The comments expressed in this blog are those of Sally Wallace and in no way represent the opinions of AED, the Fulbright Commission, or the Department of State of the US Government.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Santorini - A Jewel in the Aegean Sea




Bonjour mes amis! Tuesday, March 8, Lee and I flew to Santorini, Greece. Santorini is one of the Cyclades islands, which is the group of Greek islands in the Aegean Sea. This island has villages with dazzling white houses that, from a distance, look like many sugar cubes. The Cyclades were so named from the ancient Greek word meaning "to circle" or "surround" because the islands circle Delos, the birthplace of the god Apollo. This island is one of contrast: the natural beauty of this island is contrasted with the man-made architecture of white and blue. These white villages contrast with the blue-domed chapels and the fiery sunsets over the cobalt sea. Santorini is also known as Thira and has a population of approximately 7,000 people. Santorini is quite unique as it is crescent-shaped and owes its formation to a massive volcanic eruption which destroyed this once circular island in 1450 BC. The resulting underwater crater has been associated with the lost city of Atlantis. Santorini has quite a history - it has been inhabited since Minoan times and was named by the Venetians in the 13th century. Many feel that the key to Atlantis's existence may lie in the once and future fury of this fascinating island.
Mme. Wallace

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