This morning we rose late. Like, late. We had somehow managed to close the shutters the night before and our room was practically a cave. It was breathtaking to open the shutters in the morning and see the absolute most amazing view. Something seen in magazines, books and the Internet and now my morning view.
After finally rising, we went along to the hotel reception and were met by Kiriagos, who was now cooking us breakfast. We ate quickly, amping to get back on our ATV!
We sped down to the port to buy our ferry tickets for that afternoon before going sick through town and on to the popular beach, Mylopotas. It was completely empty. Deserted. After only seeing images of it bustling with half naked bodies in the heart of summer, the sun glowing down, it was strange to see no one on it and the sky masked with cloud. Regardless, it's a beautiful beach and the bike down to it afforded breathtaking imagery. Nothing like riding a bike with the wind blowing through your hair, the white concrete of Greece scattered throughout the lush, green mountains.
We then rode to an amazing amphitheatre of Odysseus which overlooked the entire bay of the Mylopotas beach, the coastline stretching out for miles, the ocean blending into the sky.
We were heading back when we met Kiriamos, now a taxi driver, taking our American friends down to the ferry. A ferry that we were also catching. Oops. We still had to return the quad so we told them to go on ahead and we'd meet at the quad shop. We quickly grabbed our packs for our room and all loaded on to the quad. It would have made for a hilarious image, me driving at the front with Millie on the back, loaded up with two huge packs and having no idea where we were going unable to see anything.
We made it to the quad shop unharmed, miraculously. But arrive to find no Kiriamos and no van. We decided to take the steps down to the port, which was hard going and hot work, only to find that the ferry was going to be quite late so we could have taken our time! A beautiful walk down, nonetheless.
We grabbed a Greek salad, again (probably my 20th tomato since arriving here) and ate it in the shade while waiting. The ferry finally arrived and the wind picked up to a gale. It made for the longer hour ferry ride I've ever been on. Land was welcomed.
Arriving into Santorini is incredible. Surrounded almost 180 degrees by high, imposing cliffs, it is a stunning natural arena. We quickly found someone offering suitable accommodation, and after bartering the price down we were being shuttled into a car with fellow tourists and speeding, quite literally, up the cliffs along with every other car and bus ferrying tourists up the mountain. The Greek spirit is amazing and we stopped and picked up or dropped off various things along the journey, making for an interesting experience.
We settled into to our lovely hotel, and went walking through the beautiful streets of Santorini, an upmarket paradise. The wind is insane and unfortunately it's cloudy so the sunset couldn't be seen! The cliff edge is still an incredible view, and just as amazing and the pictures make it seem. Something to see with your own eyes.
Dinner of stuffed tomato and tzatiki, with bread still hot from the oven.
I have encountered nothing but the kindest, most generous, welcoming and friendly Greeks, who seem genuinely happy to see you in their country. They are always willing to help and do what they can. Whether this is related to their current economical situation or not, it's made the travelling nothing but wonderful and I can't wait to tell everyone to visit these beautiful islands.
Drifting into sleep-land utterly content.
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