> My wife has little interest in ancient history or anthropology (actually, let me rephrase — she has ZERO interest), so I may need to go spend a summer in the Aegean and Mediterranean by myself.
Aegean — I’ve never been there, but the ‘gateway drug’ is to start having Greek food with her, say, once a month.
Santorini has the ancient ruins of Akrotiri on the north edge, high up. The whole island is a lot of up and down walking by the look of it. Crowds are somethin’ else I believe (2.5 million visitors a year, mostly during a ten or so week period). Great sunsets. Finicula to get from the shore debarkation point up the hill. Accommodations are very tourist-oriented from there all around to the north and west. There are excursions of a few hours over to the active part of the volcano, go swimming in warm water.
There are a LOT of YouTube vids on Aegean islands, also on taking an Aegean cruise which obviously takes care of the accommodation needs and has the advantage of island hopping, including to Santorini.
” the ‘gateway drug’ is to start having Greek food with her”
LOL...I’ll have to give that a try. We have a Greek restaurant in Coeur d’Alene I have yet to try.
“There are a LOT of YouTube vids on Aegean islands, also on taking an Aegean cruise which obviously takes care of the accommodation needs and has the advantage of island hopping, including to Santorini.”
We did this back in September. NCL cruise line. Piraeus, Thessaloniki, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Mykonos, Rhodes, Crete and Santorini.
Surprisingly, the most interesting location was Istanbul. Found the folks to be very industrious and friendly. Did not feel unsafe at all - probably walked 5 miles throughout the city - train station, mosques, the underground cistern from “From Russia With Love,” the Golden Horn, etc.
I would recommend this cruise without hesitation.