를 방문하는 관광객을 만드는 것입니다. 덕수궁 공원에서 설정하고 좋은 장소입니다. 경복궁에서 아름 다운 파빌리온 박물관은 도시의 오래된 부분에 많은 방문자를 유치 할 수 있습니다.
“서울은 모더니즘과 전통의 완벽한 조합을 가지고있다.” 당신은 시간이 있다면 나는 당신이 남산 산에 서울의 중심에 서울 타워를 방문하는 것이 좋습니다. 타워 오후 10시 또는 11 오후 하루에 따라 때까지 열려 있지만, 서울시의 이후 멋진 전망을 제공합니다. 올림픽은 1988 년 여름에 개최되었습니다 여름은 도시의 발전에 추가됩니다. 올림픽 공원은 서울을 탐험 할 수있는 좋은 출발점이 될 것입니다. 도시의 가장 유명한 랜드 마크 중 하나입니다 입구 중 하나에서 평화 게이트가 있습니다. 낭만적 인 기질과 에스키모 스타일의 재킷의 전체 숙녀 ‘ 셔츠뿐만 아니라, 서울의 패션 트렌드는 도쿄와 상하이에서 더 많은 차이가 없습니다. 여기에 거리에 젊은 사람들은 매우 현대적이고 세련된 보이지만, 패션의이 종류는 모자와 독특한 헤어 스타일에서 비롯됩니다. 서울은 현실에서 매우 매력적인이며, 매우 매력적이고 예기치 않은 도시가되었다.
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Seoul has a long history, rich cultural connotation. There are four places being named world heritage by UNESCO, including the group of Royal Tombs and famous dynasty of Korea. While it is also one of the ten active financial and trading center in the world. Seoul has made significant progress in the area of digital. It is the first city to use Digital Multimedia Broadcasting, telephone and Wibro technology. Its subway is also the world’s largest; carrying capacity is about 200 million passengers a year.
서울은 오랜 역사, 풍부한 문화적 의미를 가지고있다. 로얄 무덤의 그룹과 한국의 유명한 왕조를 포함하여 유네스코에 의해 세계 문화 유산 명명되는 4 개소가있다. 또한 세계의 열 활성 금융 거래 센터 중 하나된다. 서울 디지털의 영역에서 상당한 진전을 이루었습니다. 디지털 멀티미디어 방송, 전화, 와이브로 기술을 사용하는 최초의 도시입니다. 그것의 지하철은 세계에서 가장 큰이며, 용량을 운반하면 약 200 만명의 승객 년이다.
In 2010, Seoul was named as world design capital. Maybe everyone is surprised. Yes, because we have heard a great deal about China and Japan news, but we have little understanding of Korea. The street here is very wide; both sides are all pretty big flagship stores. And there are all young people on the streets; they focus a lot on dress, giving people a sense of urbanity. Various kinds of common beads such as large hole beads, Pandora style beads can become fashionable jewelry.
2010 년 서울이 세계 디자인 수도로 선정됐다. 아마 모두가 놀라게됩니다. 예, 때문에 우리는 중국과 일본 뉴스에 대한 큰 거래를 들었습니다, 그러나 우리는 한국의 작은 이해를 가지고있다. 여기에 거리가 매우 넓다; 양쪽 모두 꽤 큰 플래그십 매장이다. 그리고 거리의 모든 젊은 사람들이있다; 그들은 사람들에게 도시 성의 감각을주는 드레스에 많은 초점을 맞추고있다. 이러한 큰 구멍 구슬 같은 일반적인 구슬의 다양한 종류, 판도라 스타일 비즈 패션 보석이 될 수 있습니다.
Seoul has the perfect mix of modernism and tradition. It is a sprawling metropolis where hyper-modern skyscrapers, high-tech subways and pop culture meet Buddhist temples, palaces and street markets.
서울은 모더니즘과 전통의 완벽한 조합을 가지고있다. 그것은 하이퍼 현대적인 고층 빌딩, 하이테크 지하철 및 대중 문화는 불교 사원, 궁전과 거리 시장을 만나는 거대한 대도시이다.
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Words & Photos By Jamie Brown
MOSCOW
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oscow is one of the largest cities in the world. It is the capital and largest city in Russia. The metropolitan area is also the largest in Europe. Few places can match its beauty and history. Moscow has been the seat of emperors and dictators and also a beacon of freedom and repression. In this incredible city you can feel the history on the streets, in the monuments to its past and in the faces of its people. The city’s architecture is unique and its night life is impressive. Some of its sights are overwhelming in their beauty and stories. Moscow has so much to see and do that in this global city your trip may have to be extended indefinitely. The city is famous worldwide for its architecture and historical sites. A great way to start your trip in Moscow is by going to the well known Red Square. Red Square has been a central landmark in the history of Russia. It is surrounded by beautiful sites like Kazan Cathedral and Lenin’s Mausoleum. Here you will also find the famous statues of Kuzma Minin and Dmitry Pozharsky which are made of bronze. Not only can you see some of Moscow’s famous statues and monuments to the city and country heroes here, but many roads radiate out from the square giving you access to the entire city.
“It’s colorful, unique, elegant and beautiful structure is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world.” From Red Square you can visit the Moscow Kremlin, a UNESCO World Heritage Site at the heart of the city. This massive structure is the home of the Russian President and parliament. The site has had a continuous fortified presence since the second century BC and with its four palaces and four cathedrals, is just as imposing today. This building, which used to be closed to the public, is now available for touring for those who wish to visit this capital city of Russia. The Kremlin must be seen to be believed. Before leaving this area of Moscow you must stop by St. Basil’s Cathedral located on the South East of Red Square. It’s colorful, unique, elegant and beautiful structure is one of the most recognizable symbols in the world. Building began in 1555 and the design is unlike any other of its time. The cathedral was built to represent a bonfire burning to the heavens and the stunning architectural work is inspiring. There are a number of transportation to get you around when you’re exploring Moscow. As mentioned, an airport shuttle service will be ideal for getting you to and from your accommodation, but once in the city you should make a beeline for the famously beautiful Moscow Metro. It is known for its stations which are beautifully designed with art and antiquity. There are also markets and shops outside the stations. The Metro doubles as an attraction in itself and its ornate finishes would be more at home in a museum than dingy train stations. There are also plenty of buses running to and from the city centre, which are cheap and reasonably easy to navigate. The Aquamarine Hotel and Hotel Voskhod are relatively economical places to stay at in Moscow.
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Why not visit Moscows world renowned zoo? The Moscow Zoo was built in 1864 and today covers over 20 hectares and houses over 1,000 different species. It includes a sea aquarium, an aviary, a creatures of the night exhibit, a sea lion exhibit and a section aimed at children. Waterfalls and streams were added throughout to give the zoo a more natural feeling.
“In this incredible city you can feel the history on the streets, in the monuments and in the faces of its people.” Experience Russian Dance in Red Square when you visit Moscow. This is an event that takes place yearly right in Red Square during Fridays in September. If you have not yet seen traditional Russian dance, this is your chance to enjoy this event and see it at its finest right in Red Square. Some of the dances that you will see are traditional Russian dances that have been practiced for hundreds of years. If you want to see authentic Russian culture, this is your chance to see it for free - right in the heart of Red Square. As a city that has traditionally claimed the title of being ‘The Third Rome’, Moscow, in Russia, is home to a number of worthy destinations for the historian or religious pilgrim. Even the not-so-religious will be fascinated with the city’s eternal treasures—churches of many different faiths are dotted all around the city, but if you only have time to visit a few, don’t miss these three.
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Like most other churches in Moscow, the Cathedral of the Annunciation is topped with golden domes. Once the royal chapel of the Muscovite tsars in the 15th century, every part of the church has a history behind it. The tiles of agate jasper that cover the floor were a gift from the Shah of Persia in the 16th century, while the frescoes on the walls were done by Feodosy. It also has controversy attached to it: Ivan the Terrible had to enter through a specialmade door, as he married more women than the Orthodox Church allowed. If you’re visiting to see some of Russia’s most famous icons, this church will not disappoint: on the second and third tiers are striking icons painted by some of the country’s greatest masters, such as Prokhor of Gorodets and Andrei Rublev. The Cathedral of the Archangel is hard to miss if you’re in central Moscow—after all, its stunning outline dominates Cathedral Square in the Kremlin. This cathedral has always held some political importance throughout the country’s history—it was here tsars and princes where buried, and where military victories were celebrated. It also features exceptional Baroque icons and other sacred relics, as well as some stunning frescoes. The ideal time for an amazing Russian holiday is during the months from through to May to August, which is also the peak holiday season with it being the summer months.
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STORM Words & Photos By Jamie Brown worldtravel | 2016 Two
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n the west of Africa, lie small towns slowly being reclaimed by nature. Kolmanskop is Namibia is arguably Africa’s most well-known ghost town and Baia dos Tigres, an island just off the coast of Angola. Kolmanskop (Afrikaans for Coleman’s hill) is a ghost town in the Namib desert in southern Namibia, 10 kilometres inland from the port town of Lüderitz. It was named after a transport driver named Johnny Coleman who, during a sand storm, abandoned his ox wagon on a small incline opposite the settlement. Once a small but very rich mining village, it is now a popular tourist destination. The area was rich in diamonds, German miners began settlement, and soon after starting to exploit the diamond field. Driven by the enormous wealth of the first diamond miners, the residents built the village in the architectural style of a German town, with amenities and institutions including a hospital, ballroom, power station, school, skittle-alley, theatre and sport-hall, casino, ice factory and the first x-raystation in the southern hemisphere, as well as the first tram in Africa. It had a railway link to Lüderitz.
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The town declined after World War I when the diamondfield slowly exhausted and was ultimately abandoned in 1954. The geological forces of the desert mean that tourists now walk through houses knee-deep in sand. Kolmanskop is popular with photographers for its settings of the desert sands’ claiming back this oncethriving town. Mining company De Beers set up a museum in 1980 to preserve some of the history of Kolmanskop. Now tourists come to see the restored buildings and walk around the eerie abandoned homes. Due to its location within the restricted area of the Namib desert, tourists need a permit to enter the town. Permits can be bought at the gate into the town and tours run daily. Several films and television series have filmed in the area. Films such as Dust Devil and The King is Alive, and well-known television series like Life After People and Wonders of the Universe. Baia dos Tigres is the largest island of Angola with an area of 98 km². It once had a small but well established fishing village named Tigres. Aided by rising sea levels, the ocean broke through the isthmus of the peninsula
in 1962 & the water line was severed. Tigres became an Island overnight with no water supply. The inhabitants abandoned the Island in 1974 to escape the strong wind, lack of drinking water and the transportation difficulties to the mainland, and has become a ghost island slowly being taken back by the desert.
“Now is the time to see these places, because they may not be accessible in the future.” The town’s remarkably broad main street is actually an air strip, built with concrete blocks in 1957 so light aircraft could land and take off on the island. It divides the town in two. On the one side is the church, a cinema, a building with fish oil tanks and a water tower. On the other side is a school, a hospital, a post office, a bakery and administration buildings. In its heyday, the town’s warm splashes of bright pink, yellow, blue and green must have contrasted beautifully
with the desert sand. There is still a faded beauty, but the paint is peeling and in the place of colourful doors and window frames are gaping holes in the walls. In front of the buildings and along the streets are the withered remains of ornamental shrubs and here and there. A tall tree’s dried branches stick out above a house, a testament to those residents’ perseverance in keeping trees alive for such a long time. Surveys of the Baia dos Tigres region in 1999 and 2001 indicated a rich wetland bird diversity consisting of 25 species, with a total of 11,000 birds. There are also established breeding grounds for several species of seabirds. There are fish weighing over 200 kg (including sharks and rays) and lots of kob, ranging in size from 3 to 50 kilograms. The kob are known to take anything thrown at them with bait (spinners, spoons, tobeys) all producing good results and a delightful fishing experience. It’s unbelievable to see the build up of sand in these places and you cannot imagine what will happen in the years to come and what that will look like. Now is the time to see these places, because they may not be accessible or even existing in the future.
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TOP
worldtravel
5
Wonders Of The
WORLD By Jamie Brown
5. Colosseum Also known as the Flavian Amphitheatre, the Colosseum is an oval amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy. Built of concrete and sand in the first century,Caumasee it is the largest amphitheatre Lake ever built. It was used for gladiatorial contests and public spectacles such as animal hunts, executions, re-enactments of famous battles, and dramas based on classical mythology. It’s just so easily accessible being right in the middle of Rome, one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. It has to be in our Top 5 just because of the shear number of people that visit the Colosseum on a daily basis.
4. Maccu Pichu Unlike the Colosseum, Maccu Pichu is not so easily accessable and visited by thousands of people a day. It is an isolated citidel built by the Incas in the 15th century. Maccu Pichu can only be accessed by foot, with your choice of a one up to a five day trek. Walking puts a lot of people off, but this place has to be in worldtravel’s Top 5 because of it’s location and it’s 360 degree views of stunning mountains and ravines. Beware of llamas!
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3. Giza We would be silly not to include The Great Pyramid Of Giza in this Top 5 simply because it is the only remaining original Wonder Of The World. It is wrongly assumed that it is the Great Pyramids Of Giza but it is only the biggest and the oldest that is one of the Wonders Of The World. Don’t forget the Sphinx - Also not a Wonder. But since we’re in the area we might as well enjoy it. Completed in 2540 BC it was the tallest manmade structure in the world for nearly 4,000 years, until the Lincoln Cathedral in Britain came along in 1311.
2. Petra Why is Petra number 2 in this Top 5? Better yet, what is Petra? And why don’t people know about it? Petra is a famous archaeological city in Jordan. Dating back to around 300 B.C., it was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Basically, it is a number of buildings carved into giant rock. And that is why it is where it is in the Top 5. Because The Treasury (which is what you see to your right) looks like a proper building, but it is actually a carving.
The Great Wall Yes, The Great Wall of China, and formerly parts of Mongolia and North Korea everybody. The number 1 Wonder Of The World. Who can argue with nearly 9,000 kilometres of bricklaying? Not us. While parts of the wall are missing or falling apart, much of the wall is well preserved and suitable for walking. The wall is only a stone’s throw from Beijing. Thus making it an easy day trip if you’re in the area. You’ve got to check at least one of these out. Or even check ‘em all out. Or even all 8 Wonders Of The World (not 7).
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Santorini is one of the most fascinating and magical islands of Greece colors that streak the sky change from lilac to deep purple, from yello reflecting its light on to the sea a
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santorini Words & Photos By Jamie Brown
e. It is said that the sunsets in Santorini are the best in the word, and The ow to orange to red, as the golden sun sinks and becomes blood red and the surrounding little islands. worldtravel | 2016 Two
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S
antorini is essentially what has been left from an enormous volcanic explosion which destroyed the settlements thereon and led to the creation of the current geological caldera. The island slopes downward from the cliffs to the surrounding Mediterranean sea. Located about 200 km south-east from Greece’s mainland, It is the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km², and has an estimated population of 15,500. It is also known as Thera. Santorini is one of the few Cycladic Islands with a major airport. It is about 6 km southeast of the city of Thira. The airport serves both as a military and as a civil airport. The air terminal is easily accessible through buses, taxis, hotel car-pickups and rental cars. Santorini has many ports and ferries travelling to and from other Greek islands as well as the mainland. Specifically for the tourists that come from central Europe and travel through Italy there are ferries to Patra(Greece) where the visitor can directly take buses to the port of Piraeus and from there to Santorini by ferry. Santoríni is really best approached by sea; as your arriving craft manoeuvres over the impossibly midnight blue waters of the caldera, the sheer lava cliffs of the caldera lip, layered in varicoloured rock, loom overhead, with white houses on top like a dusting of snow. The “default” location for most visitors is Fira, the largest and by far the busiest town on the island. The center of Fira can be like a souk, filled with browsing cruise-ship crowds looking at menus and the goods in hundreds of tighly packed shops. For all practical purposes, Fira is a pedestrain zone, with the 500-meter palisade on the west and the north-south road on the east. The centre of Fira is awash with colour by day as shoppers find bargains, while at night the bars pulsate with fun-loving tourists who look down on the beautiful views of the coast. The same bright blue rooftops pop up in everyone’s photos of Santorini—enough to make you think the entire island is full of them. In reality, these photos are all variations on one vista (pictured here). You can find the most famous blue rooftops in Oia Town - you’ll know them when you see them. The one ‘must’ in Firá is the Museum of Prehistoric Thera, with its Minoan murals rescued from pre-cataclysm Akrotíri. Santoríni’s dark, volcanic-sand or pebble beaches are as much curiosities as bathing venues; the most practical and enjoyable are Perivólas and Vlyháda in the far south of the island. There are two classic hiking routes: from Períssa to Kamári, past post-eruption ancient Thera, and along the caldera edge from Imerovígli to Oía. For a sense of the ancient volcano’s lingering power, take a day-trip to the caldera islets with their hot springs and clinker surfaces. Catch a poetry reading - with free wine and snacks on the outdoor terrace at Atlantis Books, an independent shop owned by a group of hyper-literate expats. It hosts events throughout the year, including a Super 8 film festival and the Caldera Literary Festival in October.
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“Santoríni is really best approached by sea, as your arriving craft manoeuvres over the impossibly midnight blue waters of the caldera.”
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Why not charter a crewed catamaran from Santorini Sailing Blue Lagoon Cruises to visit the still-active volcano on Nea Kameni, about two miles away from Oia, where you can hike, snorkel, and float in the caldera. Nightlife in Santorini varies so you can find the right place to suit you and your mood. Enigma club and Koo club located in Fira for mainstream, pop, and greek music. Casablanca bar in Fira for a chill out with soul and mainstream music. Tango for a first drink with a great view and foreign music. Franco’s mainly for couples with cocktails, a great view and relaxing music. The island is home to some 14sqkm of vineyards, most of which grow assyrtiko. The native grape is now found across Greece, producing white wines that are full-bodied, dry and, unsurprisingly, have a
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slightly mineral taste. The varieties shown here were featured at a tasting at the vineyard Domaine Sigalas, just on the outskirts of Oia. There are very few sidewalks in Sanotorini and you are faced with the only option of walking on the side of the street. There are only two lanes and the drivers can be recklessat times, so you do need to be careful not to be run over by cars, vans or scooters. And make sure your accommodation isn’t on the main road out of town because the motor scooters often buzz up and down till 3am in the morning. Beaches - Be careful! The least of your worries is the hot black sand. When going into the water you must be very careful not to slip on the stones. Santorini is a volcanic island and the way into the water is made of large pieces of slippery stones. It is advisable to wear shoes, but still walk carefully.
Thanks to it’s volcanic background, Santorini is a rainbow of colours. Its cliffs, made up of layers of volcanic rock and soil, are banded with bright hues. Yes, Santorini is an island of the classic Greek blue and white variety - but with a bit of exploring, it’s easy to see a place of burnt orange and blood red, royal purple and butter yellow, electric green and pastel pink. It’s one of the spectacles of the Mediteranian, as is the reverse practice of staring out over the caldera waters from up top – something not lost on the strangely assorted clientele of honeymooners, cruise-ship patrons and backpackers. Santorini is nice year-round, with peak seasons in August and the holidays. Make sure you arrive during the daytime to take advantage of the wonderful views as you approach!
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