Santorini - Greek Islands

Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th June

Wednesday

As seems to be the norm, the ferry is late again - at least an hour! Lovely modern boats and very well patronised. It's not that cheap island hopping, but there's no checking in 2 hours before or waiting for bags.

Santorini is volcanic and the towns are built on top of the cliffs, overlooking the caldera.

There are beautiful views over the caldera to the other islands nearby.

Our Suzuki Jimny is waiting for us at the port, which is great. So we load up and head off to our hotel where we are meeting Rebekah. She is staying with us for a night before heading to Turkey.

The road from the port is steep and winding. It is really hot -34 degrees. Can't wait for a swim.

Our hotel looks over the other side of the island - not the caldera, budget didn't allow for that.

Lovely views and great swimming pool.

Fira Town

The view from the top of cable car. Down to catch donkey up.

First stop some lunch and then the famous donkey ride up 455 steps from the old port. Feel a bit mean, but that's what donkeys are used to. It is pretty smelly and all is going well until the donkey man comes behind and cracks his whip and the donkey takes off and not in a straight line! I get the giggles, Rebekah is hating every minute and Sam is riding as if he's a texan cowboy! Sam and I loved it. Rebekah on record saying " this is the worst experience of my whole life!" 

"Ride em Cowboy"

"I feel sick. Get me off here. This is the worst experience of my life"

"This is fun! I love it."

As if that wasn't bad enough we had to get through about 30 donkeys all lined up, swishing their tails in our faces as we went by.

Rebekah ran for it! That was a bit hairy, cos we were worried they might kick. Donkey ride done and ticked off - it is a must do!

We head back to the hotel for a swim and a bit of a rest before going to Oia. This is the spot where most postcard pictures are taken and best place to see the sunset. The white buildings are gorgeous on the hillside with their blue roofs and the caldera views are stunning.

The view over the caldera.

The churches make the skyline special.

We find a lovely taverna over looking the caldera serving traditional Greek food. Great finish to the day.

Thursday

Our host Leah has been cooking all day yesterday - so she tells us and has made lovely spinach and cheese pastries, pikelets and cakes and cookies for breakfast, along with the traditional cereals, toast etc. very nice!

Red Beach has been recommended as a must see, along with the archaeological site of Akohira village.  Roof down, wind blowing through our hair, we head there in the Jimny. Sam loving driving it of course.

Red Beach - hmmm . Certainly didn't wow us, but I guess for those that haven't seen volcanic rock faces it is stunning. We were a bit disappointed.

The archaelogical site was pretty impressive. A whole village slowly being unearthed. It is all covered over, so nice to wander around out of the sun!

Time for a bit of a swim. We stop at Perissa Beach - black beach. Tiny little black stones. We set ourselves up with loungers and umbrella and drinks and relax for a couple of hours. Prefer white sand beaches myself. But it's ok.

Not a bad way to spend the day!

Back to the hotel, lunch and a swim at the pool and a bit of a snooze. Woken by the bells in the churches near by. They go for a good few minutes! 

Early dinner, drop Bec at airport. Another round of farewells, as she heads to Turkey. This really is the last time we'll see her for a couple of years. Great that technology keeps us in touch though.

Early night for us after a quiet coffee.