Arrive Santorini

Day Six  - Naxos to Santorini

This was a quiet day, mostly spent making the transition from Naxos to Santorini.  We had a free morning and most of us slept in.  I went down to breakfast at 9 figuring I’d be the slug in the group and everyone was there, including our guide!!  I spent the last morning in Naxos walking on the beach and then along the harbor up to the temple of Apollo (the ruins of the temple, actually!)  We had to be at the dock at noon for our ferry, which didn’t show up until 1.  By the time the hordes were loaded it was 1:45 or so before we left the harbor.  It was a big, luxurious ferry and I stayed out on one of the outer decks enjoying the scenery and the sun and reading while we sailed to Santorini which took 2 ½ hours.  We had picnic lunch on the boat – Greek salad in a sandwich!!  When we arrived in Santorini, it was a bit of chaos getting everyone off the boat – an amazing number of people are on the ferry, plus cars and trucks and disembarking is something of an exercise in organized chaos.  Our bus was waiting for us and drove us up the winding road on the side of the volcanic cliffs to our resort.  The place is amazing!   Spread out over many acres, with no less than four pools!  Our rooms are in the farthest cluster and it is something of a hike from the reception area to the rooms.  They are beautiful little studios overlooking the pool and when you step outside there is a beautiful vista of the island.  I’ve included a night shot of my little area in today’s photos.

We walked into the town for dinner and had another absolutely delicious meal.  Our guide has yet to repeat a dish at any restaurant we’ve gone to.  Greek food is far more sophisticated and delectable than one would guess from eating the American versions of it.  We started off with homemade bread with a dip made from yogurt and mustard, then had salad (for the first time with lettuce in it!!), feta cheese in filo pastry with ouzo and honey (unbelievable), zucchini balls, mushrooms in wine with spices, then a pork dish with gravy and spices and peppers served in a hollowed out loaf of bread and two chicken dishes – one with ouzo and honey and one with white wine and garlic.  We finished off with a dense chocolate cake with biscuits cooked into it. ( Very good and not as rich or gooey as a brownie but on that order. ) And our guide ordered a Greek dessert wine that tasted like a cross between sherry and port.  And we enjoyed local white wine with the meal.  I’ve included a few food photos for the foodies among you!!  Then I walked around the main area of the town which is teeming with shops selling everything from kitschy souvenirs to high quality artwork, textiles, jewelry, clothing, restaurants and bars and gelaterias galore.   The streets are all very narrow little stone paved lanes that wind like a labyrinth and are for pedestrians only.  As I emerged from one shop there was a line of six or seven donkeys walking down the lane right in the midst of all the tourists!  And I left after 11 and everything was still going full speed.   People don’t sleep over here in the summer I’ve decided!

Tomorrow we have a long hike so I’m off to bed.  It will be hot, but not as strenuous as our climb up the Mountain of Zeus.