IF IT’S TUESDAY: This must be Santorini

Santorini. More beautiful than your imagination.



Even the plastic chairs and TV aerials cannot distract from the natural beauty of this very special place on earth. The year I took this photo ..1996. After travelling through Italy for seven weeks it seemed ‘necessary’ to rest up in the Greek Islands before returning home. Of course, the Greek Islands is the last place you should visit to rest physically. The mental break more than compensates.



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As mentioned in my Mykonos post [here], I missed seeing Santorini on my first trip to Europe. So back I went, this time determined to make Santorini the first destination. I was only there 3 days and let me say it was hard to leave, and in many respects I never have. Something changed in me during this time.



Not a tangible change. More a discovery of the potential to be free. Free of one’s personal boundaries that tie much tighter than those imposed by others. A letting go. Places of great beauty can do this to you. They cast their spell and spin their magic [sorry cliché but true].





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I’d like to say I live each day now free, but of course back in my ‘real’ life I quickly fell back to old habits. What I have retained though, is this distant memory, a knowledge, or promise of what is possible.



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Here’s to Personal Freedom



It’s all in your mind!





Ciao Julie



xxx

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IMAGE SOURCE: [beingRuby]

23 comments:

Jen Beaudet said...

someday, before I'm too old, I really want to go to Santorini. It looks so beautiful and for some reason I feel drawn to it. After reading your post I feel even more drawn to it! I'm really going to have to get on it and start selling some paintings:)

Tamerie Shriver Halliday said...

I loved Santorini. We took the night boat from Athens and arrived first thing in the morning. It was high season and still our hotel was only $25 per night. (It was 1988.) Okay, it wasn't a 5-Star resort, but so what? The black sand beaches, the white buildings, the (what I call) Greek blue skies that are echoed in the window trim and doors...all lovely.

Maya@A Beach Lovers Place said...

I agree some places just remind us that freedom can be a reality, well I believe it is our true nature..., if only we weren't so caught up in all our thought patterns and habits. Greece is a wonderful place! Lovely post.

Heather Scott Partington said...

The closest I've gotten is the "Greece" calendar hanging in my kitchen. Someday!

Simply Mel {Reverie} said...

Oh yes, I'm dreaming of my chance to indulge in Santorini...one day, my friend, one day soon!

TracyZLesh @ Then I Got To Thinking said...

Those are the most beautiful pictures ever! I really want to go there! Thank you for sharing them!

Lee said...

I had lunch yesterday with a friend who has just returned from Santorini, and she had much the same perception and memories of this beautiful place. Her anecdotes & your pictures combined make me want to visit (straight away!!). Ahhh, back to real life for me too. Lee :)

Elaine said...

It's on my list of places to see after seeing your post. Vacations can change us and often for the better.

I hope you get to go back there.

Carole said...

i love the way you wrote this post. It is so true when you get away from your normal environment you get such clarity of what is important in life. Then when we get back to our routine "life" just takes over and we fall back into old habits.
Beautiful post!!!
xo,
Carole

Sarah Klassen said...

Lovely~ I'm writing this great spot down. Next year, I will possibly visit Italy, maybe Greece, Spain, and of course return to France again. What a picture! Who would want to leave? :)

simon said...

OMG!

I found travel made me more restless, but like an addict I have to have more, or I "suffer"...

Kellie Collis said...

Oh i think you might even get me in a bikini here!! x

Shaz said...

I Loooove Santorini - quite a spiritual place. Hope to take our boys there someday soon. Gorgeous pics. (thanks for the comment on Fabulously French).

FROM THE RIGHT BANK said...

Oh my goodness, Julie, you are so right! Santorini has that kind of effect on people. It really is one of the most beautiful places on earth. I went 5 years ago and find myself still thinking about it from time to time. I'd go back in a heartbeat!

Pearl Maple said...

Beautiful landscape photos, really enjoyed your black and white post as well and the way you captured all the gleam and shine.

FrenchGardenHouse said...

How beautiful! You have such a lovely blog, I'll be back to visit more. {I'm having a blog giveaway on mine}
xo Lidy

mimi charmante said...

having never been to greece, I now have this crazy need to visit Santorini! Isn't it amazing how many fabulous places there are to visit???
xo

Dumbwit Tellher said...

Julie this is so well put. I have been trying to stay focused on just that philosophy. You put it so beautifully. The photo is truly amazing. Made my day!

Xxxdeb

Alicia said...

A good friend actually left today to visit family in Greece. I actually prefer early Spring or Fall. This time of year its hot!!! Unless you stay by the sea breezes.
Hope your week going well Julie!!!

Catarina said...

thought it fitting to call my blog 'Being RUBY' to see if we can brake out of the doldrums and discover new paths and interests, and maybe resurrect some old ones.

Hi! I just thought I'd correct you, it's actually BREAK not brake. Thanks

Back on topic, Santorini is one of the places I really want to visit. My friend went and she LOVED it! ^_^

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Thanks Catarina

I could do with an Editor to pick up on those moments of 'brain lapse' :))

Thanks Everyone
I say... Let's all 'Get Lost In Santorini'!!

xx Julie

Porchlight Interiors said...

Santorini is high on my list too Julie. looks so amazing!

Anne Marie said...

that picture in color captivated me for some reason.......like I was looking at a half igloo on the see......

how wonderful that is! tha you saw that.....