Santorini with local travel agent Gianluca Ghimenti

Okay, so I'm joined today all the way from Santorini and his name is Gianluca Kimenti. Did I say that correctly? Yes, correct. Kimenti, good morning. Welcome Gianluca. So what time is it there now? About 10, 10 am. So right now in Santorini is exactly 10 o'clock. Okay, so it's 5 p.m. on Wednesday in Brisbane, Australia, where I'm currently sitting and it's winter, but our winter is a very mild so. Oh, so over here the temperature is around 25 Celsius, sun, so much sun already and no clouds. It was 24 here, so there you go. We're on parallel weather patterns at the moment, but that will change in the next month or so. Gianluca, I get the sense that you are Italian. Is that right? Yes, I'm Italian. Actually MCC, and 100%, but I moved to this wonderful island of Guiz Santorini. You know, last time I was, well, last and I'll ask you more about that. Last time I was in Greece, I actually ended my trip in Sicily. Oh, wow. Where, Tormina? No, actually Catania and mostly in Othidia, islands. Out Ija, okay. Which was lovely, really nice. So I wish we'd had time to see more, but we really enjoyed it. And a lot of Greek places to discover. Of course. There are so many settlements in their archaeological size that belongs to the big, big, big period. Some of those temples were incredible. So tell me, how did you end up on Santorini? What's your, what's your story? So the story began, and began about 15 years ago. I was attending the University of Engineering in Italy, a Rospecial Engineering. I was actually computing my pre-hiers graduation, but it was already working seasonally over here in Santorini, because my brother was working on the island before the end of the year. I was married with a Greek woman. So it was easier for me, younger brother, to come on all of this in Santorini, who doesn't want to come. Spending one month, one month, and not on all of the in Santorini for a 20-year-old boy, I think is just a dream, as you know, like Mamma mia. Everything started over there because actually I fell in love with the island. The island, I say, is a magnet for any person that has positive energy. The island is a magnet. So if you come first time, at least once, you need to return back. It's certainly something a very special place, and there's nothing like it anywhere else on the planet. Totally. I've been traveling a lot. I'm Sicilian, so another amazing island in the world. But the feelings that you can't prove over here, you can taste in Santorini, is not just the Caldera, it's not just the volcano, it's not just the blue doms, it's everything. You know, Santorini, for people that believe so much in the ancient history of the world, let you believe in myth-elegents. When you go around the island and you imagine the Caldera, you imagine the island and how it was. You go in the ecological side of a criteria, you feel that today actually we are nothing compared to the past. Today we think to be so developed just because we have laptops, engineers, iPhones, and the salt. But actually when you get inside in the ecological side of a criterion, you go around, you see the way of building of the houses, the kind of perfection, I would say, how they cut the piece of the rocks and the setting of the Agora, for example of the mark, is a 4000-exual city and you feel so small. Santorini is so many things. Most of the people, unfortunately, I would say because they travel just for a few days, they think that Santorini is only E.I. in Fira with the blue doms and the view of the Caldera. For who is going to spend few days on the island, I would suggest to have an adventure spirit. I like to say it like this because to fill the island to discover the island, you don't have to lie some bathing all the day in Caldera. I know that it's amazing relaxing with the Caldera view. Of course if you have an education, your swimming pool is better, but if you want to learn more about Santorini and to understand, really what doesn't mean Santorini, you need to go around. You need to walk in the little villages, not so touristy. You have to eat not just in the luxury restaurant in Caldera, but to try as well as a local tavern where actually you see people, they don't speak English because they are real locals. It's a different way to live the island. Yeah, we really love the interior village Piagos. It's my favorite one. Yes, that we did the first tour. This tour that I set it up for Santorini is called Discover the Flues Santorini and we started actually from Piagos. We go around Piagos is like a labyrinth because it was a village built during the Venetian domination. It was actually built like a fortnight city. There's still the ruins of the castle in the middle. If you came on the island, you know. And it's amazing to walk into the village and to go around following the little path, the narrow path, the narrow streets because actually you can get lost as well if you know the village, but you see easy, simple, traditional things. The churches, the houses, is not everything perfect, like in India. Absolutely. It's authentic Greece and people are still living their lives. They're going about their day living, you know, people have lived their whole lives. Have a day, multi-generations. So they're not all in the tourism industry and people still have various small businesses, their growers or farmers or whatever the bankers, whatever they might be. It's more to many shops where you see the grandma or in any case the woman of the family that is carrying out the shop, but you see that she's not a businessman or a businessman. It's not like in India or Fira where you see that actually all of them or islanders are not our businessmen. They set it up for just for making money. But Pyrgos and like Megalochor as well or the village of Iborio or the village of Acrotiri, they have simple villages, well, small, then when you get inside you feel Santorini. You really feel what that means Santorini today. Santorini today as a set of beginning is not just the blue dome, it's to understand why Santorini is so famous. Who are the people that made Santorini so famous? Are the people, there are the result of many dominations, many history, so much history. Santorini has almost 30 museums on the island. So when you go through the villages walking in Pyrgos or walking in Megalochor and naturally in Nagos you think to be on an island that is crowded. Yeah, but if you walk in Megalochor you also know Augusta at two o'clock in the afternoon there's no marion the road. Yeah, I think that's very good advice and it's something I certainly encourage people to do as well. It is very hard to tell yourself away from that that Caldera view and that swimming pool clinging from the cliff. I know I've been there and it can be quite tempting to just stay there the entire time, but you're right there's so many other great things to see and do on the island and I think far more than people realise a lot of people in years gone by as you know have maybe been a bit concerned about visiting Santorini. They see the footage of the cruise ships that used to come in the heaving crowds on the down there at IA trying to see the sunset of an evening and I guess the one good thing that may have come out of this pandemic is that certainly this year those crowds probably won't be there, but as you say there's so many other things that you can still get out and see and do. So you mentioned Acryteria and of course that's something again that I recommend people go to see, but what are the other things? I mean wineries now, Santos winery, one of the best lunches we've ever had. You is a really nice martyr. Wines in Santorini is one of the best thing to enjoy of course like food you know. Well I don't think people realise that the Santorini wines, particularly the white wine. They're so good. Of course, it's one of the best all over the world. The Asciitical wines want so many prizes all over the world. It's a kind of grape that is amazing. The quality is just amazing and confirming as well to fair world famous wines all over the world. Asciitico comes to the first ten. You mentioned the Santo wines. Santo wines of course is a perfect location for many reasons. First of all you can enjoy a wine tasting during a sunset on the Caldera. So as you know is a is a mass location that you have to visit during your stay in Santorini. It's nice, absolutely you have to book in advance because it's of course limited the capacity also of course of the cause of the covid situation as well. The view is I did just yesterday during my tour and you taste the wines. You can actually decide how many wines you're going to taste. You start from the sparkling cause right now Santorini is not producing just the wine. Santorini is a small island but does it know Greece in general is a big country producing so much wine. Santorini is producing right now about ten different kinds of wines. We start from as well, something like a champagne that is a local one. As Hurtik, as you mentioned, is the best wine by my opinion, produced on the island. Perfect when you are eating fish. So if you are drinking, really cold, it's very good. In fact, I've got a bottle in the fridge here. So there are places that you can buy it in Australia. It certainly come a long way from Red Sea and domestica, which were terrible wine. It's awful stuff. But these days, people are quite surprised of taking many friends to Greece and they're always quite shocked at how good the wine is. And very affordable. And the other thing we love about Greece is that they love a carafe, you know, the half bottle, which I wish they'd bring that in here because I think it would be much better suited. Yeah, of course, of course. But it's not just a stastatic or central wine because to be correct, Santorini has so many different wineries. You talk about the wine. If you, because Santorini wines, it's really important is part of the history of the island, who comes to the island should piece it as well, the museum of the wine. The winery museum of Kutsuyanopoulos that is located in Mesaria. It's an amazing example of how was important for the islanders, the wine production because they actually, they were making commercial business with the islands around, but also with other countries during the domination of the Venetians. So when the Duke of Naxos was established and actually dominating San Island, the Venetians were making commercial business selling wines. And Santorini was one of the best location to produce wines. The winery of Kutsuyanopoulos is so old is in Mesaria, is the, the tunnels under the earth where you can visit part like the way they were producing the wines. And there's still bottle. There are more than 50, 60, 70 or 100 is old. There's one bottle of win Santo. There is one of the oldest one in all quiz. It's certainly a very unique style to see the vines curled up on the ground. That's something that a lot of people don't expect. And are often very confused about and we explain to them that it's because of the wind or the melt, melt tummy that comes through, of course, in summer. But I think the flavor of the wine is quite unique because of the sea spray, right? It gets this kind of saltiness. It's not just the sea. It's the way they're producing the wines. Who came in Santorini? The first thing when you're going around that they will notice is the way how we grow up the grapes. They're not standing like a normal country all over the world. Yeah, the grapes are growing a shape of a basket because the island is so windy. And as you know, it's not raining so much. So to use to keep you mediating to the basket, they do this shape of basket of basket with the leaves making an umbrella. The grapes is covered and stand at the center. So scovert and protected by any, any weather conditions. We say raining, snowing because sometimes it's knowing the island is crazy. But as well, the volcanic earth, the soil, many with so many minerals and the pool means they're creating the perfect situation to produce. Unlike Sicily, right? With the volcanic teo, teo, teo, teo, teo, teo, I believe it's called the condition of the soil. So we have a lot of wine, great wine here in Australia too. So I'm a bit of a one-snob, I have to confess. Jean-Luc, what about other things? I'm just thinking of the top of my head. I know one thing that many people love to do on Santorini is hiking and particularly the hike between Fira and Ia. Fira and Ia. Yeah. Yes. So the island of Santorini actually is a is the preferred island where you can enjoy any kind of tour. You can enjoy enjoy Ike. You can enjoy tracking. You mentioned the Ike. The Ike is between Fira. That is a capital and Ia. When we do the Ike is about three hours of Ike is walking between through the villages of Fira, Fira, Stafani in Imeiroviglin. Then when we get out from Imeiroviglin, we start walking. We are actually on the cliff of the Caldera and overlooking the ocean. So you have amazing views. You should take two hours and half, but everybody stops to take pictures. When you go through, you see churches built in caves and small churches and chappers that belongs to the period of the 1516th century after Christ. And then when you get in Ia, so after all these three, you get in Ia and you see, of course, another world because Ia is Ia. You see a wide and blue settlement, amazing village, standing on the cliff. Like snow, amazing hotels with pools. And you see the ruins of the Venetian casus, either way. It's iconic. It's an iconic view that you just dream about in one day. You can't believe you're actually standing there looking at it. Exactly. Everybody when comes to Santorini issue and goes to Ia, thinks to be like in a in a card in a is not in a in a fairy tale, let's say, is like a fresco. Absolutely. You're going to be part of the fresco. But the second, the second eye, sorry, Sandy, the second eye because there's not just this eye, the island is really famous for so many parts and pavthru. This is an eye for example, between the village of Pyrgos and Propheta Celia. There is the highest point of the island where we have the monastery. And the same pavthru, there is the old pavthru that the islands were walking when was not allowed to be Turkish or Greek when they was not allowed to be, to be Greek and orthodox. So during the Turkish domination, people were going into the monastery on top of the hill where they're doing in a neat and way, they were still transmitting the orthodox religion and of course, the quick language. And this pavthru are amazing because they're passing through all the villages going up to the hill and there as well, which Mesabu no was then ancient Thera is the second archaeological site of Santorini where we have an amazing view of course, is the city built by Theras, there was the hero of the Spartans that came on the island, 1000 after Christ. And there's also the volcano. Is that a difficult hike? No, the difficult, it's just the time you have to take it slowly and of course it's better to try to do when it's really warm and hot. I mean, certainly that the first one we talked about is not adduous, but as you say, it can get very hot. So the biggest problem is the sun. The problem is the temperature. So you have to decide there's a lot of time when you're going to enjoy something like this. I would suggest to do it in the afternoon so that you arrive in the near for the sunset. But of course, bring water with you, a hat absolutely tracking shoes because it's really important because the path rate ash and rock. So it's a little bit slippery and don't don't don't rush. Just enjoy the views, enjoy the path and take his load. Yeah. Good advice. I'll tell you one of my, well, actually probably our all time favourite activity to do in Santa Rene is a sunset cruise. I know it might sound a bit cliched, but it really is so special when we did it, we actually were there. I think over a religious weekend or something, it was super busy and there were no sunset cruises available. Luckily, being married to a Greek, he went out and hustled and came back with a fishing boat. Some fishermen, captain, somebody or other took us out on his boat and we had the most incredible afternoon. We stopped in at that little village. I can't remember what it's called, but it's right down. It's a village village on the main island and it's right down on the water. And we are a cruiti. Possibly and his mother came and gave him an eski full of food. You know, she'd made all those sivlaki and he had a barbecue on the back of the boat and we swam in the, in the warm hot springs and once that sun goes down, I mean, it's great to be up there on the cliffs looking at it, but I think it's even more special to do it on the water. You are absolutely right. And because the island to will enjoy the caldera, you have to be in the caldera. So what's better to enjoy a cruise? Cruises for the sunset. There are so many actually as a local travel agent. I'm organizing at least five or six different kinds of tours for sunset for any, any budget, any, any taste and any need for the customers. Of course, the luxury one is the Katamaran cruise. The Katamaran cruise with the limit number of guests is a relaxing, actually cruises starting from the south. You go close to all the coastline, the famous South Coastline of Santorini. So actually you see the red beach that unfortunately we have to say the red beach is no more allowed to walk in to walk down. Filled down part of the path. It's really dangerous to try to walk down. Yep. Yeah. Is it still closed? The red beach is still closed because there's a part of the hill that is ready to fall. So it's really very dangerous because to this try to get it and I'm Fortunately, sometimes we have accidents. So it's a bad thing to go and do that. Yeah, got him back to the cruises when we start from Vlikad and we start breathing all the South coastline of Santorini You go close to the red bitch. You see the white bitch. You see small days that actually They don't know they don't mention like Mesa Pigadia. So Mesa Pigadia means let's read in a pot Pigadia is a quick word that means both Mesa means mean It's a small day where we really enjoys Narkling because it's full of fish So when you go jumping into the water clean turquoise order you see the bottom you enjoy your swim You enjoy your really action by as well as Narkling and then keep going to the South Tieldevenition La Rouse There's an appoint we used to say you we used to call Indian rock This is a Niel there is the shape of the face of an Indian with them with the nose and the mouth and Then we go to the La Rouse and comes the time to get into the Caldera When you go around the La Rouse and you get into the Caldera the first emotion you say oh wow What's that because you see the two new volcanic islands in front of you? You see Ea Friday way that looked like snow and all the village is like Vida virus the funny meadow pig lip at beginning. It's you can understand there are villages you really think there is likes no so When you start choosing and you go close to the volcanoes you see all the lava's multicolors multiple layers You feel to be in in the you are reading the history of the island of the volcano through the island each color belongs to a different Period to the 50 friend eruption as a different in history story the second option for the sunset fuse for people The want to discover the volcano because Katarans forces don't give you the opportunity to stop on the volcano Are the traditional boats we do a lot of different tours with the small twolets There's also a pirate ship a really pirate ship still keep we can on on like Jack Sparrow Let's say and All of the both of them there are two big big boats. They're opening the sail So you feel to be on a gulet sailing through the sunset and they're stopping So you've been discovered a volcano going up there's two guys Oh, it's nice if you want to be at the center of the caldera when you go up to the volcano the volcano is active Of course, there's no lava because we are in the caldera But you have steams will you worm on top and most of the people will enjoy to ever try because there are some old Have you been on the volcano sandy? Yeah, yeah, but you we I didn't swim there my son quite enjoyed it I'd all that water's way too black for me. I like to see the bottom Well, I mean when you walk on the island not just swimming in the springs when you stop And you go till the upper crater and try the steams you feel surprised because it's really really warm and you don't expect it And then of course it's a lot and then as well the island of the fishermen This is a place that I love piracias. I don't know if you've been ever beings No, well, I was going to ask you You mentioned it earlier and again. It's something I've written about most people don't realize that Santorini is actually more than one island As you say it really is of course five Okay, or any is an archipelago Most of the people It belongs to Santorini as well. Yep, and the racia is really well. They tell me it's what the big island of Santorini used to be like 20 years ago and maybe more let's say 50 Okay, but very authentic very absolutely absolutely like stepping back in time You mentioned about the island is a mistake that everybody is making Santorini is not an island. Santorini actually is a small archipelago. Yes five islands Yes, Thera there is the main island where we have the airport with all the population most of the population leaves Then we have the racia that actually means the small Thera There is a northwest of Ia so it's the island that we see in front of Ia and we used to call the crocodile island Because as the shape of the other crocodile Then we have Aspronisi at the south close by to the lighthouse. There's a little island is not Then is an epitome is why I'm like is an island and then we have the two volcanic island Palia Cameni that means let's read the old burn island that belongs to 40 seats after Christ Where everybody knows for the offspring for the thermal springs where we are going to swim most of the both stops in the in the shallow waters You have to swim too and to do the bath the spa with if you try for sure with Uh the materials and the minerals you're gonna find the mud yeah, and then of course Naya Cameni that is the newest island in Europe Santorini is the newest island in Europe because become appeared in 50 77 after Christ actually Part of five different islands the by the eruptions has been Have been connected each other you have to think like a cake who were chocolate were covering all the islands Making them once so today we have five islands the old islands They are actually the remain what is remaining from the bigger option of them in one time There is Thera Therasia and Aspronisi Therasia Therasia is an island of 200 in Epitons Yeah, actually all of them are fishermen or captain Uh legend me but also the new areas that they are the best Salon men the best people that you need you want on a boat Also on fairies as well To to learn and stand their fairies big companies. They're Bringing people from this island because is it is a small island? I would nothing Actually connect you to Santorini to the main one so from five years old they have to learn how to Use a boat. It's a way to understand how was the life of Santorini 50s ago There's a ghost village on top called Manolas Uh that up during the airquake you know the big airquake of 1956 um Destroyed unfortunately most part of the island Especially whatever was on the cliff and the same thing up and as well in Phirassia So people escaped left the island and moved to most of them moved to Phirass to to Athens to Phirassia The island still keeping this part like he was so when you walk into the village of Manolas and you see that the houses You open the doors you open the windows you still everything exactly like the left Yeah, it's amazing. I think it's crazy that 90 eight percent of people that go to Santorini only go to that big island They see those other islands But they don't go and visit so I hope that picks up. I mean it's an easy ferry ride isn't it you just go You know why Sandy to you know why Sandy Why the problem send because the groups and They are not so the social media today is that is amazing Instrument for everybody. Okay. We actually can transmit whatever we want in our own way But I think he's that not all the people really know about the destination So when everybody can speak about Santorini most of the people you have a group as well with us So you know you read the comments if you go in Santorini you need just three days How many times we read something like this three days there's no way to live Santorini in three days Santorini you need 10 days Santorini some people some people are very pressed for time But anyway, that's our job gen Luca. We're here to educate people and to make sure that people maybe get a little bit off the beaten track and try and discover some of these Amazing things that are so easy to see and do I mean visiting Therassia is practically free What what's it a couple of euro on the on the on the little ferry? So that's two the ways there's the the tour the volcano tour of the day And during the morning one is dropping off in Therassian gives you two hours of free time to enjoy Therassian But if you don't want to join a tour you go to Amudi Bay that is the port the pictures port Inia everybody knows for the fish tavern that they have the octopus standing Under the sun and that three times a day there's a tender as mold boat that is doing the connection and is only one euro Yeah one euro okay So it's I know what a great day trip and there's some very pretty places on Therassia The Instagrammers can still get their lovely shots. They can still take their selfies. I mean, it's not You know, it's not yeah, but as you say it's very authentic There's some beautiful little tavernas with some lovely food a couple of them anyway. I can't remember many But um I highly recommend it and I hope I hope a lot of our listeners Take note of this one and in particular. I've got a couple of other places I just quickly want to mention to you that I think a worth seeing and doing I've been Chatting with the Santorini Arts factory So the converted what was it a tomato tomato factory? During the past was really famous for the production of the tomatoes my Father-in-law as well was working when he was 10 years old in a Bye. on the island of World 5. Actually you can't understand what the factory is. You saw in Blihada is the most important today is a museum, is the art of Bakstling Museum. Where it's amazing because when you get inside you see the old Santorini. You see the old Santorini, you see how they were living actually in the island. Tomatoes were very important, the little Santorini and tomatoes it's amazing is a small one and they're making a so-school verte that for sure you try it because when you drink wine and Santor wines as well or in all the wineries you enjoy the verte with wine. You mention it's right to mention it's in the location of Blihada. Blihada it's amazing for all. Blihada it's amazing for the beach. Because it's really quiet beach. You can visit the museums, it takes usually one hour and half the visit. And also the kind and the shapes of the hill it's absolutely amazing because it's been shaped by the lava rivers. I've just found them to be very professional and very proactive too so I hope that does really well for them. I guess I mean we're running a bit short of time. There's so many things we could talk about. I mean you mentioned all the museums. There's certainly what did you say? 30 of it. It's around 30. You have in Fira the archaeological and the historic one and the Walt paintings museum. There's a William museum. There's a minor museum. There's a and maritime museums. There's an iconographic museums. Exactly. There are actually 20 or 24 museums around. There's in Messaria, there's in Conto Cori, there's in Nia, there's in Pribe St. Pribe Volos, there's in Fira, there's in Megalchori, there's the museum, the winery museum in Messaria. There are several museums and of course the archaeological site. A new experience sent in maybe you didn't try. Is the Los Atlantis museum. You know what it is? Well I can imagine but. It's just amazing. The Los Atlantis museum is a nine dimension museum where you you can actually live on your skin the eruption that tsunami and the earthquake of the Minoan time because you feel to be into the eruptions into the volcano is a multi language experience where Plato's the hologram of Plato speaks several languages teaching us what is Atlantis and why everybody thinks the Santorini could be Atlantis. What do you think? What do you think? Yeah, when I was 12 13 is all my first book that I read was of Jules Verne and I was in a crazy about Atlantis. I just say that now I'm living on Atlantis. Yeah, no, I think there's there's definitely something there and it's definitely worth exploring some more. I hope they find more evidence of that in the future. The the the archaeological site of the Crotiri is when you read about Atlantis what Plato said and the description of Plato's about Atlantis. Okay. The way they were building the houses the double floors the way we're using the houses they were using the thermal springs of the volcano to produce a warm water in the house the channel buildings the market place you see everything into the archaeological Santoracro theory. Yeah, so when you walk in if you read before the the Plato's explanation about Atlantis or you you do for example the lost Atlantis museum when actually Plato shows you bi holograms and multimedia and within technology of course the new technology shows you how it was and then you go to the city you see everything because Atlantis today is not rocks. Atlantis is still standing you see the beds you see the sink of the bathroom you see parts of the house that actually and the way of building of the house that is exactly like we could do today but it's a 4,000 is old city so then you start thinking you start inquiring yourself what that. Yeah, my husband wants to see that especially because he's a builder so seeing all of these places and the amazing engineering and the mathematics that went into all the construction and yeah it's quite incredible as you say to just process it in your head sometimes and you feel very small and very stupid. Exactly I am fully agree with you if you if you go inside and you see the way they cut it the big marble long stone big marble stone or the obsidian that is obsidian as you know there's only the diamond can drag it out of the city and in this way. The first question yeah the first question you are going to ask yourself is how did it 4,000 years ago. It didn't have laser did it but it cut it and it's perfectly cut it in a north and or going away or for example your husband is a builder so when you get in a criterion you pay attention to the doors and the windows okay you see the level. The upper part exactly you see the way of the building is the columns but as well the the food and column up to the to the door or to the window there is a way of building of today to make it stronger and the houses are standing with the standing as well because the bigger option the Minon eruption wrapped it a Pumis rock and Pumis rock let's say was like snow covering a portion of the island starting from feet until the lighthouse so acro theory is in the middle and there are some part of the island with more than 70 meters eye Pumis so they actually covered it so what's easy because Pumis is so lies so what easier of course to don't destroy them. Yeah okay well do you look at we could speak for another hour I think about all the things to do on Santa reigning we could talk about the beaches and we could talk about the shopping that's dear to my heart we could talk especially all those jewelry shops. About the beaches. About the what the beaches. So if you want to talk about the beaches of course Santorini is a volcano so why it is what's in calls beaches no way to find in Santorini who comes of it. Of course it's not the wish but there are really nice beach. Camara is the black beach close to the airport and is a typical family location, couple location what is the sea size, so romantic especially in August with the yellow lights to renown there are sometimes missing playing nice restaurants to enjoy. So beaches is with people so it's a little bit I don't like the kind of sand of rocky that is not the best beaches in Greece but you don't go to Santa reigning for the beaches I mean I love Paris and Peribolos but Peribolos and by my opinion is absolutely amazing. Shadow water is clean water you see the bottom. It's really large is you just comfort and it's clean. So we run out of time but if you could pick just one other activity that you think people visiting Santorini should do. One other activity or all the people doing it can witness in Santorini. So let's make a little bit turn. Katamaran choose. Sanctus on the to visit the volcano. Yeah. Diving is the next experience. There's a couple of shipwrecks. Santorini is a volcano but there are accidentally there are two shipwrecks on the island and then you can dive both there's also the caves. It's one of the most famous location of the island for divers. At the lighthouse, south west of the island, there's a point where there's a big cave is around 20 meters deep in the world and is actually linking you getting through one side of the island and you're throughout and you'll be in the caldera. So for who loves diving Santorini offers well so much time. Then the last activity is eating. Especially those Santorini tomato fritters. Tomato fritters. You can try a musaka of course a local musaka and local fish fried fish. And if you want to try the lobster is a really famous lobster of Santorini. The bro on the volcano in his brown. Melitini. You know what is Melitini? Melitini is a sweet. It's a local sweet. Original from Santorini from the village of Firkos. That is the typical Easter sweet and it's fantastic. It's with Mizzitra that is like ricotta. If you want, we are the tour operator. We work with the thousands of accommodations all over Greece and in Santorini of course most because I'm here. And if you want to spend money you find amazing location where you stay. Like carnivorous, like Celestia ground, like volcano view are amazing hotels built on the rock, built on the cliff, swimming pool infinity or cabota go. But if you want to live the island in a trip way, it's absolutely you can. And of course as well for the food. I said you can live Santorini eating with five Udus. If you want to eat a pita gheros it's too you and 50 cents. If you eat in a small local tower, you can eat in a local tower and you spend 15 to 20 Udus per per ad. So it's not an expensive island like me. or like if I go in San Treni there's all expensive way to leave. No, absolutely no. San Treni in the last years, all the people, all the owners, hotel owners are spending so much in the quality. But the quality is not only in the expensive one. The expensive one, of course, out the expensive one at the top because they have amazing amenities. But also the medium or the low level of the apartment's accommodation and studios on the island, you still find quality. You still find places where you get in and you say, "Wow, it's only 50 years per day and this is the room." Yes, it is. Gianluca, what are some of the mistakes that you think most visitors to San Treni typically make? Look, San Treni, as we said, it's an island that you have to leave. Okay, you have to drive around. You have to fill it to understand what it is. So my suggestion is to all the tourists to have a let's come into San Treni. Don't stop to the first feedback you find on the web. People at Tourist is a tourist. If you really want to leave the island, you have to ask and you have to ask a local one. The local one knows the island better than anyone. At Tourist, know the island and know the island just for the three, four days that is coming on the island. So it doesn't know actually the hidden places, the secrets, let's say, of the island. So try to find someone. There are so many, there are so many companies like me on the island that we are totally dedicated to tailor-made customized traveling. So tours, accommodations, anything, but we are local. Okay. So also in a few days, just in four days, we're going to set up a program to really discover what you need to discover in San Treni. If you just follow the web, you just follow, okay, do the San Treni, do Fida, do the walk and the catamaran and the soul. You will lose the island. You miss the island. The Greek hospitality is one of the best quality, of course, we have. And I say we have because, as you know, I'm Sicilian, but Sicilian is, it was part of Greece. So actually, you feel the same thing. In Italian, we say, "Una Fatsuna Rat, una Ratza." So we are the same people. And that's the way. Hospitality, it's a must to be here. To be friendly, polite and to have a hospitality with our customers, actually, you become friends in less than five minutes. The famous Greek philottima, right? Doing good for others. So Gianluca, for listeners at home, tell us a little bit more about your business. So actually, my company is Matzure Tuz Group. Matzure Tuz. So that's Med MED as in Mediterranean. And I'll be putting a link to Gianluca's business in the notes for the podcast. Okay, here's a trick question for you. If you could leave anywhere else in Greece, apart from San Treni, where would that be? Look, I love Athens. Athens, and especially the side of Glyphada, it's amazing. Okay, I really love Athens because when you walk in Athens, close to the Acropolis, and all, you are in a museum. Okay, Athens, it's just amazing. And I'm Italian, I've been walking as well in Rome. But when you walk in Athens, you see, you go to Mount Ovaliga Petosis. This is, you, you feed part of the history, but it plays the state in my heart in, in a special, let's say, uh, way. Of course, everything is up from the period to leave all the here long. Athens, a place where I love to come back to travel is Mateo. Mateo is where there are the monasteries built on the, on the hills, on the rocks. Is it peaceful location where you, you can really get relaxed and you can't think with yourself? Oh, look, we absolutely love it there too. We visited on our last trip. We actually flew into Janina. Janina, yes. Yeah, it just blew our minds. I just can't recommend it enough. In fact, the whole, the mainland, I mean, the Peloponnese, just is so wonderful. And there's so many great things to see on the mainland. It baffles me really that more people don't go there. Absolutely. Don't forget this art and sword, the Peloponnese words. So when you go there, there are the thermopolis, you go through thermopolis and you pass from thermopolis, grises everywhere history. And you said something really right. You have two drives. John just gets the bus. Don't just catch the train. Don't just catch an airplane. Atten, you can't atten or of a saloniki in Salonico and then drive, get a car and go around. Peloponnese as well is an amazing part of we like wheat. But was reaching wheat or Lafonista's beach. Yes, we've had a lovely, wonderful holiday and creed with our kids. The beaches there are truly just some of the best in the world. And of course, we have the best in the world in Australia, but those beaches in creed really are something special. You know, Sammy, a nice, a nice outfit and that's way to explain Greece. I said, the Greece is the land of God where you discover the through emotions. It's not just for Santorini. You feel positive atmosphere everywhere. You feel the history everywhere. You feel the meat. You feel the legends. You feel to be in a fairy tale, but in a good way. I think you're very right. There's something you can't put your finger on when you're in Greece, but there is a very spiritual and very something that runs very deep. Makes you feel very small and there's nothing like it really anywhere on the planet. Look, we've run out of time. I've really enjoyed chatting to you again. Thank you so much. And I look forward to seeing you next year when I am back on that wonderful island as well. Thank you so much, Sandy. I was really, was my honor and my pleasure. I want to wish everybody to come to Greece and I want to let's invite everybody. Right now we are actually COVID-free. So this cover and joy, Greece. All you need is Greece is the new way of marketing, as you know, from the Greek government, but I say all you need is Santorini. So see you in Santorini. Ev Galastor Gianluca and stay safe. Yasu. For our listeners at home, I hope you've all enjoyed this episode on Santorini. For more information and to see some of the some resources about some of the things that we've spoken about today, head on over to grease travel secrets dot com and underneath our destinations, you'll find a Santorini page. On that page, there's many, many articles. There's things to do, where to stay. Some of the most exclusive, yeah, accommodation. I've written a long article about how to have an amazing honeymoon on Santorini. There's some very detailed itineraries and there's also a couple of niche articles that I really recommend you read. One is about writing a donkey on Santorini. I really urge you to read that article. And another is about the differences between Santorini and Mika on us. And that's particularly for people that may not have a lot of time. They're trying to choose between one or the other. And it basically summarises what the key differences are between those two islands. So again, grease travel secrets dot com. Please head on over there and I look forward to seeing you. Also, I hope in our Facebook group, grease travel planning, my next episode should be out in a couple of weeks and it's on Milos. Another extraordinary island that I really, really urge you to put on your itinerary. So thanks again for listening in and until next time.