Soooo I arrived in Santorini yesterday after a hell raising fast ferry ride.
Wow. That ferry was fast. The name of the boat was "hell cat" and now I know why. That ride tested my diaphragm and gag reflex. I had no choice but to fall asleep on the boat. Thank god I was exhausted from my 5.30am wake up call and 2.15hr bus ride cuz damn. Anywhoser moving on.
Arrived in Santorini at about 11.45am and all I could say was Wow. And that does not even cover it. Its not beautiful. Its not prettt. Santorini is a dramatic island. The coastline is sheer cliffs and eroded volcanic rock and sandstone to make something that looks like it came right out of Narnia.
Santorini, based on my observations, is the rim of an old volcano. At least what we see is the rim. The crater or spine of the volcano collapsed and eventually filled with water to form what they now know as the "Caldera". However, just me speculating here, if two new volcanic islands have sprouted from the caldera or the old crater and even continue to show volcanic activity, doesn't that mean that Santorini island is somewhat active and not totally dormant ? I'll accept corrections please and thank you!
Enough speculating and postulating!
Luckily the guesthouse that I booked offered free transfers from the port which was uber convenient as I was dog tired and didn't want to wait on public transport.Although the bus situation here seems to be quite reliable (as compared to Nimes that's for sure) . I booked my stay at Antonia Apts and my room came up to about 35 € a night which is excellent considering I had a huge room with couch, fridge , private bath and the owner keeps plying you with JUGS (whats with Greeks and these huge servings of alcohol? lol) of wine and tea and coffee.
I only had time to freshen up as I was booked on the boat tour to explore the two still active, volcanic islands; new and old burn ( I not even going to try to spell or pronounce the Greek names lol ). Those 3 hours were really unique . I hiked a volcano for the 2 time In 3 months, got some glorious SUN, was on the water for 3 hours and just checked out the overall scene.
Santorini is cheap yo. Like. These islands are a problem. Anywhoser, to get to the old port to go on these cruises, you have to descend about 587 steps that were built around christ was born so imagine their shape and imagine having to ascend after a 3 hour tour!! This is where, unfortunately, the donkeys come into play.
So yes we've watched the romantic movies and we've seen the local Greeks go up and down via donkey. It looks cool and now that I've experienced it, I can definitely say ....it looks cool lolol. Straddling a snorting, smelly, heaving, braying, peeing, pooping animal for 10 minutes cant be fun..but! I did it lolol.
I can tell you the exact pt that I fell in love with Santorini.
I went to the atm and withdrew 40euro. Somewhere along the way to the local spot where my guesthouse owner eats, the 40euro slipped out of my pocket (womp womp) but I still headed to the local cuz I was reaaaaallly hungry. Anywhoser, I presented myself and said ,'hey, _______told me to come here to eat anytime I was hungry . do you accept cards?, little mommy (so cute) said ' sorry no but come back tomorrow'.
at this point I thought she meant, come back tomorrow when you got cash lady, now beat it. Until she startes clearing a table and pulling out a chair for me to sit! This woman doesnt know me from adam. Yes I know she can always track me down based on the guesthouse but WOW. That has NEVER happened to me before abroad or at home. Money talks! Who cares if you were mugged by a group of dancing ducks? So of course, this is where I go to eat my breakfast lunch and dinner now without fail. lolol And I must say im prob losing weight here. the food is fresh and superbly healthy; but it tastes so good! How am I ever to go back to Trinidad with their substandard yogurt, bacclava, gyro and feta cheese? HOW! !! This life can be cruel.
I also checked out the local scene and bars are really popular with one ever 10feet it seems. I went to one and had to show them that Angostura bitters Is a product of Trinidad and Tobago. They were truly impressed lolol. Got home at 10 duh-runk like a skunk after just 2 drinks and called it a night.
The next day (today) rain. Like seriously? Thunder and lightening!!! Ah well. It did make me think of home lolol. I planned to fo the Fira (Thira) to Oia walk today. What originally was meant to be about 3hrs turned to 5 because of the rain and I kept finding the most wondrous sites! These Greeks would put a church ANYWHERE! Like on the side of a mountain that has NO access except one precarious footpath! That church service better be good if I was a member having to brave death by cliff diving or bee stings just to get to church back in the day.
The walk was insanely long but I am soooo appreciative that I get to do these things now at 29 instead of 59 when most likely, I wouldn't have made it.
This day was epic. Wowser. amazing and all of that jazz. Oia was beautiful but a little too sticker tape and pretty for me. Perfect for the high end tourists who want nothing to do with Santorini. ..in my opinion.
Anywhoser, Im going to brave the bizarre but timly bus service to check out Perissa and Old THira tomorrow. In the meantime...pictures!
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