Oia

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Until the 1950's Oia was a poor town,  isolated on the distant North-western tip of the island.  The name Oia means 'far'. With a diminishing traditional seafaring lifestyle, the future looked bleak.  It had no electricity, or roads, just horses, donkeys and mules to transport the necessities of life

  
            "Osismos sposmas"  The earthquake was our salvation

 

This all changed with the earthquake of 1956 which decimated the mud and stone houses of the town.  Many residents left and never returned. I wonder what they would make of it all now?

The army were charged with re-building and a rough road was constructed to bring building materials from the  port of Kamari, Oia was on it's way to being the stunning destination it is now 

Electricity, a regular boat service, and a military airport serviced the construction.  New homes were built   Many with traditional barrel roofs.   Old ones were restored, visitors came

Mony of the buildings on this hillside slid into the sea.  Standing atop in ruins is the Castle              

Walking down the 214 steps to the shore is taxing

Getting back even more so                    

Lunch by the ocean in the village of Ammoudi is well worth the effort to get there

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Many visitors take the local donkey taxi back up
 

The Castle of Agios Nikolaos won't deter any self respecting pirates but attracts visitors in droves to watch the world renowned sunsets

 

I didn't realize I had captured this same hard working pair coming up and going down to  Ammoudi  at exactly the same spot until I got home and saw the prints

The doors of Oia, no two the same             

A fisherman not a painter

         Wall Art - Empress Zoe courtyard

 The little people of Oia hanging out at Anthemion.   Shopping here was great fun even if it was only of the window variety for us

When the winds are favourable the staff sometimes hoist the sails

The Long Way Down                        

Windmill Bar

                     Hanging Gardens of Oia

  We waited here every evening at the appointed time but never saw the famous Oia sunset but that was the only disappointment with Santorini
  The way it was

In the light of day it's hard to imagine

The way we wanted it to be (courtesy of Photoshop)

the town is haunted and home to vampires
 

Barrel roof skafta cave house rebuilt in original style but hopefully able to withstand 7.8 on the Richter Scale

 

Jean and I about to head out to '1800' for our last Greek supper 

At last, the famous sunsets

 
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