Oia is the human equivalent of a beehive. A crowded mass of bright white stucco perches precariously atop a steep, rocky cliff, overlooking water so blue it looks as if it’s been dyed. The entire city feels like one singular structure, uniform but eclectic, white and rocky yet living and breathing. It’s almost as if you are supposed to get lost among the countless narrow corridors that snake through the city. But just when you think you’ve lost yourself completely, you’ll pop right back out into a familiar square or pass by the same store you’ve already seen.

 

And Oia buzzes like a beehive too. The city is a hotspot for tourists and locals alike, no matter the time of day. Late into the night, cliffside bars and restaurants buzz with the chatter of guests who’ve been there since 6 PM. Store owners pine for the attention of tourists, waving everything from handmade linen scarfs to cheap jewelry at them as they meander, probably lost, down a corridor.

 

I was enamored by it. My family and I were exploring the city one night and walked passed a small book store called Atlantis Books. I had just finished my beach read and was looking for another, so we decided to go inside. The entire building was no more than a rather squat silo—basically just a circle with some walls and a roof, but those walls were covered from floor to ceiling in books. Overwhelmed by my choices, I approached the man behind the checkout counter and was very surprised when he greeted me in an American accent. After discussing which book I should get, I asked him why an American was working at a bookstore on a small Greek Island.

 

He told me that about 10 years before he had visited the city. Like me, he was enamored by it. So, he up and moved there. He bought the building he’s now sitting in, converted the downstairs into a bookstore, moved in upstairs, and hasn’t looked back.  

 

That day, I decided to retire there, but I may just go sooner. I need another beach read. 

 

Please enjoy this tour of the defining parts of Oia—the bookstore is right in the middle.