Oia

 

Oia is one of the villages in Santorini on the edge of one of the peninsulas, seen here from Phera, the island's capital

Whitewashed houses, narrow streets and alleyways

odd little buildings

lots of churches - apparently, in Santorini there is one church for every ten people

wonderful ceilings

arches that lead to the sea

gates that seem to lead nowhere

busy streets packed with shops for the tourists (and it is all bearable until the hundreds from the cruise ships arrive like a swarm of locusts and then you have to escape to the quieter parts of the village because fortunately, all those hoards never leave the five or six main streets)

some buildings that are not brilliant white

I had to include the donkey

fantastic architecture on the cliff

views of the rocks of Therasia

the ruins of the old castle on the point of the peninsula

windmills

a closer look

good views of Palaia Kameni and Nea Kameni in the distance

variations on the white theme

another view of the old castle

belfries

churches that aren't painted white

more churches

vaulted roofs

red voukamvilia to break up the white

a bit of lilac to liven things up

more breathtaking views

pretty houses

gates that seem to lead nowhere

chimneys

more vaulted roofs

yet another church

from a different angle because of its simplicity

blindingly white steps

white pebbles on the roofs

everything with the backdrop of blue sea and sky

finally, time for some lunch.