Athens and Santorini, Greece · 2022
From Athens to Santorini
A special celebration in Athens, ancient landmarks, unforgettable Santorini sunsets, a spectacular caldera walk, and a sailing adventure with an unexpected twist.
A Journey Worth Celebrating
Some trips begin with a destination in mind. This one began with something worth celebrating.
My wife had earned the prestigious Chairman’s Council Award in recognition of her work and dedication. The award came with an invitation to a gathering in Greece, bringing together award recipients and their guests from across Canada.
We were delighted to make the trip together. And since we were travelling all the way to Greece, we decided to extend the journey with a few days on Santorini.
What followed was a lovely combination of celebration, ancient history, quiet time by the sea, long walks with a camera, memorable meals, and one boat ride that did not go quite as planned.
Athens Riviera: A Special Celebration
May 8–9, 2022
We arrived in Athens on the afternoon of May 8 and made our way to the Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens, on a pine-covered peninsula overlooking the Aegean Sea. Our room had an enormous window and a balcony facing the water. It was the sort of view that made us want to unpack slowly and spend a little longer just looking outside.
That evening, we joined the group for dinner at Agora Riviera. Between the live music, good food, and a beautiful sunset, it was a wonderful introduction to Greece. After a long day of travelling, we couldn’t have asked for a better first evening.
The next morning included a business session, followed by a free afternoon. That evening was the Chairman’s Council Awards Gala Dinner, the reason for our visit. It was a special occasion, and I was proud to be there with my wife as she celebrated an achievement she had worked hard to earn.
A Day in Ancient Athens
May 10, 2022
Our group set out for a guided visit to Athens, a city where thousands of years of history are part of everyday life.
We began at the Panathenaic Stadium, often called the Marble Stadium. Built entirely of marble, it hosted the first modern Olympic Games in 1896. Standing among its sweeping rows of seats, it was easy to imagine the excitement of a stadium filled with spectators.
From there we headed to Plaka, the historic neighbourhood at the foot of the Acropolis, for lunch. Its narrow streets, lively atmosphere, and cafés made it a pleasant change of pace before the afternoon’s highlight.
The Acropolis was extraordinary. Seeing the Parthenon above the city, and then walking among the ancient structures, felt very different from seeing them in photographs.
Our last stop was Syntagma Square. As we walked past the Greek Parliament Building, the former Royal Palace, we stopped to take a few photos. It is one of Athens’ well-known landmarks. Afterwards, we headed back to the hotel, bringing our day in ancient Athens to a close.
Your day, your way
May 11–12, 2022
May 11 was officially a day at leisure, described in the programme as “Your day, your way.” We took that invitation seriously.
We spent much of the day at the hotel, soaking in the warm pool, stretching out on loungers in the sunshine, enjoying good food, and walking along the seaside paths around the property. There was no rush and no schedule to keep. Sometimes that is exactly what a holiday needs.
After breakfast on May 12, it was time to say goodbye to the Athens Riviera. While the conference programme was ending, our Greek adventure wasn’t over. We had an afternoon flight to Santorini.
Santorini: Dinner with a Sunset
May 12, 2022
We arrived on Santorini in the afternoon and checked into Esperas Hotel in Oia, perched on the island’s famous cliffs.
We had deliberately kept our first evening simple: settle in, enjoy dinner, and watch the sunset. We ate at the hotel’s Ombra Restaurant, where the food was excellent and our server made the evening even more enjoyable. With the caldera stretching out before us and the sun slowly dropping toward the horizon, there was really nowhere else we wanted to be.
It was the perfect beginning to our time on the island.
The Long Walk from Oia to Fira
May 13, 2022
This was the day I had been looking forward to most: walking along the caldera from Oia to Fira.
We set out in the morning and covered more than 10 kilometres, following paths along the rim of the island. Around almost every bend there was something worth stopping for: whitewashed buildings, blue-domed churches, rugged cliffs, distant islands, and the extraordinary blue of the Aegean Sea.
It was stunning from beginning to end. We stopped again and again, partly to enjoy the views and partly because I simply couldn’t resist taking another photograph. What might have been a straightforward hike became an all-day experience of looking, wandering, and taking our time.
By the time we reached Fira, we were ready for dinner. Argo Restaurant was a wonderful choice, with delicious food and an amazing view over the caldera. After spending the day looking at the landscape from the trail, it was a pleasure to sit down and enjoy it from a table.
For me, this walk was one of the highlights of the entire trip.
Sailing the Caldera
May 14, 2022
Our last full day began at Ammoudi Port, beneath the cliffs of Oia. At around 9:30 in the morning, we boarded the Sunrise II, a 56-foot Lagoon 560 catamaran operated by Sunset Oia, for a Diamond Morning Cruise around Santorini’s caldera.
Seeing the island from the water offered a completely different perspective. The cliffs rose dramatically above us, and familiar places looked entirely new from the sea.
Our route included a stop at the volcanic hot springs near Palea Kameni, followed by views of Aspronisi, the Akrotiri Lighthouse, and the unusual cliff formation known as Indian Rock. We also visited the coastline around the famous Red Beach and White Beach, with opportunities to swim and snorkel.
The crew prepared a barbecue lunch onboard, with local Greek wine available as we anchored near the cliffs. It all sounded perfect. And for the first half of the trip, it really was.
Then the motion sickness arrived.
It hit me badly enough that I started vomiting and eventually had to lie down. While everyone else was enjoying the freshly prepared barbecue, I couldn’t face a single bite. Missing that lunch was especially painful for someone who loves good food as much as I do!
Fortunately, the views and the photographs from the earlier part of the cruise were worth it. We returned to port shortly after 3 p.m., following roughly five and a half hours on the water. It was a memorable sailing trip, although perhaps not quite in the way I had imagined.
One Last Sunset
May 14–15, 2022
Despite my less-than-perfect afternoon at sea, we still went out after dinner to watch one final Santorini sunset. We walked out toward the rocky cliffs on the western edge of Oia, overlooking Ammoudi Bay, to watch the sun disappear over the Aegean. It was away from the better-known Oia Castle viewpoint, with rugged volcanic rock around us and the sea stretching toward the horizon.
After days of spectacular scenery, it felt like the right way to end our stay. We had an early flight the next morning, May 15, so this was our last chance to take in the island’s famous evening light.
Two Places, One Memorable Journey
Looking back, Greece gave us two very different but equally memorable experiences: the celebration and history of Athens, and the scenery, walking, and slower pace of Santorini. Above all, it was wonderful to share the trip together, beginning with an achievement worth celebrating and ending with one more sunset over the sea.