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A Welcome Tomb Raider on Santorini |
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Greeks are Not Looking the Other Way
Greek archaeological authorities are sticklers at preventing the theft of Greece's cultural heritage - but now there is one "tomb raider" that is being welcomed with open arms by Greece and the citizens of Oia (Ia), the heretofore quieter sister of Thira (Fira) on the island of Santorini.
Angelina Jolie is expected to be filming scenes for the sequel to Tomb Raider in the village August 26th-31st, 2002. Some of the local citizenry will be employed as extras, but others are outraged at the use of the picturesque town as a major motion picture location. It has been an open secret for years that savvy travelers to Santorini pass up Fira for this pristine, inviting village with the most spectacular sunsets on the island.
While the script details may change between now and final release, Angelina's character, Lara Croft, apparently discovers a lost treasure of Alexander the Great while scuba diving in what the studio calls "shark infested" waters. Relax - in real life, sharks are very few and far between in Greek waters.
The Greek film industry is also smiling over winning the production from Turkey, where some of the film was originally slated to be shot.
How Will This Affect Your Travel?
If your travel plans are taking you to Santorini that week, you may find the experience anything but typical. Depending on the material to be shot, disruptions could be either minimal or inescapable. Chances are, it will end up somewhere in between. Tourists can either enjoy it all and go with the flow, or take the time to explore the rest of Santorini - the vineyards, Akrotiri, the thermal springs on the islet of Thirassia, or some of the quiet villages on the side of the island away from the dramatic caldera.
In years to come, Ia will be less of a secret refuge and more of a tourist must-see. While Santorini, busy enough most of the year, hardly needed additional visitors, another look at the beauties of Greece can't help but be good for Greek tourism in general. Almost twenty years after Summer Lovers brought Greece to a new generation of visitors, it is certainly time for another look at the beauty of Greece.
