Bellonias Villas Kamari

Our relaxed schedule meant that we had one last day to enjoy what Fira could offer. We visited the museum that houses the finds from Akrotiri – lots of pottery and some interesting wall paintings. A small gold animal figurine was particularly impressive. The museum is modern and well displayed, but as we were the only visitors there we didn't really enjoy the personal security supervision that followed us from exhibit to exhibit like a distrustful overseer.

As we ...

... looks flat. It’s not. We climbed, following our noses because we were not really sure what we were meant to be doing. Eventually we reached a sign that said 'Point A’. Hmmm. Kind of promising. I said to Heath ‘But how do we get from Point A to point B?’ We all laughed in a nervous way as we followed the path ever higher. The landscape of the volcano is virtually completely desolate. In patches a few weeds have taken hold but otherwise it ...

... we headed to Pyrgos and from here up to the highest point on Santorini – the Monastery of Prophet Ilias. the view from here appears to go forever. My main observation after our strenuous day of walking the day before was that climbing mountains is easier in a car.

Continuing our exploration we went back down the mountain then around a bit to Kamari Beach where we promptly headed back up the same mountain we had just come down from, but this time on the other ...

... because we walked slowly, took breaks and lots of photos. At times the route is on a cobbled path and at times it’s just a goat track. It climbs up and down and skirts the cliff edge at all times. It really is something to experience. Along the route are dotted a series of picture-perfect chapels. I was disappointed to find them locked though.

Although the walk is only 12 km, its climbs and descents make it very challenging, at least for us and we were completely buggered ...

... Most of the hotels are located on the edge of the caldera link together by narrow streets. The taxi was unable to reach the door of my hotel On the Rocks , so I had to walk the last 50 metres or so to ...

... Ia, the northernmost part of the island, famous for its sunsets. We walked around a bit and got to see the postcard santorini (all whitewashed building, blue domed churches, all built into steep cliffs overlooking the sea). It really was amazing...they were throngs of people hanging out waiting to capture the sunset, including us. After the requisite Greek Island Couple Sunset Picture, we headed to a group dinner. At dinner, Damon introduced us to the sharing ...

... with drink worked just as well). We got a Gyros from a vendor and I asked for a chicken one with no chicken and he said no and put chicken in it! Joey thinks maybe he was insulted I didn't want his chicken. The shops were cute, just souvineir shops and trinkets but they are worth looking at. Going to the toilet in Greece is an interesting experience because some places have squat toilets. The first reaction is eww but you have to remind yourself that the point of travelling ...

... while sun bathing :p
















In the evening, we went to Selene for dinner. This is the most expensive meal throughout our trip! The ambient was quite nice, but the food is nothing to shout about. I guess we prefer the gyros to Greek fine dining...







We have each a mussel for a ...

... br>




These two houses out of nowhere, are actually painted very nice, and they aren't any special buildings. We just cannot resist and had to stop our car just to take a picture of them!













Greece also export a lot of pistachios. And it is from here that we first see a pistachio tree. They ...