I still remember the moment when my ferry was slowly approaching Santorini. The evening air was filled with the smell of salt and wet wood of the deck, and in the distance the snow-white houses on the cliffs were already glimmering. I stood, leaning on the railing, and caught this moment with my whole body - the wind was blowing in my face, it smelled of the sea and something slightly sweet, as if someone was making a honey pie right on the shore. And that was the first time I truly understood why this island attracts so many people. Back home, I found a First-time Guide to Santorini, and it, frankly, saved me from a lot of unnecessary worries - from choosing the best time to go to small things like where to watch the sunset.

First evening: a sunset you won't forget

I spent my first evening in Fira, and my God, it was like a movie. You walk along narrow cobbled streets, you can hear the sea splashing somewhere below, and the smell of fried octopus and fresh bread with olive oil wafts from the open doors of tavernas. People around you speak dozens of languages, but it doesn’t irritate you - on the contrary, it creates the feeling that you are in the center of a huge celebration of life. As the sun began to sink below the horizon, the sky became such that it is impossible to describe it with ordinary words - pink, gold, with rare violet shades, and the white walls of the houses glowed as if someone lit them from within. I just sat on a stone bench and felt my breath catch in delight.

Small discoveries outside the tourist routes

The next day I rented a scooter, and it was the best decision of the whole trip. The buses are comfortable, of course, but on a scooter you feel like you are part of the island. I passed through small villages where old people sat at the doors of their houses and nodded to greet me. In Perissa I saw black volcanic sand for the first time – it is soft and hot, and the smell of the sea there is somehow completely different, thicker and more intense. And in Vlychada I ended up in a small tavern where the owner, smiling, told me in broken English that this octopus had been splashing in the sea that morning. And indeed – it was so fresh that it seemed as if the sea was still present in every bite.

People and mood of the island

It is impossible to imagine Santorini without its people. They seem to be in no hurry and live in their own rhythm, which is transmitted to you as soon as you stay here for a couple of days. I especially remember one tavern owner who poured me a glass of local wine and began to tell me how his grandfather, as a boy, helped fish on these shores. I listened, and swallows twittered around me, and the sun gently set, painting everything in a warm amber light. This was not just food or relaxation - it was a real feeling of life here and now.

Conclusion and a little advice

Santorini is not just an island, it is emotions. It is when you wake up to the cries of seagulls, drink strong Greek coffee with a view of the caldera and feel that you do not need to rush anywhere anymore. Every sunset here is like a small miracle that you want to experience again and again. If you are going here for the first time, do not be lazy to prepare - for example, I read a lot of things before the trip, and the site Tripluster.com helped me the most. Thanks to its advice, I found myself in the right places at the right time, and this made my trip truly unforgettable.