2 weeks in the Cyclades (page 6 of 7)

Thanks, Muriel, for sharing your trip with us. Your early morning photos of Santorini are really lovely. I especially loved discovering Amorgos.🙂

Thanks for coming with me, Pascale. Amorgos is my favorite... for now 😎

The trip was really great!

I just think you’re being a little harsh on Santorini. Sure, the island is different from its neighbors (caldera vs. beaches), but the views from the cliffs, the white villages on the ridges, and especially Oia early in the morning are worth the detour... if, of course, you can ignore the hordes of tourists that show up in the afternoon for the "sunset"!

Oia at 7:00 AM: the postcard-perfect Cyclades...

Hi Manu

I didn’t say Santorini wasn’t beautiful 😉 (visually, it’s actually really stunning). I just felt it was missing the atmosphere I’d found elsewhere (though that won’t necessarily be everyone’s experience… and that’s a good thing!). I think my impression would’ve been different if I’d gone there at the start of my trip (doing the loop the other way around), without any point of comparison.

if we ignore the hordes of tourists, of course

I’ll admit I struggle a bit with that, but this time we avoided them, so it’s not about overcrowding—it’s really just a personal feeling (I’m not trying to discourage people from going to Santorini 😎).

He must not be in the big blue \n\nThat, you'll have to ask Bruno 😉 \n\nHello everyone,\nWell, I know, I'm jumping in late on this lovely travel journal; I admit I don’t check VF as much as I used to \n\nTo answer Pascale, and since Bruno hasn’t replied 😉, yes, the monastery does appear in *The Big Blue* 😎. At the beginning of the film, when Jacques is a child, so with black-and-white images.\nAnd again when Joanna (Rosanna Arquette) and Jacques return to Greece for the competition. You see the monastery when they’re on the boat. And maybe even when Jacques and Joanna jump from the cliffs (though I’m less sure about that 😛).\n\nWithout having seen it 50 times, I’ve watched it quite a few times. And actually, every time I’ve returned from Amorgos (in 2000, 2007, and 2023). When you love it...\n\nAnd, for a little fun fact, in Katapola, there’s a bar called *Le Grand Bleu* whose manager (still there in 2023) had a Peugeot 205 registered in Paris (seen in 2000 and 2007). In 2000, they even played the movie on a screen in the evenings.\n\nThanks, Muriel, for this great travel journal!

Hi Anne

Thanks for reading me 😉

Looks like I really need to revisit the big blue! ... I’ll keep an eye on all the points you mentioned 😏 (and if I’d known—I’ll admit, I hadn’t done much research on the subject—we would’ve gone for a drink at the "Grand Bleu" while waiting for the ferry since we had time) 😎.

Thanks Anne for these details—I’m not the only fan, and that’s really reassuring! 🤪

Good evening Anne 🙂 Thanks! *The Big Blue* really left its mark on a whole generation. All this makes me want to watch it again too.

You're welcome, Pascale! Saw it as soon as it came out at the Grand Rex in Paris 😎

Hey Muriel!

Back from vacation, catching up on things. 😊

I don’t know the Cyclades at all, and your travel journal has me really wanting to visit! 😉 At least the islands that haven’t been overrun by mass tourism...

The sea, some elevation, little villages, tiny roads, hiking—what a tempting plan! 😛

Hi Agnès, Yeah, you can still find some nice spots in the Cyclades without too many people outside of peak season 🙂 I saw you went to Croatia—gonna keep an eye out to see if it’s the same over there 😉.

Thanks Muriel for this great travel journal. We’re heading to Athens and the Cyclades in September, and we’ve also chosen Naxos, Amorgos, and Santorini. We’ve planned a few hikes, and I’ll use your itinerary for inspiration when preparing ours.

Jeff

Hi Jean François,

I’m so glad if my travel journal helped (even a little) with planning your trip. Have a great time in Greece! 😎

Thanks for this really lovely travel journal—I discovered it a bit late. What a coincidence, we could’ve crossed paths in the streets of Santorini on 6/6 or at the airport on 7/6!?

I explored the Cyclades (Milos/Paros/Santorini) this year and came back pretty happy, though not exactly dazzled (ouch, I’m getting jaded—actually, we’d visited Cyprus the year before). I didn’t think I’d be returning to the Greek islands so soon, but I have to admit, the photos in your post might just change my mind!!!

One thing’s for sure: it’ll be *way* off-season. The taxi driver in Santorini was lamenting that visitor numbers were down over 30% (a relief for us)—I can’t even imagine what it’s like normally, let alone in peak season!!!

Thanks again.

Hi Xavier, I don’t even want to imagine Santorini in peak tourist season either 😵 Thanks for reading this travel journal ;)

Hi Muriel,

Thanks for the whole travel journal. It’s a destination that doesn’t appeal to me, and I’ll never go there. Not enough wild nature and animals, too many people no matter the season.

I imagine you already have plenty of other plans in mind…? (For us, we’re leaving… tomorrow… for a destination you know well!)

Take care.

...

Hi Alain,

It’s a destination that doesn’t appeal to me and one I’ll never visit.

Luckily, not everyone has the same tastes... otherwise, we’d all end up in the same places (and that’d be a nightmare! 🏴‍☠️)... but I still insist that in Greece, you can find spots where there’s hardly anyone (though when it comes to wildlife, it’s definitely less varied than in Africa 😏).

Enjoy your trip, bring back lots of great memories and beautiful photos... and maybe a travel journal to go with them 😉

Thanks Murielle for sharing your trip! We’re leaving Montreal on May 1st until the 18th for Athens (a few nights) and then the Cyclades. Your story is really interesting and helpful... I’d already zeroed in on Amorgos, and your account just confirms it! We still have 2 other islands to decide on—without losing too much time with ferries. It’s a happy puzzle... 😉 To be continued... and any tips or suggestions are welcome. Christine

Hi there,

Don’t stress over the ferries. It’s pretty simple—just book your departure from an island when you get there. There’s always space unless you’re traveling with a vehicle, and even then, it’s usually fine. Marie Paule

Hi,

Don’t stress over the ferries. It’s pretty simple—just book your departure from an island when you get there. There’s always space unless you’re bringing a vehicle, and even then, it’s usually fine. Marie Paule

Thanks, Marie-Paule!

Do you think it’s possible to go straight to Amorgos from Athens?

And in early May, there are fewer tourists, I imagine… Do we need to book our accommodations way in advance? 🙂

Christine