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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Wine and Mediterranean Style

In a Nissan Micro we roamed Santorini end to end. I drove like an insane European driver winding through hilly roads, hugging cliff sides overlooking the sea and vineyards far below with very little guard railing, wondering how much more abuse the tiny little car could take.




We started out day with a few goals, remote beaches, wine, and tiny churches. We drove the entire length of the island and found all three.

Patience was a key here, we found a church in the middle of a vineyard and other farm country first thing in the morning. The church bells were inappropriately rung on accident, and a little care taker lady came out from a house on the farm to shoo us away. 

A church in Santorini


By mid day we made it to the north side of the island, through Fira, and towards the scenic town of Oia. The hottest part of the part of the day was passing and the warm sea breeze was slowly cooling down the island. We saw a sign for a beach and drove down hairpin turn cliff side roads to a remote beach locked away by rocky cliff faces all around. After swimming out to the drop off of the shoreline I spent time floating in the water, diving to the bottom, and opening my eyes towards the surface to see the sun shinning through the glistening blue and green water. We washed up to the shore and sprawled out on the black pebble beach to warm and dry in the sun, and to spend some time taking some classic Mediterranean beach photos. 

I am not sure what came over me, but I felt like a European photographer from the 60s. The sun was setting and the entire cove was illuminated by the sun, I had my hat, sunglasses, camera, walking around taking gorgeous shots of my wife. All I needed with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth, to trim my beard back to a skinny little mustache, and an ice bucket with a bottle of champagne to round the moment.  

Lounging on the beach
At the end of the day we made our way down to a vineyard on a quiet side of the island outside of Oia. The late afternoon sun was going down as we sampled our wine with views over the vineyard overlooking the sea, did I mention we pretty much had the entire place to ourselves? Tasting the chilled fruity whites was a perfect way to end the day. I could have stayed there forever, sipping wine, eating dinner, listening to the birds, the distances sea, seriously give me a cot and keep the wine flowing, I could live like a dirty hippy here for life scrubbing down stainless wine casks.

Sampling wine at Domaine Sigalas

Oia

Oia sunset

5 comments:

Sanem said...

This will be a shallow comment to a thoughtful blog post but I love Nicolette's dress. Did you get it there?

l. and J. said...

Oh, these vistas, the wine, the woman, the sea! What more do you want in life... Love you!

Mobius said...

Jason,

I just wanted to let you know that you suck.

I envy the views though bro. that looks relaxing. however I quickly forget the meaning of that word. hmm. I'm glad you guys are having fun. I miss fun.

Your whipping boy,
Travis

Jason Vander Meer said...

Yes yes, the wine the sea and woman, what more could i ask for?

Travis, just to let you know your are no longer my whipping boy, you were released from the responsibility when I left! Regardless, hope everything is going well at RT, and at least try to have fun.

Nicolette Jurgens-Tamminga said...

Hey Sanem, thanks! The dress is actually from Patagonia and is super comfortable. MIss you guys.