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Other entries in Santoríni

The Greek Islands, Santorini - 28 Nov to 2 Dec 07

Gidday Everyone

At 6.30am we were picked up at our Athens hotel by taxi and taken to the Port of Pireaus to catch the Blue Star ferry to Santorini.  It was a cold, rainy and windy day.  The ferry stopped at Paros, Naxos and Ios islands before arriving at Santorini at 3.30pm.

Our hotel had sent a car to pick us up at the Port and we drove up a very steep road to Kafieris Hotel at Firostefani. Our hotel was  built on the cliffs and overlooked the water.  Our room had a small balcony with a beautiful view of the Agean Sea and the volcano in the bay below.  After settling in we set out in pitch darkness to find somewhere to eat.  We found a Taverna not far from our hotel and it proved to be a great find.  We sat by the open fire and ate great Greek food with a few glasses of wine for me and a few beers for Pete.

The next day after a simple breakfast of fresh crusty bread,ham,cheese, cake and coffee we walked along the cliff path and down hundreds of stairs to the Old Port.  Spectactular scenery and a beautiful sunny day.  There was a cruise ship in town and we passed lots of tourists riding the Santorini donkeys up the path from the Port to the town of Fira.  We had planned  to take a boat out to the volcano, but it wasnt sailing that day so we took a local bus to Akrotiri Beach at the southern end of Santorini.  When we arrived there it was a very small place and everything was closed, so we stayed on the bus and went back to Fira.  Late afternoon we sat on our balcony and caught up on our postcards and paperwork with a beer and a scotch and watched the sun set over the Agean Sea.  We ate at the same Taverna that night.

Next day we again walked down the cliff steps to the Old Port as we had been told the day before that the boat would be going out to the volcano.  The cruise ship had departed and the Old Port was empty. No boat again!!!!  We caught the cable car back up to town and found out that the volcano trip would take place on Saturday so we bought a ticket for then.   We then decided to walk along the cliff path in the other direction, through tiny cobbled streets lined with shops,houses, churches and accommodation, all built on the cliff face and all closed for the winter.  We decided it was time to spoil ourselves yet again and caught a bus to Kamari Beach and to Classico Cafe (which had been recommended to us) for a long, late lunch.  We enjoyed another great meal overlooking the beach and caught the bus back to town after dark.  We were so tired from all our walking (OK and the Greek wine and beer!!!!) that we had an early night and no dinner.

Our last day in Santorini and again we walked down the million steps (well it felt like a million by this time!!!) to the Old Port and finally boarded the sailing ship and sailed out to the volcano.  This volcano is live and we walked up to the crater and saw the steam pouring out.  It last erupted in 1956 and most of Santorini was levelled and has since been rebuilt.  The island itself is all black volcanic rock with no plant or animal life.  The boat then sailed to a nearby island where there is a thermal pool and the brave ones on board (not us,  too cold), swam from the boat to the island.  After returning to Fira, we caught another local bus to the Northern end of the island to a town called Oia.  Again the mediterrean style houses, churches etc built on the cliff face.  Took some good photos here.  We ate our last meal a the Taverna again, next to the fire again,  to the sound of a guy playing a mandolin.

 Although  it has been off season for our visit to Santorini, we have had mostly sunny days and cold nights but it was windy all the time. It would  be great here in the summer when everything is open and the weather is hot,  as it has been too cold for us to swim at this time of year.   We are still glad we took the chance and came here as the great scenery doesnt change, no matter what time of year it is.  Tomorrow our ferry leaves at 3.30pm for Naxos Island where we will stay for 4 days.  Hope there are some things open there.  Will tell you next blog.

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