Santorini Buckles Under Weight of Too Many Tourists

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2017/08/30/santorini-buckles-under-weight-of-too-many-tourists/

When I was in Lipsi many years ago, in midsummer tourists were only allowed to land if they had pre-booked accommodation.

And erlier this year Skye was in the news - again, too many tourists.

The Archaeology News Network: Scientists harvest fresh findings from roots of Sa...

https://archaeologynewsnetwork.blogspot.co.uk/2017/08/scientists-harvest-fresh-findings-from.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed:+TheArchaeologyNewsNetwork+(The+Archaeology+News+Network)#4L3YcDt3ieCTKjrO.97



"“For the first time, we’ve mapped active fault lines in the area between Santorini and Amorgos,” says Professor Nomikou."

Santorini landmark at risk | Community | ekathimerini.com

Santorini landmark at risk | Community | ekathimerini.com

"“What’s happening in Vlychada is a crime. Geological formations that are thousands of years old are being destroyed and not just by illegal but also legal construction,” warns Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos. “If we want to salvage something of Santorini, we need to stop building on it.”"

Santorini in the mid-1920s through Nelly’s eyes | Life | ekathimerini.com

Santorini in the mid-1920s through Nelly’s eyes | Life | ekathimerini.com

ekathimerini.com | Good outlook for tourism on Santorini

ekathimerini.com | Good outlook for tourism on Santorini

The Cyclades: The good life / Greece / Where / National Geographic Traveller (UK)

The Cyclades: The good life / Greece / Where / National Geographic Traveller (UK)



A good brief summary of Paros, Naxos and Santorini.  But only one hotel on each island mentioned - there are plenty more to choose from!

Santorini's Cherry Tomato Receives Protected Status | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

Santorini's Cherry Tomato Receives Protected Status | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

ekathimerini.com | Promoting Santorini as a culinary tourism destination

ekathimerini.com | Promoting Santorini as a culinary tourism detsination

Santorini Reaches Out to Foodlovers

Santorini Reaches Out to Foodlovers | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

Giant Magma Ball Threatens Island Santorini | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

Giant Magma Ball Threatens Island Santorini | Greece.GreekReporter.com Latest News from Greece

Travel Postcard: 48 Hours in idyllic Paros and Santorini

Travel Postcard: 48 Hours in idyllic Paros and Santorini | Reuters

Santorini

A guide in the Daily Telegraph to Santorini
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destination/greece/72231/Santorini-travel-guide.html

The Archaeological Site of Akrotiri in Santorini to Reopen

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2012/04/10/the-archaeological-site-of-akrotiri-in-santorini-to-reopen/

This report dated 10 April 2012 says that the site is opening this week. 

Volcanic Island of Santorini Shows Activity

http://greece.greekreporter.com/2012/03/13/volcanic-island-of-santorini-shows-activity/

Paravion Press, Sanotorini -Hand-making Books from a Cave in Greece

A novel idea from Paravion Books on Santorini.

Paravion Press was born in a bookshop on the cliffs of an island in the south of Greece. The shop swarms with people who love stories and who are far away from loved ones. And it occurred to us that by sending a story in the mail there might, as John Donne put it, be a moment to “mingle souls: for thus, friends absent speak.”

http://www.paravionpress.org/

Santorini in 1981

In 1981 I was pleased to reach Santorini after a cramped boat ride from Paros. The island is the remnant of an extinct volcano and the main town of Thira is built on the rim of the volcano. There was then no cable car, the only way from the old harbour to the top was up the 600 odd steps on foot or by donkey taxi. The ferry landed at the new port of Athinios where two buses waited. Hundreds of passengers and rucksacks clambered on board. We saw a spactacular sunset as we wound up to Thira. Where would we all sleep? No need to have worried.
　Back in 1981 the cable car had not been built and I walked up and down the steps to the old harbour a time or two, resisting the temptation to buy a ride on one of the now probably retired donkeys. The new harbour a mile or two round the coast had been built by 1981. The new harbour was not and is not a place to stay, and if there are rooms they would only be used by people waiting for or landing from a boat. There is usually a fleet of buses and hotel owned mini buses to meet the ferries, and I usually sail out of Santorini to the site of a positive convoy of these vehicles snaking their way up the hairpin road leading from the harbour. Are they so assiduous in returning you to the harbour, I always wonder. I say there are usually a large number of buses. Coming back from Anaphi there were only five passengers and a crate or two of fish on board the Express Santorini. I noticed that the ferry was not met. If anyone had been getting off at Santotini there could have been a long wait in port until the next bus appeared. Another ferry (presumably from more populated ferries) had just left port, the buses were snaking up hill, but not single one had waited to meet the ferry from Anaphi. Luckily no one (human or fish) got off.

　
In 1981 I stayed at the Hotel Kavalari. I see that the hotel is now listed in various hotel guides and must have gone upmarket since my visit. I remember the novelty of having the reception on the top floor and the rooms on the floors beneath. My room was in the volcanic crater, windowless, dug out of the rock. Apart from a cave hotel I stayed in at Matamata in Tunisia, this was the only time I have ever slept in a cave. This room was reached down a tunnel and had no window, just a ventilator onto the tunnel; the cave room in Tunisia gave onto an outside platform. The Tunisian hotel was on the tourist trail; the door was only made of palm leaves and had no lock. One morning I was lounging in bed, not that late, perhaps about eight, when I heard some voices.. A tour group was exploring the hotel. I rapidly made some noises and put my head out of the door so that thay could see the room was occupied. I had no such problems at the Kavalari for although the room was in a cave it had a locking door.

I heard one couple complaining that their room was damp. To me a damp room in that heat would have been a blessing. I have different expectations when I am in Greece to when I am in England, and maybe these two had not adjusted their expectations. In England I expect a hotel room to have a fitted carpet, yet in Greece I am more than happy with a marble tiled floor and a rug or two. I have been in hotel rooms in Athens with carpets, but the carpets look tatty.

Fava

Wherever I am, I like eating local food.  I have only been to Santorini a few times, and I don't remember eating fava on Santorini.  But I have eaten fava on both Naxos and Amorgos.

On the plate fava is a thick yellow puree, served warm with olive oil, chopped red onion, and parsley.

I found this comment in the article interesting

“Consumers should also know that if you see something advertised as Santorini fava being sold at 2 euros a kilo, it is not from Santorini.”

as, although I recognise fava this dish when I see it, I am never sure if the beans (or are they peas?) that I see in shops are the raw material of which fava is made.

I must confess that I have not yet tried making fava!