THE CYCLADES

Norsk utgave (Norwegian edition)

The Cyclades is the largest group of islands in Greece. How many islands that is part of the group is difficult to determine, this because the exact number varies, all depending of which source you collect your information from. But let us say that the number is somewhere between 34 to 56 islands, all depending on how exact you are in counting even the smallest Islands.

The group of islands , geographically , are south and a little east of Athens. The main group of islands is divided into 4 different regions with the following islands in each region.

The Cyklades is without a doubt the group of islands that is the most popular to be island hopping in. It is here you can find all the small picturesque villages with shining white houses, with windows and doors in bright colours, often bright blue, such as the curved contours of the ceilings in most of the churches in this area. To us Norwegians these houses are very similar to those in what we know as "Kardemomme by" a novel by Torbjoern Egner .(Norwegian children's-book writer). ( Maybe that is why we Norwegians enjoy our stay in The Cyclades Islands so much , or is it the opposite that because of the magnificent houses in The Cyclades, that we enjoy "Kardemomme by" so much?)

Ia (Oia), Santorini.

It is told that 80% of all the photographs that the Greeks uses in marketing themselves with, comes from the island of Santorini, and if we add the rest of the photos from this group of islands, we soon reaches 90%. The most of the villages here is just a sight for the eye. Of course, this has also affected the islands because it is built incredibly many hotels and other resorts here. Paros alone is capable of housing over 40000 visitors. But it is worth paying attention to that the Greeks are very aware of to how they expand. Everything new is therefore expanded in "Cycladic" style. Nobody is to build higher than 2 levels and the hotels/apartments has building-block-style.

New apartment, Ia (Oia), Santorini.

Every island in the Cyclades is very dry. Yes, at first glance they almost look barren. There is no woods on any of them. The island was deforested several hundred years ago. But there is large meadows full of oregano on several of the islands. When the tourism really takes off in June and so on, all the grass is dried up too. Because of this the islands look even more barren and sad. But this in sharp contrast of the shining white villages and the fantastic beaches that is found here.

Even if this group of island is very popular among the island hoppers, there is no problem to find small places/villages with almost no tourists. Even on the even smallest places is it possible to hire rooms. Yes, it is on these small places that you really get in touch with the local inhabitants, that almost without exception is very polite, hospitable, open and easy to get in touch with even if they don't speak very good English.

From the courtyard in Antiparos village.

The distance between the islands is not to big. Usually you have several island to choose between within a couple of hours boat-travel. On the smallest islands or more correctly with less tourists, there is not a large number of ferry-departures to choose between. But if you first go by another island, you usually get to the island where you wish to go.

Back to A challenge to those of you that travel using a standard charter holiday	Further on to Antiparos
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Thanks to Randi Ellewsen, Lillehammer, Norway for her translation into English!
© Jan Bergtun, 01. May 1999	Updated, 07.18.2007
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