Very ambitious today – we got up “early” (in Greek time) and were having breakfast by 9 am. Shortly after, we set off for the cable cars and were soon being hustled into the car. It turned out there were 4 cruise ships calling at the Old Port, so they were running the cars constantly instead of the usual every 20 minutes – fantastic!
We had a little wait during which we checked out the Old Port – nothing fancy. We boarded a boat that looked like a sailing boat but was not! Then sailed over to Nea Kameni, the island that is the active volcano. We had a strenuous hike up black sand paths to the active crater, where our guide gave us the history of the island. We stopped just before the talk to check out a hole that was 96 degrees Celsius (!) and gave off steam and a sulfur odor. As we listened to our guide, I could feel the soles of my feet warming from the ground. It was pretty wild.
After hiking back down, we boated over to the next island, Palea Kameni. The boat anchored off the shore and Charlotte and I, along with about 10 others, jumped into the water and swam to the hot spring. The water at first was chilly, then as you got closer to the spring warmed up a bit, also turning a rusty brown. They had warned us our suits could become discolored! We splashed around in the warm spring water for a while, looking at the goats up on the rocks, then swam back to the boat. Changing out of wet suits in public was tricky, but Charlotte taught me the Scandinavian art of changing and we managed!
Next stop: Therasia and its port of Korfo. We almost all at lunch at the place the guide recommended, Captain John’s. Charlotte and I devoured the pork and chicken souvlaki! Mmm it was good. After eating we poked around the port a bit – not too much to see, but there was a local fishing and looking very picturesque!
Back on the boat and heading for Oia. It was so pretty as we approached, poised on top of the cliff and dripping down. I thought the boat might tip as everyone scooted to the side with the view! Even the port was cute.
After Oia, we docked at the Fira Old Port and the tour was over. We had 3 optionsto get back up to town: cable car, walk (600 steps? Um, no), or donkey. We decided on donkey. For some reason, they decided not to lead us – or to give us any instructions. Just up and then the donkey goes! We were laughing the entire way because they each had their own opinion about the best way to go – mine pretty much went straight up, while Charlotte’s was zigzagging the whole way. And do not get in the donkey’s way as they do not yield!!! It was a hilariously fun experience.
You might think this was quite a day and that we were done, but no. After an internet interlude, we barely caught a bus to Oia and got there 40 minutes before sunset. But, doh! We forgot a map. So we frantically wandered, looking for the Venetian fort. We finally found it and it was, of course, packed, but the view was fantastic. It was so hazy that the sunset itself was not all that gorgeous, but the light on the town was beautiful.
We wandered Oia a bit – at a more relaxed pace now! – until we were hungry. We ate at the Blue Sky Taverna, which did offer a view of the beautiful blue sky until it became too dark. The food was quite good – we had spicy cheese dip, eggplant Santorini style, and Greek salad.
The word “wander” seems to go with Oia, at least when one has forgotten a map. We wandered quite a bit after dinner trying to find the bus stop/taxi stand. After the day we’d had, it was taking a toll on my knee and I was relieved when we found the taxi. A quick ride – and I mean quick, the guy drove like a NASCAR driver! – and we were back in Fira, and ready to go to bed.
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