mario33

for the quintessential Greek island experience, may I suggest taking the ferry to Santorini and fly out. I know it's a dread waking up early, but if you catch the 7 a.m. ferry departure from Piraeus, you have abt seven hours ahead of you to catch up on sleep. Or read. Or listen to your Ipod (a travel essential!). Or sigh as you take in the beauty of the Aegen Sea and its many islands.

There's no better way to arrive in Santorini.

The ferry takes u along the island's coast, you, like other passenges, oooh and aahh as you spot the whitewashed houses dotting the caldera. The ferry brings you to the port so remote from the main town Fira that u spend the next 30 minutes on a bus down steep,narrow and winding roads. Your mind adjusts to this brave new world. You leave behind the city and your body settles into the greek island life for the next few days.

Can you beat that?

P.S.: Oh, if you, like me, cannot bear the thought of another 7-hour ferry ride back to Athens, take a cab to the airport near Fira and fly out at sunset and wave goodbye to the island that you've come to love.

In about 30 minutes, you'll arrive at Athens airport, completely disoriented by the noise and chaos after those sun-filled days in smog-free Santorini...