Text and Photography by Jan Young
Santorini evokes the most primal sense of romantic in even the most hardened person who has given up on love. I was that person and there I stood enveloped in the sacredness of beauty. With eyes closed, I was in a meditative state as my whole being partook of the breathtaking sight in front of me. For a moment, I forgot my physical existence on earth. The scenery that unfolded before me was nothing less than divine.
“Only God could have created such incredible beauty. In my many decades of travel, how could I have missed out on this piece of ethereal whitewashed village set on a small volcanic island in the Aegean Sea of Greece?” I mused as I surveyed the entire cave dwellings perched on the cliffs of Oia which was starting to light up as night approaches.
Twilight in Oia, the liveliest part of Santorini, has a different feel, as the crowds start disappearing and the noise decibels start to tone down. I breathed a sigh of relief as there was more space now to walk without having to duck at the throngs of tourists.
The earlier vistas of blue and white on cliffs above an underwater caldera that overlooks the deep blue sea with occasional interjections of white ferries and yachts have cast a bewitching spell on me. Just as in Florence, the entire scene seems more like a painting that’s alive than an earthly space. I have rarely described a place as “heaven on earth”, but Santorini fits the bill perfectly.
With over 70 countries under my belt, I’d thought I had encountered some of the most beautiful sceneries on earth. But Santorini tops them all – an ageless beauty that makes you feel good about being on earth because it’s such a blessing to glimpse a preview of heaven on earth.
Santorini can make a poet out of ordinary people. The wow factor sweeps you off your feet before you can even say “Santo..”. No longer do you feel bound to earth as your soul lingers on in this ethereal island bathed in heavenly light and angelic whispers. I will happily die here.
*Jan Young is a seasoned globetrotter and former journalist who has explored over 70 countries. With his keen eye for detail and knack for uncovering the extraordinary, Jan has become an expert in navigating the diverse landscapes and cultures of various countries especially Southeast Asia. Jan has recently published a book on Amazon entitled “Scam-Free Solo Adventures in Southeast Asia: A Savvy Traveler's Guide”. You can check it out here: https://amzn.eu/d/cGvTGyC
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