Really, what more can I say?
Not a lot.
Santorini is pretty much a singular, spectacular place. It’s simply unlike any other that we’ve visited before. The villages that hang on cliffs overlooking the caldera are what you’d imagine a Greek island scene to look like with the added benefit of ooh- and ah-worthy views as their background.
Simply marvelous.
We left the ship early (aboard the first tender at 7:30), opted for the cable car up the hillside (vs. the mule ride or even less appealing climb on foot), and grabbed a taxi to Oia. In doing so, we beat the crowds and mid-day heat.
Oia is postcard-worthy-ville. White walls. Blue roofs. Cascades of flowers. Charming shops. Spectacular views. It’s not huge: an hour or so of happy strolling is about all you need to see it.
We took the bus back to Fira simply because it showed up before the first taxi. Very comfortable, affordable, and uncrowded (for us in that direction). We then strolled around Fira for a while, visiting both the Greek Orthodox and Catholic Cathedrals. Having spent all morning on the island and wanting to avoid the crush of crowds later in the day, we hopped on the cable car back down to the old port for short ride back to our ship.