Santorini Greece & the Fira to Oia hike

#Fira_Oia_Hike_Santorini
As my travel blog is about tips on where to visit & saving money doing so
(Case in Point) i read this hike is listed at $140.00 PP in small groups.
 Now my fellow travelers, you can do this on your own for 2 Euros (bus fare on the return to your starting point)
 All i ask from you is to wear proper footwear (you will see why with my photos) bring water / snacks, sunscreen & a hat

 

Although we are in Greece, it was the Romans who first invented cobblestone streets & paths but soon it will become loose gravel & dirt as we trek towards Oia

Now as we walk around the caldera you realize the massiveness of the volcanic eruption that occurred here 3500 years ago, (which today gives us these amazing views)  as it was one of the largest eruptions in recorded history that created a tsunami that wiped out the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete 200kms or 125 miles away   

Before tourism Santorini was a major trading hub that brought visiting & local vendors to the markets that featured crafted pottery, woven textiles, wines, spices & herbs

Why are a lot of the buildings in a dome shape
It was for simple reasons; basically for the low cost
As they were sometimes dug partially or entirely into the volcanic rock then its design was to have narrow, dome covered facades & windows to bring in the natural light 

This the part of the hike had some fencing up, so i assume either its private property or for safety reasons as the footing is very loose

As we can see Santorini is full of natural beauty & wild scenery but it is still considered an active volcano.....because its last eruption was only in the 1950s

A beautiful view of the Aegean Sea from the caldera (from Latin caldaria meaning cooking pot) 
   As in its meaning; a large depression formed when a volcano erupts then collapses, so basically when the magma chamber empties it leaves no support for the walls

Some challenging parts of the hike but also notice the black rocks, these are older volcanic stones from past eruptions being put to good use as you walk on history 

From above you can see the white washed structures as we make our way away from Fira
(which is the Capital of Santorini)
 As in its history; it first started out as a settlement in the late 18th century, eventually coming under the rule of the Turks (which because of their military) finally did not have to worry about the pirate raids on the island

Along your hike you will find vendors setup selling water, fruit, sunscreen etc.....but again please bring these essentials yourself , as these pop up stands are not consistent 

The main reason most buildings are whitewash ( made by mixing lime, water & sea salt ) the color is a reflector of heat so it works perfectly to keep the dwellings cool & fresh

We make our way up to the The Capel of the Assumption of the Virgin as this is the last climb before Oia 

Now having a few Adult Beverages for a job well done in Oia 😃

The local government was looking for a more elegant name so chose Oia  (Doric dialect meaning far)
as the village was so far from all the other settlements at this time  

The whitewashed walls & the blue domes of Santorini was not always colored this way
It was right-wing military regime (1967-1974) that imposed that all buildings be painted in this color scheme & was to inspire patriotism / attract more tourists
Moving forward; as you can see some structures change it up to stand out from the rest

Back in Fira & heading to the Old Port where the 588 Karavolades Stairs awaits me..... hey why not add it to the hike you just did 😀
 (Or as you can see in the distance the Cable Car for 6 Euros for adults / 3 Euros for children)