My name is Renieris Yiannis. I was born
in Imerovigli of Santorini in 1952. My first
memory is after the destructive earthquake
of 1956, with just a few houses left standing.
Gradually people started leaving the village.
When I started going to school in 1958, we
used to play hide and seek in the ruins. Until
1964 most of the people had left the island.
Some of them moved to Athens, while others
to Australia, until the village was left with
a couple of families. It was then that I thought
for the first time, that if I could build
the village from the beginning, people would
return to their homes. Tourism did not exist
back then. |
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My family was unable to leave the island
for financial reasons, so I had to finish
high school here. When our professor asked
us what we wanted to do with our lives, I
asked him: "Which profession is more
profitable? Seaman," he said. Determined
as I was, I came to Athens and went to college.
I decided to embark from 1972 to 1982 sending
money back home in order to rebuilt the village.
From time to time I came to the village to
check things out. So I made the world tour
three times. I was in the only ship that survived
the typhoon Nina - Ora - Viola, the biggest
typhoon of 1978 between Fournara and China.
The Japanese station referred us as the ghost
ship.
My parents' house as and the neighboring ones,
after their repair, were the first 3 rooms
to let in Imerovigli. The first tourists started
coming in the island in 1980, while until
1985 the island was full of tourists. The
Traditional Wing, which was completed in 1987
was created then.
I started constructing my biggest dream, Petra
Wing, in 1993, but it is still not completed.
I wanted to make something special in the
place I spent most of my time as a child.
With a lot of help from geologists and architects
I started an effort to make something unique,
something in total harmony with the wild beauty
of the Caldera and safe in case of an earthquake.
It took us 1 year and 55 workmen to complete
each one of these unique apartments. |
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In my attempt to save my big love, my village,
another big love was born, that towards the
sea. It was the one that gave me the opportunity
to make what I made. From gratitude to it
I founded the Marine Club of Santorini in
1991. Since then I teach sailing to children
and grown ups. And of course I couldn't, but
to teach it to my three sons, who were literally
born on a boat and are sailors themselves
now.
Now, as a 3 sailing boats and 1 craft owner,
I want to give all visitors the chance
to enjoy the beauty of the sea in combination
to luxury and comfort. |
