Hotel Matina 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 ...

... their trade.

We reached the main path down – a cobbled path that zig-zags its way ever downward. For the first 500 steps or so I thought it was a bit of a lark, but as we got further and further down my legs started to turn to jelly. My knees were shaking and my calf muscles were crying in pain. But we made it with enough time to take a stroll around the old port.

Apart from the four of us there was only one other couple on the trip, and they ...

... port of call was the church at Imerovigli where we had been told by Thanes there was a celebration in honour of Saint Nicholas (this being both Sunday and the feast of Saint Nicholas). Well we headed up there, parked the car and found that we would have to enter the church to be involved. Feeling like we were intruding we decided not to go in. It was great though to see the smiling faces of the congregation as it broke up, all carrying with pride the pieces of bread the ...

There are simple ways of getting to Oia (or Ia as it is also know and how you pronounce it), such as bus, taxi or hire car. But who needs simple? I had read as part of my research about the wonderful walk between Fira and Oia and I thought we'd give it a try. Loading up the backpack with some supplies (but forgetting water of all things) we set off through the town of Fira which seamlessly turns into Firostafani. Along the way there are so many photo opportunities to get pretty pictures of ...

... for $25 euros you can get a manual car for the day to drive across the island and go to all of the beaches. I forgot my driver's license so I couldn't rent anything but I managed to figure out the bus system and I made some friends to carpool with. Go to the winery - it's a great local experience. Don't be afraid to ask around, everybody is really friendly here and they're so eager to make your stay enjoyable. Fira's a ...

... all of our food money and shopping with Melanie, she spent 96% of the time sailing drugged up on sleeping pills and curled up in the fetal position in her bedroom (this is not an exaggeration). Gary, Amy, Steve and Melanie all went to school together at University of Western Ontario. Christina, 49, a civil engineer from Lisbon. She did not fit the traditional demographic of the trip, but was not afraid to voice her opinion about ...

... which is about 15min. from Fira by car, and near to more of the island's beaches. Ok, I selected the area so now I had to decide among 30 hotels. The bad thing was that most of them were hardly 4 star hotels. Then when I believed that I had run out of luck, I received the F.T. newspaper. You are now all asking how did receiving a newspaper helped? The answer is simple. While I was reading the newspaper I saw an article regarding Santorini island ...

Today, we decided to get up early to watch the sun rises from the black sand beach. We had to get up by 5:00!! @_@












We waited and waited, and we still couldn't see the sun even though the surroundings are a little brighter already.














Well, I might ...

... performing restoration, or excavation. Okkkaaay.... not something that we would classify as interesting. And then Ai Ling asked the lady, "More rocks?" The Lady immediately nod her and in agreement, and we all laugh... hahaha...









It was actually quite windy up there. Even the tree bow down to the wind.






Oia, Cyclades, Greece songwillie

... to spare before our ferry departed. After a relaxing ferry ride from Athens to Santorini we made our way to the campsite in the capital of the Island of Santorini, Fira. We were both ready for our first night of camping on the beach. The ferry ride took a little longer than anticipated, some 9 hours, so much for a "Speed Ferry". Much to our disappointment the campsite was not where is proclaimed to be and we were some 350 metres from the main shops, and no ...