Littered among many of the islands that make up the Greek nation lies Santorini, the gem of the Aegean Sea. Nestled within a protected bay of smaller islands, this high-rise city is a sight to behold. Located within the town of Oia, the white buildings topped with blue roofs is a sight like any other. When we visited Santorini, the sun was just cresting over the high hilltops to paint a picture that even the best artist couldn’t have created. The blue sky contrasted against the light blue water makes the sight in front of you look like a screen saver.

Once you get to the top of the hill, you realize you are walking within a maze of houses, shops, churches, and restaurants. Everywhere you turn, there’s another street that leads to more and more places. One of the nicest features of Oia is that fact that there is a main walkway up on top that allows for easy travel across the city. It’s lined with shops and restaurants and gives you easy access to the famed stairs down to the bottom of the city. If you want a fun adventure back up the hill, you can ride a donkey as opposed to walking for just a few euros.

One of the best parts of the island was the multitude of options when it comes to food and drink. When we traveled there, we enjoyed a large, delicious waffle while overlooking the water below. The chocolate sauce that draped over the top of the waffle was decadent as well as the cookie crumble pieces that provided that extra crunch. Later, we enjoyed a good American classic of a cheeseburger and fries. Let’s just say we could learn a few things from the Greeks because it was one of the best burgers I’ve have ever had.

Overall, Santorini is a beautiful island and was a great day trip as a part of my study abroad experience in Greece.