The isles of Greece, the isles of Greece! Where burning Sappho loved and sung - Lord Byron Forget about all the turmoil and demonstrations that you read about, Greece is still a safe place to visit and offers good value for your money.
From the stories you read in the papers and hear on the news, you would think that the financial woes were solely the fault of the Greek worker.
When in fact they were the result of greed perpetuated by speculators in the money markets.
That however, is a topic for a different article.
So go to Greece, enjoy the sun, lose yourself in the history and take pleasure in the hospitality of the people.
There are over 1400 inhabited Greek Islands and Santorini is considered by many to be the most beautiful.
The notion that it might be the legendary Atlantis is another reason that it lures many visitors.
The first thing that strikes you are the colours, especially the blue sea and the blue roofs on the bright white buildings.
Everywhere you look is a veritable feast for the eyes.
You can choose to stay in the capital Fira or one of the beaches.
Fira is very picturesque and the place where all the cruise ships stop, so you can imagine that it's a little pricier than staying in some of the other towns on the island.
Perissa Beach is one of the best places to stay.
It's quieter than Fira and there are many hotels, hostels and pensions to choose from.
Santorini has good bus service, so you can just hop on and do your own tour of the island.
If you are more adventurous you can rent a motor scooter and then there are the donkeys.
They were once used to transport people from the shore up the steep cliffs to Fira.
Nowadays there is a cable car, but you still see donkeys on parade once in a while and can even go for a ride on one.
There's some good news about Akrotiri (the Pompei of the Aegean).
The restoration has been ongoing for years and is now 70% complete.
It is expected to re-open in May, 2011.
You'll marvel at this ancient city, well preserved under lava and volcanic ash.
Even if you're only on the island for a day it should not be missed.
If you are a beach person, there is plenty to choose from, but the best part is exploring the island either on your own or with a tour.
Stop at some of the smaller villages.
Imagine walking down streets so narrow that you can stretch your arms out and touch buildings on either side.
Then stop at a winery and sample a glass while you sit and watch the sunset over the beautiful Aegean Sea.
It doesn't get any better! Yiamus! Miranda