August 5 SANTORINI

Beautiful morning here at the Hotel Keti. We did a big wash this morning as we were all getting short of knickers. The hotel has a huge laundry line to hang clothes and we took full advantage of it.

Yesterday we went to the Museum of Prehistoric Thira and marveled at the ancient bowls, offering vessels, and frescoes that have been recovered from sites here on Santorini. It boggles the mind to see things that are 3000 years old and look like they were made yesterday.

After visiting the museum we did some shopping in the main thoroughfares of Fira. Simone bought some new sunglasses. I tried, once again, to buy something but balked at the prices. I saw a lovely glass necklace that I thought might cost around EUR$35 but was actually priced at EUR$75. Ouch!

Another new friend:

After lunch we walked down the 580 stairs to the old port of Fira. Simone had run down and then up the steps that morning and was shocked to find the steps very slippery. We all slipped on the stairs at some point, which made the trip down to the port very stressful. While the thought of broken bones was a worry, the prospect of falling into the rather large and numerous piles of donkey waste was perhaps more disturbing.

Donkey jam:

Three amigos:

Our ship, the Hermis, a motorboat disguised as a sailboat:

Thankfully, we made it safely down to the port. We waited for about 20 minutes until our boat was ready and then we clambered on. The boat took us to the volcanic island in the center of the caldera, where we all went ashore for a long and hot hike up to various volcanic craters. Mom and I turned back after the second crater because my legs were killing me and the heat was bothering her.

The island of Nea Kameni, the new burned island:

The boat took us from there to another volcanic island, where we rafted up to a huge party boat. Everyone put on their bathing suits and swam to an area just off shore where there were underwater hot springs that heated the water to close to 30C.

Simone returning from her swim:

After the swim the crew served dinner. It included bread, dolmades, meatballs, tiropita, tzatziki, and Greek salad. There was also a rather large urn of Santorini wine and we were challenged to drink it all, if we could. We couldn’t.

After dinner:

By that time the sun was setting. We motored off toward Oia and marveled at the sunset, which is beautiful from shore but gorgeous from a boat. After the sun set the boat headed back to the old port of Fira and we disembarked.

The sunset:

I wanted to ride the donkey up the steps and arranged a ride with a local man. Mom and Simone opted to ride the cable car up the cliff. They left and I waited with the local man while he tried to drum up more business. Only two other people from the boats wanted a ride, so he took me to the base of the steps and helped me get onto the donkey. Another local man actually led my donkey, and four others, up the steps.

Trying to collect more riders:

It was almost completely dark by that point. I tried to capture some movies of the experience but there is no image, just the sound of the harness bells ringing. I had a grin on my face the whole way up the hill. It was a wonderful experience. I may have to go again!

At the top of the cliff I got off the donkey and walked up to the cable car. Mom and Simone were nowhere to be seen, so I made my way back to the hotel. Mom and Simone were a bit worried because I’d been gone so long, but all was well.

Today we’re going on a bus tour that goes to some local wineries, a traditional village, and a beach.