Greece
Fira

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    • Day 13

      Critters, Museums, Fishies and Shopping

      June 1, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

      Well onto the next adventure. We went to bed last night after a busy day. You drift off to sleep and dream of the day on the water. Then you wake up to a bite on your arm (kinda felt a large black fly bite). I turn on the light to see this creature scurrying on the comforter. I spring out of bed grab a shoe and whack the thing. Because the bedding is soft it just scurries in another direction. I think I just made it angry now! I fold the comforter (shoe and all) into a packet and drag it outside. I have been quiet this whole time trying not to wake the girls. When I’m outside I unfold everything and watch it scurry to the planter and then to the wall.

      Laura must have heard something and has come to see what is wrong. I can only think to tell her to stay inside so she doesn’t get hurt. I grab my phone, then the camera to get a picture incase it is poisonous. Laura is now freaking out and goes to check her and Nicole’s bedroom. Now Nicole is awake and has to come and check my bite. Laura has gone all mafia ninja mode and is now checking everywhere she can for more critters. My bed gets torn apart, behind the nightstands, under the couch, under the bed, in the bathroom.

      After we calm down a bit (not much but a bit) I take a Benadryl to get the inflammation down. I of course get on line to see if I can find out what bit me. Yeah, check out the picture below. They are called Scolopendra cingulata and are ugly centipedes/scorpion type things with a lot of legs and a scorpion tale.

      We head cautiously back to bed for the rest of the night. The next morning it is more like a bee sting and I have survived to write another blog. I have to admit, driving is nothing to this little adventure.

      We have awoken to a beautiful day. Our visitor from last night has left the premise (as far as we can tell) or was eaten by one of the cats around here. My arm is not as red and feels like a bee sting where the ache has just gone up the arm a bit. Basically, I’m fine.

      Today we have a tour at the Atlantis the Lost City museum. It was very interesting. First you see a movie about how the city was built and lived and then destroyed by a volcano eruption. The movie is a 9D experience meaning that you sit in a chair that tilts and rumbles. You have a set of 3D glasses, headphones to listen to the story and then they throw fake ‘volcanic ash’ (soap bubbles) and water sprits to flush out the experience. After the movie there are several interactive boards that describe the society back then. After this they have a hologram where you can chit chat with Plato about how he saw civilization. They also have a diorama that shows what Atlantis looked like according to Plato. All and all it was well worth the time and money. The link to it is: https://www.lost-atlantis.com/

      After this we went to the lively part of Fira to meander the shops. The three of us went to a fish spa. It is a spa where little fishies clean your feet while you have a glass of wine. We also had a hot wax treatment for our ears. This was a lot of fun. Laura squealed a lot due to the fish ‘kissing’ between her toes. Here is a link if you want to find out more about this treatment: https://www.facebook.com/FishSpaSantorini/ .

      There just happens to be a jewelry store across the street and we are three women. Yes, in we go! I find a nice necklace and 2 rings. The girls also find necklaces, rings and ankle bracelets. By now we are just hungry. We find an absolutely wonderful restaurant called The Pelican Kipos. It had a wonderful atmosphere as soon as we walked in. There were benches with tables and chairs, cozy little nook where you felt like you had a private table. The wait staff were wonderful! Nicole and I spit some appetizers; baked feta and mushrooms in wine sauce. Laura has potatoes au gratin type appetizer. I had the sea bass and our waitress even de-boned it for me at the table! Nicole had a chicken with cream sauce and Laura had a pork medallion dish. We were stuffed by the time we finished!

      We head back to the house and I am ready for some rest and relaxation. The girls however are heading out clubbing. We are leaving tomorrow and I have my reservations about their choices. However, they are 35 years old so it’s up to them. They get a taxi to meet the at the parking area and off they go. Me? I stay home and pack up my stuff, have a shower and write this blog. I know, boring!
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    • Rule #7 (Santorini)

      June 12, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 73 °F

      Run as quick as you can to the top floor (deck) of the ship to take a quick selfie (after taking several from the balcony in your room) but don’t be late to the dingy thing that is escorting you to the island AND when you check in for the dingy thing AKA the tender (not tinder) make sure you bring your water that left in your room 🤦🏽‍♀️ #tryandnotoverheatlikeyourdoggieRead more

    • Day 3

      Getting to Fira from the ship

      July 17, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

      Santorini is a tender port, so we had to get our ticket for the water shuttle for about a 15 minute ride from the ship to the port. From there, you have the option to take a cable car, walk up a long windy staircase, or ride a donkey to the main town of Fira. We did some exploring on our own on the cobblestone walkways before meeting our tour guide. We left on one of the first water shuttles and arrived so early that many of the cafés were not even open yet.Read more

    • Day 64

      Santorini

      September 17, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

      Wieder mal ging es mit der Fähre weiter Richtung Süden und zwar nach Santorini. Schon die Anreise war spektakulär: die Hauptstädte Fira und Oia waren schon von weitem als weisse Städte oberhalb der Klippen ersichtlich. Der Weg dahin hatte es dann aber insich und ich merkte schnell, dass ich wohl die einzige Velotouristin auf Santorini bin. 😅 Nach unzähligen Einbahnstrassen und Treppen habe ich dann mein Appartment mit Privatpool gefunden.😎

      Auch hier war es zwar wieder recht windig, dafür überzeugte der Sonnenuntergang umso mehr.🤩🤩🤩
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    • Day 61

      We r influencers now sry

      August 27, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C

      We have arrived at influencer island and as all good influencers should we spent most of the day lounging on the beach. No photos sorry bc they're all for our sponsored posts 💸🤑 it's so hard being so famous and so influential...

      In the afternoon we got the bus over to Fira to see the sunset and the pretty houses. This is when we realised we were maybe not quite cut out for the influencer life as we were not wearing enough white linen and I wasn't prepared to recline on/over the safety wall on the cliff to get my Insta photos. We returned instead to our scuffed backpacker roots and grabbed some chippies and beers from the supermarket and climbed up a ledge on a wall to get a view of the sunset away from the selfie sticks 🤠 it was way cheaper that the €20 cocktails that had a view 🍻

      We elected to get the bus home and try the local restaurant next to our house for a late dinner which featured "the best pork [Alfred] has ever had in [his] life" and impeccable vibes !!
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    • Day 31

      Day 29, 30 and 31

      September 18, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 25 °C

      Been in Santorini for 3 days. It's only a 45 minute flight from Athens. Took longer to go from the port to the airport in Athens by bus.
      Today we took a tour around the important Santorini landmarks. We were lucky as the cruise ship passengers had not arrived by 9am so we got a private 3.5 hr tour. To ensure homes collect rainwater from a domed roof, the goverment will not give residents power unless they include this. All drinking water is shipped in. Santorini was round and flat until an earthquake split it into 3 islands, 3600 years ago. The lava flow created the height you can see in photos. In 1956 everything was destroyed except the very well built homes of the weathy. There's up to 5 000 000 visitors a year. Every morning (except in winter) there's 3 - 7 cruise ships in the bay.

      Video 1 - we are staying in Fira the capital of Santorini.
      Photo 1 - view from our accommodation
      Photo 2 - foot spa in Fira. I think the small fish in here must like dead skin cells.
      Photo 3 - cable car
      Photo 4 - Fira at night
      Photo 5 - those oh so famous blue domes in Oia (prounced ear)
      Photo 6 - main square in Oia
      Photo 7 - due to extreme winds in Santorini in winter, grapes are left low to the ground as a bush, not trained on a trellis like most vineyards. The branches are woven around the trunk to create a basket. The vine in this photo is 150 years old.
      Photos 8 - 11 - Santorini
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    • Day 11

      Slow day today

      May 30, 2022 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C

      Today is a slow day for us no tours today. We all sleep in late and have a late breakfast. We do laundry. I get some blog writing done. You know down day. Laura has found us a gluten free restaurant to go to tonight. Off we go into town. The restaurant is on the main street and parking is hard to find. Laura finds a spot and we try to find the restaurant. Interesting thing I noticed is that there are no address numbers on the stores or houses. I’m not sure why they give you an address when a simple 15’ from the corner would work better. After a couple of phone calls to the restaurant we finally find it. It has a wonderful view over the landscape to the sea.

      Laura picks out a chicken dish. Nicole and I split a bruschetta and then have a pasta with mushrooms and chicken. They give us an appetizer of olives, sliced tomatoes and bread cubes which is also very nice.

      After dinner the girls drop me off and then head out. They are going to an open-air theater to watch the latest Top Gun movie. The theater can hold about 180 people and has regular seating. The girls found some lounge chairs in the front and opted for those. They said they had a great time and that the refreshments (coke and popcorn) were reasonably priced.
      I stayed home and did some reading. I was in bed when they came home and they were nice and quiet so as to not disturb me.
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    • Day 45

      Day 2 Santorini.

      May 17, 2023 in Greece ⋅ 🌬 20 °C

      Beautiful sunny day.
      Enjoyed a late breakfast after a good night's sleep in our cave hotel room.
      Walked and explored a little with intervals for a cold wine overlooking the caldera and a late lunch at 2pm, also overlooking the caldera watching the cruise ship come and go.
      Absolutely stunning views.
      Returned to the hotel, Santorini Palace to relax and enjoy the sunshine.
      Our visit to Greece is predominately for rest and relaxation.
      So far that's exactly what's happening.
      It's a great life.
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    • Day 46

      Day 3 Santorini.

      May 18, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

      Just when we thought things couldn't get any better the hotel has upgraded us to a deluxe suite with ocean view and private swimming pool.
      Another relaxing day walking around and taking in the spectacular views in glorious sunshine.
      Late lunch over looking the Caldera.
      A new restaurant for lunch and dinner each day.
      Living the dream.!!!!
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    • Day 47

      Day 4 Santorini.

      May 19, 2023 in Greece ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C

      Walked down through the narrow lanes of shops to the Cathederal. So much to see.
      The jewellery shops are amazing. Resisted the temptation to to buy anything.
      Lunch in another cliff top Cafe, Galini Cafe. Stunning views.
      Back to the hotel pool for more relaxation in the beautiful sunshine.
      Dinner to night at Mama Thira restaurant. Of course near the windows overlooking the Caldera to see the stunning sunset.
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    You might also know this place by the following names:

    Firá, Fira, Φηρά, JTR, Фира

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