The Surprises of Santorini

The unexpected side of Santorini that I could not imagine.

Back in uni, when I first downloaded Instagram and fell into the world of perfectly curated travel photos - Santorini was everywhere! The white buildings, blue domes, sunsets that didn’t look real. Naturally, it went straight onto the list - the travel bucket list. How could it not? Since then, Santorini had been on my bucket list. There it stayed for almost 10 years!!!

Every time I would tell someone "I want to go to Santorini", I would be responded with "oof! Don't bother! It's too crowded" Or "Okay... you will literally be walking shoulder to shoulder with people".

So, when the trip finally materialised, we decided to travel for a long weekend in March. I figured, we would beat the summer crowds and escape the UK rainy weather. Also, being an Aries girl, this trip also coupled as my pre-birthday trip. So, with the excuse of my birthday, we booked a mini photoshoot. It was Santorini after all, it had to be done. But... it almost didn't happen! Along with this, many little things about Santorini truly surprised me.

1 - Travel around the island

The best way to travel around the island in Santorini is by renting a car. Period. We didn't rent a car, thinking that we'd either walk to places or get a taxi. Mostly walk. But what I didn't realise is that Santorini is an island. An island created from volcanic eruptions! So, the walk wasn't just a walk it was more like a hike!
We regularly walked 20k+ steps and ended the day with "I need a massage!"

On the times we didn't walk, we got a taxi and safe to say, racked up quite the bill!

2 - Unpredictability of the weather

When we think of Santorini or even Greece for that matter, we think of beautiful sunshine, blue skies and blue waters, walking around in summery dresses with a sun hat! Yes? Or at least that is what I thought.
What we got in Santorini, was the polar opposite. It was; windy - and by windy I mean, I felt like I was going to be blown away! - rainy, and cold.
I can't describe the weather to be 'gloomy' as such, because it seemed more like the weather was angry and decided to shower some pretty stormy days!

Regardless of the weather, I put on a summery dress (wrapped with a little cardigan of course). The weather might have been angry but I am stubborn and decided to flaunt my dress at any cost!

3 - (the big one) Lack of preparation from the locals

Okay, this sounds quite harsh. But allow me to give you the back story.

We were in Santorini from Friday to Sunday. I had booked a photoshoot on Saturday afternoon. Saturday was quite rainy and stormy, and the photography company messaged me saying "can we reschedule to tomorrow, the photos will be better." Fair enough, I agreed. The following day, it was sunny, but for a short period of time, it also rained. That was around the time of the photoshoot. I met the photographer and he was like "look guys, I'm very sorry but because it's raining I can't take the photos"
What?!
"You can't take the photos if it's raining?!" I asked. Quite shocked because, we live in the UK and believe it or not, photographers take the photos rain or shine! In fact, photos in the rain are thought to be "romantic".
"Yes. The camera equipment won't work in the rain."
Again, what?!
Not sure, how I can put this politely but I could tell he was lying. I was getting so annoyed. This photoshoot was on my bucket list. I booked it. I wasn't planning on coming back to Santorini any time soon, so I wanted the trip commemorated.
I tried to think he wasn't lying to me. And in fact, the camera equipment would really be damaged in the rain. Any photographers out there willing to explain? But somehow even my brain wasn't going to believe it.
I put the phone down and refused to move from our meeting place. I stared up at the sky as if I could move the clouds and the rain away if I glared at it long enough. Then checked the weather app on my phone. As if the combination of the two could scare the clouds away.

15 mins later, I noticed the blue skies were getting bigger, the sun was coming out and the clouds in fact were floating away with no more to follow. I immediately got on the phone to the photographer;
"It's stopped raining, tell me you haven't left and you can take the photos now." I rambled.
"I know, I know but it's still raining" the photographer continued.
"Where?" I interrupted. "The sun is coming out with every moment we are talking. So, even if you've left you have to come back, because the sun is out, it's NOT raining and I came all this way, I need the photos!"
Finally the photographer agreed. In my opinion, he literally had nothing else to argue. And we got our photos.

For a place that is so heavily dependent on tourism, how come I had to beg for a service that I had already paid for? How come I had to beg him to do the work he was getting paid to do? How come the company wasn't prepared to conduct the service in the rain? Since when is photography weather dependent?

Yes. I still have all these questions.

Nevertheless, the trip was a good experience overall. Maybe the timing of the trip was wrong. Our hotel receptionist told us "Santorini is beautiful all year round". I'm not so sure I can agree with that. Maybe it is, but you can't enjoy the beauty all year round and if you can't enjoy it, what is the point?