During the Great Aegean Odyssey of 2009, Mum, Dad, Andrew and I spent four idyllic days on the island of Santorini. After our hectic schedule through Croatia, Slovenia and Austria, a few days of doing nothing(ish) was welcomed by all.

The island of Santorini is actually what's left after a massive volcanic explosion. One of the biggest eruptions in history. The volcano exploded and the caldera (the crater) was filled by the ocean. Some say that the explosion is the source of the myth of Atlantis; there was a city on Santorini that was lost forever.

Scirocco, our accommodation for our Santorini stay is perched on the edge of the caldera. Like most houses on Santorini it follows the traditional colour scheme - white washed walls and a blue roof. When the sun is out, and it usually is in the Greek Islands, Santorini is so blinding it hurts your eyes. Remember to take sunglasses. Mum and Dad stayed at Scirocco on their first trip to Santorini years and years ago. The same people run it and they remembered Mum and Dad from their first visit (they are obviously very memorable).

Every day, we'd breakfast on the terrace. Dad would pop up the road to the bakery and the deli for supplies. Every day for breakfast, I'd have prosciutto and cheese on a fresh baguette while admiring the beautiful view. A second course (breakfast dessert!) would follow of Greek yoghurt and strawberry jam on fresh bread while still admiring the beautiful view (or maybe I'd have my head in a book). It was a very tasty breakfast.

During the day we'd try to get out and do touristy stuff. We took a cruise out to the volcano and swam at some (not very) hot springs. We hired a car and drove to the archaeological site of Akrotiri. Like Pompeii it was buried by the volcanic eruption. Unfortunately, it's closed because in 2005 the roof over the site collapsed, killing two tourists. They are in the midst of constructing a new enclosure for the ruins (still...). We went to the the Museum of Prehistoric Thira to look at objects they've retrieved from archaeological digs around the island.

In the evening, we ate lamb for dinner, the boys drank ouzo and we played Get Janis (Diminishing Whist). Although more often than not it was really Get Jess. I seemed to lose a lot at cards on that trip.

It was all very relaxing and was the perfect way to recharge for the next busier part of our trip.

I keep meaning to try the Santorini breakfast at home. But really, I'm not sure that it would taste as good without that beautiful view. Surely the view is the extra special ingredient?

More photos (slideshow) on Flickr.

Our visit to Santorini was part of the Aegean Odyssey. Mum, Dad, Andrew and I spent a few weeks in Croatia and Greece with a quick visit to Slovenia and Austria in the middle. Other entries from this trip include: Plitvice Lakes National Park, Sunset in Zadar, Sea Organ, Blessed are the cheesemakers and Climbing in Croatia.