Greece Get-A-Way

Today started early. Ferry back to Athens leaves the port at 7am. It was a different boat than the one we took to the island. The boat back was much smaller. Had a nice trip back to the main land. Decided to skip the anxiety of public transportation and took a taxi to the Airport Holiday Inn. 

Day 6 Saturday
This will be our last day on the island so we just take it easy at the beach.  Found a place to have breakfast and will be able to use there beach chairs and umbrellas for the day.
Also able to have lunch delivered right to our beach chair.
Mitch got a massage ..


Went to God's Garden Restaurant for dinner. Then to Bobs Bar for drinks.. Not the first time we have been there..  We like the waitress..  and the drinks are half the price of the beach bars. So we have drinks, then do some shopping and then back for more drinks..

 It was a good last day on the island.
Tomorrow will be an early start .. Have to catch the Ferry at 7am  ...

Day 5 Friday
Today we decided to check out more of the island by local bus. Went first to the capital city of Fira. It too has very narrow streets and many pedestrian only areas were many of the shops and restaurants are.  We rode the cable car down to the Port and had lunch. Then rode the cable car back to the top. Wanted to spend the afternoon at a different beach. Decided on Red Beach.  Had heard that rather than the sand being black, like the other beaches, it was red.


 Found the bus to red beach and got to the stop.. But to our surprise there was no red beach. We were at the waters edge, but it wasnt a beach?   Mitch had seen a sign at the intersection with arrow to Red Beach. So we walked back from the bus stop to the intersection and began walking. Then the road ended and the dirt path up and around the mountain began.  At this point i knew there had to be a beach some were.. People were walking back from the direction we were going , and they were wet...  So there must be a beach?  But were going up the mountain?  Around the edge of the point and there is it... Red Beach. But you have to continue hiking down to the beach. We stood for a while admiring the scene and then decided we really didnt need to swim at the Red Beach today. Better head back.


So far we had done ok  with the bus..  Red beach is the last stop on this line. So we just wait and get back on. When they called the stop for Perissa, the bus was standing room only and driver only opened the front door and we were at the back..  We were stuck !!  So paid the fee back to Fira were all the bus lines begin. But it is so far away from were we want to go... So we decide to get off at another stop and try to make our way back in the direction of Hotel. Got off the bus, crossed the street and waited.  About 20 minutes a bus comes and we get on. when we tell the ticket guy were we want to go he says.. " no not this bus".  Yells at the driver and they stop at the next stop and let us off...
There on the side of the rode we wait, and wait, about 30 minutes pass, a bus comes by but it is going to the airport....   another bus comes by, but it is going to Kamari. We need to go to Perissa...  Another 30 minutes pass , Mitch has even tried to get the attention of passing taxis. that isnt working either.  Just up the rode is a Shell gas station. We discuss if the right bus doesnt come soon we will walk up to the station and try to get someone to call us a taxi. concerned that we will not be able to make our request know, unless someone at the station speaks English.....   Just as we have gathered our things and talking more about walking to the station. The right bus finally comes !!!!  Of course we have to pay again.. But at this point we dont care..  We just want to get were we need to be..
At the pool bar this evening. Leftorous (one of the owners)  suggests we take the bus to the winery the next day.....  We both agree No more  Santorini bus for us any time soon...   Better for us to stay close to home.....   

Day 3 wed. we took a See Santorini in a Day Tour. Began by bus to the highest point on the island. It was a cloudy morning so the pics werent that good. Learned some interesting facts about the island;
 Hundreds of years ago it was inhabited by mostly Italians. They build several castles on the island. In more recent history, Greece was ruled by the Turks for 400 years. 90% of Santorini island was destroyed by an earthquake in the 1950's. Most people left. the ones that stayed began to rebuild. So most of what we see on the island today is new. sense the quake. In the 1970 it began to become a tourist destination.


Then we went to the port and took a wooden boat to the  Islet of Nea Kameni to the volcano. I was not able to walk all the way up to see it. We went as far as the first meeting place with the guide and then waited for the rest to return.

Then we boarded the boat again and stopped just off the coast of Islet Palea Kameni and I swam from the boat toward the hot springs. We only had 30 minutes so didnt get to spend as much time in the warm water of the springs as I would have liked. Then back on the boat and to the Island of Thirasia. There we stayed in the port and had lunch and ice cream and just relaxed and took in the sun. The village was way up top. We decided not to climb the 150 + steps to the village.

We then returned to the main Island of Santorini to the port at the city of Oia.  Again the village is way up from the water. Mitch took the 200+ steps to the top. I took the donkey ...


the city of Oia is at the northern most point of the island. It s famous for  the sunsets there. The village is very crowed and narrow walkways. lots of shops and restaurants.  But by the time we found the meeting place to catch the bus back to Perissa, we didnt have time to find a place to watch the sunset from there.  We did get to see a good amount of the island.


Day 4 thurs.
After the busy day of yesterday , today we took it easy at the beach most of the day.
Had the breakfast at the resort.  Then found a place at the beach we would like to have lunch and took one of there umbrellas and chairs. Most of the beaches here are what they call organized beaches. So the tavern or restaurant just across from the beach sets up the chairs and umbrellas for their customers to use. and they will bring you drinks to the beach. If you dont use a restaurant beach you will pay to use the chairs and umbrellas. And the sun here is very hot!   I need an umbrella.

Arrived in Santorini yesterday afternoon. The slow Ferry ride was very nice and relaxing.
The Ferry stopped at three other islands on the way to Santorini.








We arrived Santorini around 3:30 monday. Thought we had transfer arranged from the port to the hotel, but ended up taking a taxi. Which was not bad. Because we shared the taxi we got to see another village on the island before arriving were we are staying in the village of Perissa.  Arrived at the hotel only to discover his computer booking system had made a mistake and he didnt have a room for us. But he had made arrangments for us to stay at a hotel down the road for the one night.  So we got a bonus !!  Two places for the price of one. Kind of a bummer to have to move again, but the place we stayed monday night was very cute..   Horrible shower !!!   And stupid twin beds again!


Tuesday morning got up and tried to find a place to do some laundry. Come to find out no public laundry. Only a service laundry. So we paid the 9 euro to have our laundry done and we went to the beach. Perissa Beach is pretty cool.  On one side of street is the beach the other side is restaurant  and shops.



Once we got moved we went up to the main street and got a few snacks and breakfast for wed. Today Wed. we are doing a tour. Santorini in a day. will see the island and then go by boat to the volcano and swim in the hot springs. then to a smaller island for lunch. Back to Santorini. to the village of Oia to watch the sunset.  Time to leave for tour..  will post pics and more tomorrow. 

Mitch in front of our hotel 

Antique District seen from bus 

Guards at Parliament 

athens street 

Parthenon

Temple of Athena

View of Athens from Acropolis

Just below Acropolis is Aeropagus. Aeropagus was site of ancient  court and site were Paul addressed the men of athens as recorded in Acts 17

View of Agora from the rock hill of the Aeropagus. 

After climbing to the top of the Aeropagus we decend down to the Agora. The Agora was the market place and the center of life and lots of activity in the early centuries. I had hoped to find the remains of the "Alter to the un-known God" that Paul spoke of in his address to the men of Athens. But we searched all over the Agora and didnt find it. I tired asked several people, and no one understood what I was looking for..  But we did see lots of interesting  remains of  the ancient agora .

Water clock... Not sure how that worked? 

Row of shops

Getting late tonight. will post more pics in the morning. 

Tried more Greek food for dinner tonight. Moussaka made with egg plant and mince meat. And Baklava for dessert.  All good. Cant wait to try more tomorrow.