Island Hopping

In the month that I have been here, I have visited four islands: Mykonos, Andros, Crete, and Santorini. I have yet to stay in Athens (or leave Greece) for a weekend, but that seems fairly standard for this program. After spending over 50 collective hours aboard Blue Star Ferries, I'm beginning to feel at home on these boats.

Each island had its own distinct landscape, appeal, and personality. Personally, I had the best time visiting Andros as a part of CYA's optional trip. Prior to the trip, I had never even heard of Andros. It is a small island, with few tourists and beautiful, isolated beaches that we had to hike to reach. There was a medieval monastery built high up into the mountains. The monastery itself, as well as the view of the island/sea was incredible.

Yesterday, I returned from Santorini. Though it was more touristy than the others, there was an archeological site that was breathtaking. Akrotiri is an ancient city that was buried by a volcanic eruption. Like Pompeii, the site was perfectly preserved by the ash. Three story houses, pristine pottery, and impressive frescos were all discovered at Akrotiri.