TRAVEL DIARY:

Let me start by telling you how I even stepped foot onto the Santorini sand.

In the last quarter of 2017, I applied to attend the Greece trip through the Writer’s Retreat. Fast forward to April of 2018, I was soaking in the Santorini sun. This trip was truly a dream come true for me. You see, at twelve years old, I printed out a picture of the white buildings and put it on my vision board. Paris, London, and Australia were glued underneath Greece, because Santorini was a higher priority. Does anyone else have a place that they’ve always desired to explore? If you answered yes, then you understand why I was more than elated to hop on that 10 hour flight.

Aside from wandering the beautiful island, I was able to create new friendships with women I had never met before in my life. Writers, dreamers, go-getters, business owners, and overall incredible individuals with the desire to wander like myself. While I did have some reservations (I have been living by myself for the past seven years, your girl loves her space), I anticipated the unknown. Nevertheless, I enjoyed my time and I actually cultivated a friendship with a few of the women that I met in Greece!

If you are considering going on a retreat with other women that you don’t know, do it. It will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your entire life. If you are considering a retreat AND your desire to explore Santorini, then keep reading.

WHAT TO DO IN SANTORINI:

Our agenda was pretty much planned out and filled with fun activities for us to do while in Santorini. We spent a few days in the town, Thira, visiting different shops, buying jewelry, and eating gyros. If you go to Greece and DON’T try a gyro, then you didn’t get the full Greece experience. These are so tasty, and you don’t want to miss out on eating one. Look how invested we were in the top right photo-it was that good. In general, the food in Greece is off the chain. The fish was destined to be delicious; as it was caught early in the morning while everyone else rested peacefully in the quiet island.

Santorini is quiet and simple. Its beauty is absolutely undeniable, captivating, and so warm. I say it is simple because the people here are polite, minding their own business, or whistling at you as the admire your own beauty. It is also simple because in comparison to Mykonos, it is the spa, relaxation island. If you’re considering a party, you need to hop islands and go to Mykonos. If you want to explore volcanoes, the beach, go shopping, and eat freshly caught fish while listening to live music in peace, stay in Santorini.

We decided to take a boat ride to visit the volcano and hot springs. I wish I could remember who we booked the boat tour through, but I promise you that when you get there, so many people will have boat tour options for you. The volcano hike was tough, but the views from above were totally worth the climb! Our tour guide also provided history of the volcano that eventually split Greece, creating individual islands like Santorini itself. After we finished our hike, we headed to hot springs. Although I was given the opportunity to jump into the hot springs ocean, I pulled the ultimate black girl card. I wasn’t going to get my hair wet. To my defense, we still had other plans for the remainder of the day, and I needed to keep the same hair and makeup for these festivities. However, some ladies on the boat jumped in, and had a blast while I took a relaxed on the boat.

The next day we took a bus to Oia, to visit the famous churches with the blue domes. If you have an expert amongst you, who isn’t geographically challenged, then you will find this location easily. Thanks to Terasha, we were able to find it, take great pictures, and then end our wander with some lunch overlooking the ocean. It was a struggle for some of the other women to find the blue domes (I would’ve been one of them if Terasha weren’t present), so I recommend doing some research prior to taking on this quest.

Aside from shopping in Thira, visiting the blue domes (churches) in Oia, boat tours, and eating mouthwatering food, I spent a lot of time writing here! This island is perfect if you need inspiration or if you just need to clear your mind. The Writers Retreat had writing exercises, workshops and sessions for us to attend, but if you bring your journal or laptop, you will have everything that you need on this island.

OVERALL:

Transportation: This island is so small! You can get around by motorcycle, bikes, by taking a bus, and of course through Uber! We took the bus around as it was easier. I would recommend staying in Thira, and you will literally have the flexibility of walking to places nearby. Otherwise, the options listed above can get you around town.

Friendliness: I have to share a funny story! While we were taking the bus to Oia, a woman hopped in with her coffee in her hand. The bus driver politely told her to throw it out, but she persisted towards the entrance of the bus, with the drink in her hand. He then stomped over to her, snatched the coffee out of her hand, and threw it (yes he littered, ugh) out of the bus! This was totally extreme! Yet it doesn’t define how everyone else was on the island. As a black woman in Europe, we were treated kindly, and even given free wine and food at some point.

Solo Travel Safety: I would say yes, but only if you know how to be on your “A-Game” when traveling solo. Specifically because people in this country barely speaks English. And rightfully so, as it is their country and they can speak their own language. At some point,we ended up going to a local store, and had a hard time communicating what we needed due to the language barrier. With that being said, it can be a bit challenging by yourself. However, if you have been to another country by yourself, then you should be fine!

Costs: Use Airbnb to your benefit, because the hotels here are not the cheapest! We stayed at an Airbnb (sorry, I don’t have the details), and it had everything that we needed. However, the next time that I visit Greece, I am going to stay at a hotel with a pool or jacuzzi with my future bay. 🙂 If you want to save some money for this trip, I would recommend checking out Groupon as they ALWAYS have Greece in their getaways for a decent price. The costs for food wasn’t high-$10to $15- it was actually cheaper than some of the prices in the US. Bus rides were also cheap along with the boat tour that we enjoyed.

My Thoughts: Before I left Santorini, I told God that I would be so down to buy a villa and retire there one day. Between Italy and Greece, I hope that He gives me that desire. I guess you could say that Greece made a lasting impression on me. The dark blue ocean, black sand beach, the fresh food, angelic white buildings, and the simplicity of Santorini stamped my passport and my heart.