Santorini

Seaside Taverna

Cove for swimming off the Schooner to Oia

Sunset at Oia

Santorini views

Santorini

Helen insited we take one last week and visit Santorini. The Greek Islands offer another view of this landscape that we needed to see. The minute we landed in Santorini it had a different feel. It was warmer, much more barren, and MORE people and the ugly side of Greece-the garbage along the roads. There is no government program that controls or seems to pick up the litter and it is everywhere here. Helen says 5 years ago the tourists where minimal but now the entire island seems teaming with people vacationing. We see lots of young people touring and many who seem to be honey-mooners.

This island is a favorite for the cruise ships as well. Thousands of people seem to be making their way up the steep cliffs to the white washed towns on the top. The streets are still the terraced colorful cottages we've seen but they're almost all small shops full of beautiful jewelry and trendy resort wear. Tavernas and up scale restaurants all with a terrace and a view, and two times the price for lunch.

Yesterday we took a schooner that toured three different ports. Our trip took us to the active volcano in the region. This region was originally a larger island that was devastated by the largest eruption in recorded history. The date is in the mid 2nd. century BC and has been speculated to have been the basis for the myth of Atlantis. The island where the volcano is truely different than anything we've seen so far. It has the rugged geography but it is of barren volcanic rock. We had to hike up about 3 miles to the top and where we could see the smoking caldera. The guide was great and she could tell her story is 4 languages. After our hike we sailed to another island in the ring. We where invited to dive off the ship and swim as we wanted. This had me feeling like I'd escaped from a pirate ship and discovered a secret cove and rocks for swimming. Wonderful way to spend and afternoon. Our last stop was to the town of Oia on the tip of Santorini cliffs. This is a famous spot for photographers and visiters. We watched the sun set and it was glorious. Tamra promised me she got some wonderful shots.

We have one more day in Athens and then we have another odyssey back home. We've had a wonderful month. Greece will always be fondly remembered and our bike trip with Yorgos was definatly memorable. Our sisterhood of the traveling bicycles is over. We'll be home and back to our normal busy lives again. We're all looking forward to hugs and showing off pictures and our Greek cooking skills. Ya Sas...