Santorini (Greece ’25, Part I)
I want to start with something I wrote back in 2023:
I consider phrases that might make nice titles for poems. "Winged Victory of Samothrace" is one. I think about how she stands in Paris, on display for the world, far from the ruins of her home. I think of the nights I've visited ruins in my dreams. The way my heart sinks every time someone asks me, "Have you been?" "No, no, never, unfortunately." They tell me about their favorite places, about how blue the water is, and tell me, "Oh, you have to go! You must!" But I don't want to hear about their trip or see their pictures. I feel something profoundly missing from my heart, something that throws my entire identity into question. I want to be part of something at which I'll be forever stuck at the fringes. Dancing on the fringes. Only part of a whole, in some way tarnished. “Νίκη της Σαμοθράκης.“
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It was always frustrating having to explain that no, I'd never visited "the homeland." It was a recurring point of awkwardness for me growing up. One summer, several of my cousins went to Greece for a family wedding, and I was absolutely crushed when my family decided not to go. The FOMO was real.
My fiancé, Sean, and I have developed an affinity for taking trips in November. In 2023, we went to Iceland; in 2024, we went to Paris, where we got engaged (and where I saw the beautiful Winged Victory of Samothrace in person, at the Louvre). And at some point, it hit me: Not to throw anyone under the bus, but if I wanted to visit Greece, I'd have to make it happen myself. So this year, when we were talking about where to travel, I finally said, "You know what, let's go to Greece."
Our first stop was Santorini. November is the off-season, so it was quiet. But I loved it that way. We stayed in the breathtaking town of Oia and hiked the 10-kilometer trail to Fira. If you're up for a long walk with incredible views, I couldn't recommend it more. Just bring plenty of water.
Here are some photos I took from our brief but unforgettable time in Santorini.
