From Athens we flew to Santorini, the world-famous Greek island renowned for its white buildings, its blue-domed churches, and its sheer cliffs. With all the hype it receives, I arrived to the island pretty cynical, expecting the island to fall short of its unwavering romanticization.

I couldn’t have been more wrong. Santorini blew me away: the white villages, blue domes, and steep cliffs were immaculate, and the atmosphere was quiet and peaceful. The food was rich and fresh. The sunsets were magical — every night we sat outside of our villa and watched the white walls turn golden and the sky fade into a gradient of deep blue, blue, light blue, orange, and pink. Our villa was located in Imerovigli; I enjoyed the refined tranquility of the village. We also spent a day in the town of Oía (seen in the first and second picture), known for its shops and restaurants, along with its classic postcard view across Santorini’s famous blue domes.