Simply put, I believe this to be the most beautiful place I’ve been anywhere in the world outside of Rotuma Island, Fiji.

No one described this island to me and I’m thankful for that. No words can do it justice. The cliffs are so much taller than I’d expected. The whole place is magical.

Kristen and I rented a quad and explored the island with the wind in our hair and big smiles. I’m pretty sure, judging from the horns and flury of passers, that we rented the slowest quad on the island.

We watched the sunset on the north-west most point of the island on our second night. Just us and about 2000 other tourists! It’s a famous spot for watching the sunset. It’s just not as spectacular without the san Diego smog to really amplify the oranges and pinks!

Our second day, we took the donkey (read, DUNG) trail down the 500+ steps down to the ferry to the volcano that sits off the west coast of Santorini.

Atop the rim of the crater.

About to BELLY FLOP really badly!

With a mud-hawk from the mud in the volcanic hot prings.