One Sunday every August annually there is the Ifestia Festival; a tribute to the active volcano at the centre of Nea Kamini {new burnt island}.
We were extremely lucky to be on this glorious history-rich geographer's dream island on this date 2015 for our honeymoon. On the 23rd August I experienced, with my husband, one of the most fantastic days ever! A day that has created some memories to forever hold close and precious.
We took a trip on a wooden sailing boat on the choppy sea, seeing the beautiful sights of the surrounding Islands and the main Santorini island. It first took us over to the hot springs alongside Palia Kameni {old burnt island} and bathed in the warm waters; painting each other in the soft mud that can be found underfoot. Its said that the sulphur-rich substance can do more than any face mask or facial. It's something, as a budding geographer, I have been yearning to do for a while! I can in fact testify; my skin is the smoothest it's ever been! The hot springs were just against the island so the boat could not drop us there; we had to jump (or perfect dive in my husband's case) into the sea and swim over to the warm waters.
Once I'd had a muddy foot, face and chest mask... We swam back to the boat - against the current - climbed aboard and dried in the August sun. The boat's captain and guide were eager to show as much of their island that they could. We sailed alongside Imerovigli; taking gorgeous shots of the cliff-side white town. The varying colours of the rocks with large white dykes running vertical along the cliffside made for some amazing photographs. We were brought up alongside a tiny Church; part-hidden in the immense rocks. You can only see this tiny building from the ocean; and even then it is hard to spot!
We stopped off to eat Meze style foods and drink karafes of wine on the pier of a restaurant on Thirassia; one of the larger and inhabited islands.
Next was the pièce de résistance - the sunset. One of the most striking sunsets in the world. Beautiful burnt-oranges, deep purples and lime greens filled the sky. The twilight was just as gorgeous... Suspended amongst the island's silhouettes. Then; once dark had descended the festival began. 'Magma' began oozing from the volcano; pops of orange and bright whites began and the firework spectacle was beautiful!
The dark sky brought with it an ocean breeze so I cuddled up to my husband for the short journey back to Santorini Thira island and our coach awaited.
I can't begin to explain how lucky I feel to have been there for this magical spectacle but to have been with my amazing husband to witness it together.
It was truly one of the best days of my life so far.
I took over 750 photos on our honeymoon. This day contributed to quite a high number of these. None of these images have been edited apart from the text added. I would appreciate them not being copied without my permission first being sought. I hope you enjoy looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them!
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