Return to the Beach

I am back at Paradise Beach on the east shore of Santorini in Greece. At least that is what it feels like when I paint a scene from my travel photos.

The day I walked from the town of Oia at the southern tip of Santorini to Paradise Beach (approximately 5 miles), it was one of those beautiful Greek days of sunshine and warmth. I left early in the morning so that I was not walking in the heat of the day. At least that was what I thought. Little did I know how quickly temperatures rise even along the shore. I walked the shoreline cliffs and could not wait to get in the water when I finally reached the beach. There was NO WAY I was going to walk back! Lucky for me there was one bus returning to town. I planned accordingly and learned that these remote buses do not consistently run on schedule.

I saw my first sand orchids as I walked the shoreline cliff.
The view.....


First glimpse of a beach, but I had to walk further.


On Paradise Beach looking south


Looking north


The sculpted cliffs


I spent the afternoon swimming and sketching. My memories linger while I painted this watercolor rendition of the rocks along the shoreline of Paradise Beach.

Last Day on Santorini

Since the ferry to Crete did not leave until evening, I had one more day to spent on the lovely island of Santorini.

I chose to take photos and sketch.

View from Firostefoni looking towards the volcano on Nea Kameni.


Looking North with the island of Thirasia in the background.



Looking South towards Fira, Santorini's capital.



The magnificent village of Oia.




I have a fascination with olive trees; their gracefulness, curly carved trunk, silvery thin leaves, and the profusion of olives. I created a sketch of one tree while waiting for the ferry to Crete.



Since returning home, I am on my second watercolor painting featuring olive trees.

Day Two on Santorini

Excited to explore Santorini, I was up early and walked down to Katharos Beach and Amoudi Bay from the village of Oia.



My destination for the day was Paradise Beach a black sand beach 3.5 kilometers from the youth hostel in Oia. I started out early, but vowed that I would NOT walk back in the Greece heat.

Along the way I found wild sand orchids.



Paradise Beach was a welcome site after my long, hot journey.



After a lovely swim in the Sea, I found a shady spot.


And created a watercolor painting.....


Another swim and a bus ride back to Oia!

The young women at the youth hostel were full of great ideas: At Katharos Beach you can watch the sunset with very few people, take a photo of the bus schedule that way you can pull it up when you need it, and the cliffs of Red Beach are very worth the trip.

Santorini sunset from Katharos Beach.






The moon was rising as I left the beach.

Amazing Santorini

After a morning swim at Plaka Beach on the island of Naxos in Greece, I boarded the ferry to the amazing island of Santorini. Having spent most of my time in Greece (except for two days in Athens) in small towns and less touristy destinations, I was not prepared for the overwhelming onslaught of tourists flocking to Santorini. I swear the ferry tipped port side as everyone on board gathered to see Santorini as it came into view for the first time.




Santorini's uniqueness is that it is shaped somewhat like a crescent with multicolored cliffs and villages on the ridges. The surreal landscape is relic of what was probably the biggest volcanic eruption in recorded history. There is still an active volcano, Nea Nameni, which is accessible only by boat


We were herded into buses at island's main port, Athinino, and climbed the cliffs to Fira where we could disperse to different areas of the island. I headed to the youth hostel in Oia with a bus full of tourist anxious to watch the sunset.

I must admit, I took part in this ritual. About an hour before sunset people are staking out the best viewing sites.


Santorini is famous for its spectacular sunsets. The village of Oia on the northern tip of the island is a hugely popular sunset viewing site because there is an uninterrupted view of the sun as it finally sinks below the horizon.






Spetacular or what?!?!

The moon rose as left my sunset perch.

Greece Clifftop Monasteries of Meteora

A friend told me of a "must see" place to visit in Greece.

Six monasteries are built on natural sandstone rock pillars, at the northwestern edge of the Plain of Thessaly near the Pineios river and Pindus Mountains, in central Greece. Metéora means "suspended rocks", "suspended in the air" or "in the heavens above" and is one of the largest and most important complexes of Eastern Orthodox monasteries in Greece.

Preview of my next adventure.....







Yes, I am heading off to explore Greece for the next month.

Also on my "must see" list.....

Oia, Santorini where I will be staying for five days.



And a week on Crete in Plakias as a base for further explorations.



Who knows where else I may go?

I will have photos and watercolor paintings to share when I return.

Stay tuned!