Santorini

Santorini is in the southern Aegean Sea. It was the site of one of the largest volcanic eruptions in recorded history - the Minonan eruption which occurred about 3,600 years ago at the height of the Minoan civilization.

Santorini may be the origin of the Atlantis legend due to its cataclysmic eruption in 1600 BCE which reshaped the region from looking like a donut to looking like a croissant (crescent-shaped).

The plan was to have mass at 3:30 p.m. (which we did) and then to disembark at Santorini about 4:30 p.m. This cruise has run continually behind schedule, so getting off time was pushed back to well after 5:00 p.m. Those passengers with booked excursions get off first, then the rest (like us) by lottery groups 1-7. Kostas got us #1 today. He didn't mention having to bribe anyone. We would have to take a tender boat to the actual shore.

The actually town, Fira, the capital of Santorini, sits perched on the edge of the cliff. Visitors have to stand in line to take a cable car (at €10 each way) up to the town. The views would be nice but the timing would not be. We would have little time for dinner and packing. Our luggage has to be in the hall by 11:00 p.m. and we have to leave the ship at 6:45 a.m. And the Greek government recently slapped on a €20 tourism fee for every visitor. Several of us decided dinner and drinks and getting to bed at a reasonable hour would suit us much better. A pilgrim must pace him/herself!

It was a night of good food, fine wine, many laughs and so much fun!Читать далее