Stop at the bookstore.

Santorini is already famous for its houses perched on the cliffs, their pristine white facades accented with shades of blue. It's a dream destination for countless couples and attracts tourists from all over the world. Upon arriving, I was also overwhelmed by the beauty of Oia, the town where I stayed. But what truly captivated me about Oia was an old bookstore nestled amidst those cloud-white houses.

The story of Craig and his friends.

Craig, an American from Tennessee, and Oliver first visited Santorini in the spring of 2002, but couldn't find a single bookstore. They both harbored a dream of opening the first bookstore in Santorini, right in the island's most beautiful village, Oia. They returned to their home country and began the process of collecting the books they loved.

In 2004, a group of six friends from England began driving their van full of books to Oia and started building a bookstore beneath Oia Castle called Atlantis Books.

A year later, due to business problems, Craig and his friends moved Atlantis Books to a store on the island's central street – a location that caught the attention of more tourists and gradually gained fame when the New York Times, Nat Geo, and Vanity Fair reported on their unique bookstore.

What is it about Atlantis Books that captivated me?

I've visited old bookstores in Porto, and bookstores all over Saigon are also a popular choice for weekend strolls, so I have a special fondness for these small bookstores, each full of stories.

Atlantis Books may not be big, it may not be beautiful, but this place has endless stories to tell. Craig's story is so inspiring that it makes me think about what young people can do. Choices can lead us to leave our old places. Fourteen years in Santorini with a bookstore – that's a story that amazes me.

This place also made me laugh with its humor and subtlety. The bookshelves are categorized into many sections with various topics. There's a shelf with the word "SEX" written in large capital letters and a note that says, "If sex interests you, take the time to read through these books and enjoy the stories." Or the "For Suckers" shelf filled with erotic novels. There are shelves of books that Craig and his friends particularly love, and small yellow notes next to them indicate what the books are about.

Even outside the shop there's a sign that says "Rent a cat 5 euro" (Cat rental service for 5 euros). It's a joke, because Oia is teeming with cats. The sign is just to make passersby stop, read it, and step inside, only to be captivated by the labyrinth of books.

The shop also has books with custom-printed covers, like James Joyce's *The Dead*, which I bought; each book has a different cover and is carefully packaged. Many of the books Craig imports also have impressive covers. When buying, remember to get the shop's stamp to know that the book was purchased at Atlantis Books. And let's not forget the vintage books, including first editions like *The Little Prince*, *1984*, etc., which can cost thousands of euros, giving you the feeling of stumbling into a treasure chest.

And with its stories, its labyrinthine layout, and its wonderful books, I left a piece of my soul here. The bookstore is another world in the heart of the beautiful village of Oia, a place where I can escape the crowds of tourists and gives me another reason to love this Greek island even more.

Ly Thanh Co