We arrived in santorini 3 nights ago. Santorini has 4 islands, the main island is the biggest and the main town we are staying in is called fira.
The ferry arrives at the bottom of the cliffs, and its a long winding taxi up the 400m cliffs. The houses are all along the top of the cliffs. from a distance they almost look like snow on the mountains.
Fira is beautiful, the kind of place in the brouchures for the greek islands. The white houses are built into the side of the cliffs are the views are amazing. Our first night we had dinner, i had a delicious moussaka, and watched the sunset from the restuarant balcony. We then went to a bar and met an american coupld on their honeymoon. The shots were cheap and then night became a pretty big night that finished with us girls dancing on the bar. All that now needs to be said is that i didnt feel very well the next day.
the winding streets around the town are amazing, everyday we seem to find somewhere new to explore.
Yesterday we had a tour booked of the other islands near santorini. It began at the port, we caught the cable down. We could have ridden the donkeys but they were a little bit smelly and dan felt sorry for which ever donkey would have to carry him. The boat was a pirates of the caribbean type sailboat, but with an engine. The first stop was the volcano. The volcano is active and it last exploded in 1995, nothing major though. The biggest explosion was 1500BC which caused the islands of santorini to break up and caused a 75m tsunami that reached turkey. We walked the 1.5km to the centre of the volcano, you cant see much but can feel the heat from the volcano and smell the sulphar.
After the volcano the boat went through 4m swells, it felt like a ride at dreamworld. We then stopped outside a small island, that has the hot springs. The only problem is you have to jump of the boat and then swim towards to hot springs. I was the only one to swim-dan and amy were sooky. The water was freezing but after 25m or it warms up and it was beautfil to float in under the sun. Swam back to boat and got back into the boat freezing. Then sailing onto our next stop i was changing in the inside of the boat and starting to feel a little green cz of the swell again..eew.
Luckily we arrived at our next stop before i was sick. It was a small port of another island called thirasia. We had kebabs and salad for lunch and enjoyed the sun. Then moved on through calmer waters to oia, a small postcard like town on the point. We took heaps of photos because the town is gorgeous. It was worth the 250+ huge steps up the side of cliff from the port at the bottom.
After catching the bus back to fira and having gyros for dinner we watched the sunset. We all then crashed into bed and slept like logs.
Today is our last day in the greek islands. Dan and i visited the musuem just before and will be heading out for some lunch soon. The ferry is at 3pm and arrives back at athens at midnights. hopefully tomorrow we will be getting the ferry overnight to italy, and begin our italian adventure.
Overall the greek islands have been amazing. The views are beautiful, the people always friendly and the food has been great. Although the beaches are not the best, maybe because we compare them to australian beaches. But it has been very relaxing. so thankyou to everyone for a wonderful birthday present.
love to all
love jess and dan
