Travel Notes

There's no denying the striking beauty of the Aegean Islands. For that reason, millions of people visit them each year. Even way past the peak season, some areas are crowded. For example, in Mykonos and Santorini, getting a picture clear of other people was almost impossible. Even with crowds, these islands are too beautiful to miss! But if you want to avoid crowds, many other beautiful islands exist in the Aegean Archipelago. And you may want to consider visiting several that are geographically close. Some of the islands we visited are in different parts of the Aegean Sea and not close together. I found this comprehensive guide helpful, Chasing the Donkey, Aegean Sea Island Guide.

In addition to the aesthetics of the Greek islands, it's also important to look below the surface to understand the culture, the controversial issues, and the impacts of world events. The after-harvest festivals in Samos are good examples. The Feast of Agia Marina in July and the feast in honor of the Dormition of the Virgin in August, and others, are accompanied by traditional food, music, and dancing. Consider these within the context of the historical and religious traditions of the islanders when wine production was vital as the source of income. As an interesting side note, the Catholic Church of the Vatican uses the sweet wine of Samos (exclusively) for the holy mass.

The term "chasing the donkeys" brings up a hot-button issue. In the past, before modern roads and transportation, most locals in Santorini would have had one or two donkeys and likely would not have survived there long without them. These important pack animals continue to provide services in some areas there.

Ancestors of today's donkeys and mules helped to build islands such as Santorini before modern means of transporting goods.

But now, with so many tourists riding for pleasure, the potential to tax the endurance of these iconic animals is high. The herd we saw in Santorini looked very well cared for, and it was also exciting to get a glimpse of them.

Finally, the significant impact of the migrant crisis, which began in 2015, continues to have a substantial effect on the Aegean Islands. Over one million migrants and asylum seekers fleeing wars in Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan started making their way to Europe. As for Samos, just five miles from the waterfront is a refugee camp that houses approximately 1,000 refugees, some in crowded barracks surrounded by fences and some in tents or no shelter outside the fence. When desperate refugees began arriving on Samos, sympathetic islanders recall doing everything they could to help, providing blankets, clothes, and food. Overall, there are over 50,000 refugees in Greece. It's a lingering, complex situation with no sign of resolution soon.