We had the most relaxing day, but we sweat like dogs. Our tentative schedule for today consisted of revisiting the antique shop in which we found the icons, surveying all of the local blue-domed churches in the area, and broadening our Greek cuisine options.
Last night I had planned on doing a short-length run through the streets early this morning. I got up at six and did just that; it was hands down the best view I have ever had during a jog (and there was hardly anyone awake, so it was me, the town, and the fantastic island view). When I had returned to our Airbnb and we got ready for the day, Kristen and I walked a few hundred feet down the road to a bakery owned by some Santorini natives who fixed us some croissants and espresso. We sat, munched on some butter bread, and sipped some Greek coffee. A few hours later, once all of the shops had opened (it seems a Greek custom to slowly begin the day), we met up with our host once more to take him up on another round of coffee which he told us yesterday could be provided free of charge. My journal entry paints a bright picture of how we felt:
“This is the most picturesque, most stunning place I have ever been. Our host made us cold Greek Frappes this morning on request and told us about his history in Santorini (he has lived here since a young man)… We are tasting the Greek culture here, and we love it. It makes me want to have a sort of tea or coffee time before and after meals once we get back to the U.S. It also makes me want to watch less TV and have more people over for such tea/coffee time (with snacks of course)… Glory to thee, our God, glory to thee.”
Another thing happened today which I didn’t record in my journal: I bought a hand painted Greek icon! There were many to choose from in the antique store next to the Epilekton Cathedral, but I decided to choose one of the cheaper (but still magnificently impressive) ones so as to save a bit of financial leg room for Rome. Also related to iconography is the opportunity we had today to go inside the Epilekton Cathedral itself. For only about five minutes, Kristen and I went inside of the reverent space in the middle of the town and lit wax prayer candles at the back of the sanctuary before swiftly exiting out of reverence for the sanctity of the place. We felt like true Greek Orthodox; it was dope.
Our final noteworthy experience of the day has to do with Greek cuisine. Kristen reminded me around midday that we had planned, while in Kamari, to taste authentic Greek gyros while here. Well, we couldn’t have been more surprised at how delicious they could be (“American gyros” got nothing on these)! For a fraction of the cost of the expensive meal we had yesterday – which was nonetheless delicious – we got to eat pork and lamb gyros at a gyro stand about a mile down the road from our stay, and we both instantly agreed it was the best meal we shared not only during our stay in Greece but during our entire trip. If in Greece, get the gyros.
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Our lunch destination today. I am holding peach juice. I had a smoked salmon and cream cheese sub sandwich, and Kristen had a classic turkey, cheese, mayo, and veggies sub sandwich. They were better than you probably think they were.
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In front of one of the famous blue domes sprinkled across the Oia landscape. It was a beautiful day today in Santorini, and these are beautiful churches.
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The authentic, hand painted and hand carved Greek Orthodox icon I secured today near Epilekton Cathedral. It portrays Christ’s salvific death on the cross, complete with the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove above Christ, and Death below, broken and defeated by Christ’s propitiation. If you look closely, you can see the trademark Greek letters on either side of Christ which spell out “IC XC” (pronounced “Ee-soos Kree-stoos,” i.e., Jesus Christ); in some icons, there will be an additional set of Greek letters which spell “NI KA” (pronounced “Nee-Kah”), which means “victory.” When combined, they proclaim, “Jesus Christ: Victory.” Amen to that!
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A pretty awesome day today.
Blessings and peace.
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