Hotel Marybill Perissa

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 ...

... it was closed for maintenance. All week. Ashen-faced, we realised that we would need to climb. All. The. Way.

We set off as best we could. Heath and Lexie raced ahead, young whippersnappers. We plodded on telling them we would buy them a drink later to say thanks. The road was long, with many a winding turn and my pack was heavy (certainly not my brother). We had lots of rest stops but with perseverance we made it to the top. It actually felt like quite ...

We had previously made some enquiries in the town about hiring a car and found one for just 20 Euros per day –what a bargain! So after a leisurely breakfast in front of the endless caldera view we headed off to hire the car. We started out for Akrotiri, the ancient village that was buried by ash thousands of years ago. Unfortunately it was closed and had been for some time following a roof collapse that killed a tourist. I was kind-of glad that it was closed if the ...

... 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 ...

... restaurant, tour operator, market, etc in Perissa to label itself or its products as "The best…" via its signage

~Hearing no fewer than six different languages being spoken when I would relax/read for hours at a time on a lounge chair on Perissa Beach

~Loving the orange and red hues that - despite being on the east (sunrise) side of the island - coated the landscape and white buildings of Perissa at sunset

~Meeting Elena and Laura ...

... for the night and went in for bed around 1. This morning I met up with Alana, Mel and Darren and we had English breakfasts at the bar across the street. Darren , Erin and I then caught a bus into Fira to wander around that town for a couple of hours, grabbed some gyro's and gelati and enjoyed another fantastic view. We also got a bus down to the Red beach, a pretty rocky climb to get to but it was very pretty, clear water where you can see your feet at the bottem ...

... 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 ...

On our 2nd day at Santorini, we make our way up to the Ancient Thira. I'm sure glad I rented the Smart Car!









Just look at how winding the road is!














Ancient Thira was actually built more than 1000 years ago. And see, their ability to create the house like this and it ...

... book-swap shelf at Francesco's Hostel on Ios. Ciao. You always hear about stuff like this happening, but this is the first time for me. I was just setting up my stuff in my room, and some guy who was also in that dorm walked in. He turned around, and i couldn't beleive it, it was the same guy that i had met 3 weeks ago in a hostel in Sophia! I only met him for a breaf period of time, but still, pretty odd coincidence. So we talked, he's been here for the last 2 weeks, just relaxing on the ...

... it's sunsets. The walk was better than the sunset. But yeah, the island is basically a volcano, with the middle of the crater sunken into the sea, showing the cone as a small island. Black "sand" beaches (really rocks) and all that. Got to know a few cafe owners here - one dude called Edi and another called Yani. Greek cafe owners seem to be the friendliest guys in the world, they're great ...