As promised some more news of Santorini, some pics and news of the next part of the trip. The weather has changed and it is slightly cooler today, will have to think about Scotland trip and camping, perhaps the bikini can be left behind!!
I am having a lazy day today I have an early start tomorrow bus leaves at 7 am for London. I am catching up with a friend from Melbourne, haven't decided what we will do as yet, probably will depend on the weather.
I loved Santorini , so beautiful, so picturesque just as the websites described. I only wished I had a few more islands to visit. Cruising round the Greek Isles would be great. I met up with my friend Nik in Athens and we flew to Santorini, I didn't get to see anything of Athens but I guess that can wait til next time. We had booked our accommodation in Perissa, Santorini via the internet some weeks ago - The Princess Santorini Villa - it was budget accommodation nothing grand but charming, with fridge hotplate etc if you had wanted to prepare your own meals .The owners were lovely - friendly & helpful, there was free wireless if I had taken my laptop, breakfast and snacks available , beer & wine etc - to be recommended if you want to stay in Perissa. .
We decided to take a day tour on the Wednesday and chose an excursion departing from the Athinios Port (new port) on a traditional sailing boat,. We sailed to the Volcano, then had a long trek up to the top of the crater, It was very hot, but worth it. The active volcano is still smouldering!! but no activity forecast for that day thank goodness.
We then sailed on the hot springs.. I was a bit disappointed here as the boat was unable to get close to the hot springs and I didn't think I could swim the distance to enjoy the hot springs. Friom there we sailed to Thirassia, we had lunch at one of the many delightful Taverns and then went swimming. We chose not to climb up all 187 long steps to the village at the top of the cliff, as we knew that when we reached Ia we had to climb over 200+ LONG steps or get a donkey taxi!
Ia is where most tourists go to watch the sunset in Santorini. We had chosen the trip that included the sunset and we left the boat there, (The journey back to Perissa was by bus at 9 pm after the sunset.) I chose the donkey taxi and Nik decided to walk up all the 200 and something steps. I have no photograph of my little donkey!! but he was smaller than the other donkeys and mules - I felt sorry for him - he did such a good job! but this huge (maybe I am exaggerating) mule next to us kept bumping my little donkey and I thought I was going to get squashed, my leg got caught against the wall and I lifted my leg up to stop it being scraped against the wall and almost fell off the other side, it was an experience and I had the bruises to prove it!! ( I don't think the donkeys there are as well looked after as the ones at the old port where all the cruise ships come in plus wealthy tourists!!)
The village of Ia is absolutely beautiful - exactly as the famous prints and pictures of Santorini show. We found a beautiful cafe to enjoy a glass of wine and a meal and soak in the amazing view. Watching the sunset was less glamorous! we watched from the old castle along with a hundred or so other people !
The other days were spent exploring the village of Perissa, tasting the different Greek dishes, we also caught a ferry to Kamari beach and spent time there swimming and enjoying the lovely cafes. Evenings we stayed in Perissa enjoying the food and local Santorini wine.
Before we flew back to Athens we caught the bus to Thira it was quite lovely and I enjoyed breakfast in a lovely cafe with a magnificent view. We caught the cable car down to the old port - would have like to have ridden another donkey but I had a dress on and didn't think I could do it elegantly! It was all over too soon and it was time to fly back to Athens and then back to London and then Taunton.
We have been planning our tip to Scotland. We leave on Friday lunchtime and will drive as far as we can. Sat we will visit some friends of mine in Galashiels, spend the night there and head on to Glasgow on Sunday morning. In Glasgow I plan to visit my son-in-laws mother explore some of Glasgow and be on our way on Tuesday morning tol visit Dundee and Monifieth before heading up to John o' Groats then back to Dundee. Jock will head back to Taunton via Edinburgh on 22nd July and I will spend time in Dundee before heading up to Inverness, and Findhorn where I will spend a few days enjoying the Findhorn Foundation activities and the beautiful village of Findhorn. I will have my laptop with me and will update the blog as I can. I wont be back in Taunton until Thursday 6th August as I plan to catch up with friends in Birmingham and then visit a school friend in Coventry.
til next time... more pics at end of postings
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