In general, Flashbooking guides have been written for giving the essential information about the most visited cities in the world and in particular for any traveller or first-time visitor.
It is also known as Thera. It is the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km², and in 2001 had an estimated population of 13,600.
For a short visit, a week-end, a city break, these free pocket guides are useful printable and downloadable tools available online.
Santorini is essentially what has been left from an enormous volcanic explosion which destroyed the settlements thereon and led to the creation of the current geological caldera.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
The quiet little sister of Mykonos
Lazing on the sands on Otzias beach, a horseshoe-shaped bay on the tiny Greek island of Kea, I was a little confused.
It was Sunday afternoon and the beach was empty; not another towel to be seen. Only when we strolled the short distance through the silent village to Anna's, a taverna that had been recommended to us, did things become clear.
There, almost every table was taken, filled with Greek families diving into platters of fresh fish and salad - talking, gesticulating and smoking between mouthfuls. Directed to a small table for two, my friend Sara and I realised gleefully that we were the only English people in the place.
When we thought about it, however, we decided we were probably the only English people on the whole island.
It was Sunday afternoon and the beach was empty; not another towel to be seen. Only when we strolled the short distance through the silent village to Anna's, a taverna that had been recommended to us, did things become clear.
There, almost every table was taken, filled with Greek families diving into platters of fresh fish and salad - talking, gesticulating and smoking between mouthfuls. Directed to a small table for two, my friend Sara and I realised gleefully that we were the only English people in the place.
When we thought about it, however, we decided we were probably the only English people on the whole island.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Quake shakes southwest Greece, no casualties
ATHENS (Reuters) - An earthquake shook parts of southwestern Greece Tuesday but there were no immediate reports of casualties or damage, police said.
The quake measured 5.4 on the Richter scale and struck just after 1 a.m. (2300 GMT), said the Athens Geodynamic Institute. Police said the epicentre was south of the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea.
(Reporting by George Georgiopoulos)
The quake measured 5.4 on the Richter scale and struck just after 1 a.m. (2300 GMT), said the Athens Geodynamic Institute. Police said the epicentre was south of the island of Zakynthos in the Ionian Sea.
(Reporting by George Georgiopoulos)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Best for island hopping: Paxos
Lying to the west of mainland Greece, in the Ionian Sea, the island has no airport, so has avoided the kind of mass tourism that has blighted neighbouring Corfu. No nightlife, no high-rise developments and no resorts: perfect for a back-to-basics family holiday.
The old-fashioned charm of Paxos was immediately apparent when we found our rental car had been left at the harbour with keys in the ignition, ready for us to drive away. 'They're not big on paperwork here," as our rep, Sam, explained. Our villa, a recently and tastefully modernised farmhouse, was in the centre of the island, near Magazia, a 20-minute drive away. Standing among olive groves, it had ocean views from its pool-side terrace, and a walk-cum-scramble down an overgrown track took us to the edge of the epic Erimitis cliffs.
It's very relaxing, being on holiday somewhere there isn't much to do. Our beach of choice was Mongonissi, a small, sandy strip that offered shade and a couple of good tavernas. Among the many facts about Paxos that Harry had forgotten is that the island's beaches aren't sandy (Mongonissi is man-made). They're mainly composed of flat, white stones, which look stunning, and give the ocean that azure clarity you normally only see in brochures, but can be hard going for small feet.
The fantasy Greek island beach – of virgin white sand stretching down to aquamarine water – did lie within reach, however; on the tiny island of Anti Paxos, a short boat trip away. Screwing up our courage, we rented a motor-boat in Loggos. We moored at a jetty at the first beach we came to, Vrika. Here was the dream – the white sand beach, the turquoise water so clear you could practically snorkel without a mask, and the Taverna Vrika, where we feasted on barbecued rockfish.
The old-fashioned charm of Paxos was immediately apparent when we found our rental car had been left at the harbour with keys in the ignition, ready for us to drive away. 'They're not big on paperwork here," as our rep, Sam, explained. Our villa, a recently and tastefully modernised farmhouse, was in the centre of the island, near Magazia, a 20-minute drive away. Standing among olive groves, it had ocean views from its pool-side terrace, and a walk-cum-scramble down an overgrown track took us to the edge of the epic Erimitis cliffs.
It's very relaxing, being on holiday somewhere there isn't much to do. Our beach of choice was Mongonissi, a small, sandy strip that offered shade and a couple of good tavernas. Among the many facts about Paxos that Harry had forgotten is that the island's beaches aren't sandy (Mongonissi is man-made). They're mainly composed of flat, white stones, which look stunning, and give the ocean that azure clarity you normally only see in brochures, but can be hard going for small feet.
The fantasy Greek island beach – of virgin white sand stretching down to aquamarine water – did lie within reach, however; on the tiny island of Anti Paxos, a short boat trip away. Screwing up our courage, we rented a motor-boat in Loggos. We moored at a jetty at the first beach we came to, Vrika. Here was the dream – the white sand beach, the turquoise water so clear you could practically snorkel without a mask, and the Taverna Vrika, where we feasted on barbecued rockfish.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Greek Island Club celebrates 40th anniversary
In 1969, the first man walked on the moon, a loaf of bread cost a shilling and Greek Islands Club (GIC) was established.
The exclusive villa operator, which now offers over 200 villas throughout the Greek Ionian and Aegean islands, started its programme on Paxos in 1969, just two years after electricity arrived on the island.
Says David Watrous, Managing Director: "In 1965, my parents visited the Ionian islands of Greece aboard a friend’s yacht. They were so enchanted that they returned and built a house among the olive groves on the small island of Paxos.
The exclusive villa operator, which now offers over 200 villas throughout the Greek Ionian and Aegean islands, started its programme on Paxos in 1969, just two years after electricity arrived on the island.
Says David Watrous, Managing Director: "In 1965, my parents visited the Ionian islands of Greece aboard a friend’s yacht. They were so enchanted that they returned and built a house among the olive groves on the small island of Paxos.
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