I started out the day yesterday by going into town. Fira, the capital, is abut a ten minute drive from the hotel. I walked around the streets, which are closed to cars, and enjoyed all of the cute shops and restaurants that represent a labyrinth and overlook the water. I also had my first gyro of the trip - delicious! Unfortunately one of the cruise ships had just arrived and I was overwhelmed by all of the tourists so I didn't stay in fira long.
I headed back to the hotel where I had reserved a quad (four wheeled motor bike) to drive sound the island. Best decision ever! I first drove to the south side of the island past the vineyards and amazing ocean views (I stopped to get a coffee at one of the cafes overlooking the water to take in the view) to the red sand beach. The beach was not quite as red as I expected. I ran into a couple of Americans there who said sunset at ia is the best so i decided to jet up to the northern tip of the island for sunset. Ia sunset was beautiful and crowded. I also got to see the old town walls which was great. I then headed back to the hotel which was about a forty minute driven my quad in the dark on some pretty curvy and unlit roads. Given that Greek Easter was the next day, most if the locals went to church and at midnight there were fireworks everywhere! Really cool to see fireworks go off in all the towns across the island. From where I was I could see four sets of fireworks going. Also, the bells of all the churches rang constantly. Quite a treat.
Today was Greek Easter and I started off the morning with breakfast right outside my room overlooking the water. Too much food but quite tasty. I then decided to go back to fira to start my morning. Since I had heard so much about the thousands of stairs down to the sea from fira, I decided to give it a try. There were tons of stairs and it was quite the aromatic experience. Instead of walking you can take a donkey ride up or down the stairs. The stairs were quite slippery, probably didn't help I was wearing flip flops. Once I got to the bottom, I was not only tired, but realized how hard the climb down from Kili will be. i think it is harder on the joints going down slowly that climbing. Anyhow, at the bottom was the most clear water ever! Even though it looks blue, it is amazingly clear with beautiful schools of fish! I felt bad for the donkeys so I took the cable car back up to the top. I should mention the animal being roasted is lamb for Easter. Many shops and such were closed today for the holiday.
After fira, I decided to check out some of the beaches on the south side of the island before I had to turn in the quad. I ended up at the black sand beach. Once again beautiful clear water and boy was the sand hot! The ride out there and back was well worth the trip.
I spent the rest of the day/evening by the hotel pool and took in my last sunset from the hotel as the view is amazing. I learned that the rope in the shape of a circle in e water by the hotel is a ship that sank recently and they cannot fish it out and are afraid to move is as e side of the cliff might fall in since it is lodged under the cliff. Santorini was created from a volcano - you can see it in many of my sunset pictures and the bottom of the island narrows dramatically or so I am told.
Anyhow, another successful day. Tomorrow I will be in santorini most of the day before I head to tel aviv in the evening.
Opa
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