Santorini

Why do I have that stupid song from Sublime in my head when I think of Santorini? They don't even say it, they say Santeria. But it sounds close enough to make my brain short-circuit and get stuck in the loop. Santorini is a beautiful island in Greece, likely the most famous one. It has the little white "sugar-cube" houses on the cliff-top and the blue-domed churches. It boasts an amazing sunset and a romantic atmosphere which is probably why I was feeling grumpy on my tour. Not only did I have the annoying song stuck in my head, but I was dragging around a cranky almost-five year old on her fourth-day-in-a-row tour, and believe me, the scenery and romance were not doing it for her. I was missing my husband, or more specifically, feeling remorseful because I do not have the kind of husband who would either come here or appreciate it. And I was hard pressed to even remember his good qualities and my daughter's at the moment. The rest of Santorini, outside of the white and ecru houses is so dry it is almost a desert. They grow grapes, but the vines are short because the wind is fierce and the sun scorching, so they grow like little bushes in the volcanic ash topsoil. There are wildflowers on the mountain top that cling to life, and the two cities we visited, Oia and Fira which are devoted to the tourist trade, cling to life on their cliff-side hoping fortune will smile. We did find beautiful souveniers, yummy ice-cream and smooth cobblestone streets. Brianna and I got to ride a cable car down the cliff-side to the tender-dock. We saw the beautiful church domes and bell pyramids. But I wouldn't recommend coming back...without a lover!