So - what else could go wrong you ask ... well stay tuned ! We got to the port in plenty of time, met the pick up lady for our car, we were able to get a refund for our cancelled ferry, wheeled our bags across the terminal and boarded our new ferry a Seajet catamaran. Got shown to our great seats towards the front, and someone was sitting in them. No problem, we got assigned new seats up the back ot the boat. I would assume there were about 600 -700 passengers (at a guess). No problem - until the people came along who had tickets for our re-assigned seats .... then - we find we have boarded the wrong ferry !! We were on the 8:00 am ferry, not our 8:45 ferry. But then, I get a text to say our actuaI ferry has been cancelled and we should board the ferry we were already on !!!!
Great start to the day ! Left at 8:45 and arrived at Santorini at 11:00. Of course, the person who had been arranged to collect us wasn't there, rang hotel, no he needed he name of the boat we were on, he SMS'd me while we were on the ferry, I didn't have network coverage until we arrived. So after the disembarked passengers had all cleared out, we waited for the public bus, which was now waiting for the next ferry to arrive ... only 1.5 hour wait, but it only cost 2euros each. Dropped off at bus stop and a 200 metre walk to the hotel. We arrived fresh as a daisy at 13:30 !!
The day did get better from there with a walk around Fira, the main city on Santorini with the hilltops amassed with white hotels and restaurants. We decided last minute to hire a car for 24 hours and drove to Oia for the sunset viewing, apparently the best in the world. We worked our way along with the crowds through multiple narrow walkways to some what position ourselves along with at least 5000 others and waited for 3/4 hours on one of the many terraced advantage points. The sun slipped behind low clouds before hitting the horizon which then brought about loud applause from the onlookers !! So weird a response, but we think Glenelg's sunsets have it all over this one !
We had a rental car again for the day - this time a Hyundai I20, white and automatic. It has had a fairly tough life and rattled us along all day. Fruit breakfast in room and then set off for our day trip around the island. First stop was Akrotiri and an old Venetian Castle on top of the hill Quick walk and we saw it all. We then tried to get to the Red Beach, but gave up after 2 tries, we think it was a very narrow gravel road access, so we opted not to chance it in the rental car. Set the GPS for Perissa Beach, also known as the Black Beach, basically because the rocks and sand are very dark grey in colour, coming we presume from the volcanic rocks. None the less it was a real beach resort for beachgoers, with lots of umbrellas and sun lounges available for rent. There weren't many tourists on the beach today as it was around 27C and a fairly strong breeze blowing. We found it a very comfortable area to walk around.
We could have also gone to see the White Beach, but we figured we have seen plenty of those at home!
Next stop on the agenda was Megalochori, a traditional style Greek village with narrow winding laneways, white houses and just nice to walk around. Whilst wandering around we stumbled across a sign inviting us to visit a cave house, which we did. The cave houses were built in 1700, then subsequently used as storage for food and wine. Of course we had a coffee here and sat in a small park, read and caught up on news reading from home.
Tomorrow we are leaving for Naxos, and fingers crossed that our ferry is not cancelled.
It was all going way to smoothly to this point.
What with fires, flooding and earthquakes all around the Mediterranean, what’s a trifling ferry re-arrangement amongst friends.
Yes – first world problems again – they keep happening I accidentally reformatted my camera SD card – losing 26 days of photos !!!
I have just had the opportunity to catch up on your travels as we have recently arrived home from our own travels. Loving your blog with the great photos. What an amazing trip you both are having.
Cant wait to catch up in person when you arrive back and compare notes on some places we have already visited, (Im sure I have exactly the same photos as you for some places) and develop a list of places yet to visit. Keep up the great photos and commentary.
Thanks Jenny, yes look forward to catching up with you when we get back. Thanks for your comments.
I have just had the opportunity to catch up on your travels as we have recently arrived home from our own travels. Loving your blog with the great photos. What an amazing trip you both are having.
Aaaargh!
26 days of photos GONE. Surely not.
Did you not up or down load them elsewhere?
Yep … and No !
Being stuck in Greece – Santorini waiting??? I wouldn’t mind 🙂 Those gorgeous photos – white buildings OMGEEE!! Theres a lot of people though. Interesting beach sand. Think I could visit Greece.