Manganari Club Hotel Ios

... time to chat with the locals they told us how lucky we were to be visiting at this time of the year, how much nicer it is when it is quiet. As one shopkeeper told us 'Now you can see the real Santorini’

We had one last stroll around the laneways overlooking the caldera, one last meal at the excellent Pelican cafe and one last ice cream from our favourite sweet shop and one last soak in the Jacuzzi.

Ah Santorini, thank you for sharing your beauty with us.

... s just a mix of volcanic rock and volcanic sand, and it’s all black.

We did reach Point B, at which time Jess and Maggie decided they had climbed enough and Lexie, who was recovering from a knee operation, kept them company. Heath, Georgie and I pressed on. Every time we reached a high point, a higher point presented itself further on. After 30 minutes of climbing we reached a sign that had a picture of a tent on it with an arrow – do people ...

... for me.

Ancient Thira is well worth a visit. Perched impossibly on top of a mountain of pure rock it looks out to a view to forever. It’s not hard to imagine the reasoning behind setting a city up this high, even though it must have made life very challenging for the inhabitants. Wandering around the ancient laneways poking in and out of the ruins of houses thousands of years old made me wonder what life must have been life for the original inhabitants ...

... the time we made it to Oia. Sadly, Oia was virtually shut down. It was a shame to see what is clearly a beautiful village present itself as a virtual ghost town. We eventually found one place where we could eat and we relaxed with a wine to distract us from the pain our feet were feeling. Unfortunately the famed sunset did not happen due to some low lying cloud. We’ll try again another day...

The next bus back to Fira was nearly an hour away so we called a taxi to take us home.

... food since i didn't want to eat bad food. In the meantime, i had to find a place to stay, so, the whole day, i was contemplating fitting 5 ppl in the 3 person bungalow. In the end, though, at 8pm, i got a room with a guy name Michael from California. This guy pretty much looked like a young version of Steve Nash. This made things alot easier because phil could just pass out on an air mattress, and i could sleep in a tent bungalow for 15 euro a night.

To be continued....

... shot if I were to flash em -- so I did. THEN the Hot bartender wanted to give us another shot and while I leaned my head back to get the free pour, I flashed everyone, yet again! (defiantely wasnt thinking!) Then at some point, we lost Nick (or so we thought, hehe) we decided to leave ourselves. I was so glad that Peter was with me that night, he was really good to me. he sat wth me outside while I was feeling sick until I finally told him I was ok enough to be on my own. both him and ...

... and then wander over for a cold drink at the pool. Next door to that is their own daytime, poolside club though it hasn't opened yet. Like I said I want no part of that in the dead of summer. Right now things are just just starting to reopen for the season. A lot of the main town is still shut and likely won't be up and running for a few weeks yet. There are probably about 50 bars in this town which is absolutely insane, but this island wouldn't be Ios without ...

Ok ok ok, I have finally found a few moments respite from my weary travels to blog away. And it's costing euros by the half-hour. Damn you all. As we speak (type), I am sitting in Francesco's Hotel in Ios Greece. I arrived here two days ago on a ferry from Naxos, Greece, an island which I stayed on for 6 days as opposed to the four which I had planned. The extra days were due to gale-force winds that caused all ...

... there is no escalator to go up again!









This is our simple breakfast for the day. Ice cream in Waffle and coffee. We prefer McDonald's coffee... hehehe.












After breakfast, we went for the mule ride. Mule is actually a cross between donkey and a horse, and it is unlikely that ...

Next stop Ios (the party Island) we scored a great deal on a flash new hotel here, with a big pool and verandas overlooking the pool and the old town. Lucky for us there are still a few weeks until the crowds arrive and the prices go up. The more we move up the Cyclades the more the weather heats up and Ios is HOT! Very grateful for the pool. Yesterday was Kris's birthday so we got up late and spoilt ...