Greece with the Gals, cont.

Stunning Santorini

Day 7

On our second full day in Santorini, the weather was brilliant! Full sun, not too hot, and a photographer's ideal. While Susan slept in, Shawn and I started with coffee and breakfast at the rental, then went for a walk and did a bit of shopping in Oia. On this day, we walked the length of Oia, stopping in the main church square and making our way to the newer, Southern part of town. As you move south, the streets get a bit wider, and instead of being paved with cobblestones, transition to a flat marble tile (much easier on the feet). In general, I recommend sturdy, well-soled shoes for Santorini, as the pathways or often uneven and always feature steps and/or elevation. Do your feet a favor and wear sensible shoes!

Study in blue and white!

By this time, Susan had awoken. We all popped into Lotza Restaurant, which offers both breakfast and lunch options and has gorgeous water views. Afterwards, Susan hit the shower and Shawn and I rested up for the activity that would occupy us for the rest of the day - a boat tour.   

Boat tours are incredibly popular, because it's difficult to gaze at Santorini's aquamarine waters without wanted to get out there and experience them up close. Shawn had worked with our AirBnb hosts to book us a sunset cruise that included drinks and dinner. The cruise line, Spiridakos Sailing Cruises, sent a van to pick us up (along with two other cruisers) not far from our rental. Then, we drove about an hour to a port on the southern part of the island. From there, we boarded a large, beautiful catamaran with our fellow passengers (about 13 people total). 

From the very start, the crew went out of their way to ensure our comfort and safety. After a short orientation, they got us all beverages, and the boat got underway. Because I (and Susan) both have a tendency toward seasickness, Susan had dosed both of us with Dramamine. Regardless, I quickly made my way to the front of the boat as we began sailing to help me keep from getting seasick. 

I love how the cliffs just drop off to the sea.

For the next hour or two, we skimmed by the red beach and the white beach, stopping at each location briefly to enjoy the sun and replenish our drinks. Our guide told us all about the history of the island and pointed out landmarks visible from the water (such as the Akrotiri Lighthouse). At one point, we were given the option to either return to the back of the boat or ride up near the captain due to some rough seas. I was the only passenger who chose to ride with the captain (Again, I worried about my tummy facing backward in the back of the boat.), so he and I kept our bird's-eye view of the ocean up front.  

We stopped at the hot springs while the crew cooked us a fantastic dinner on the boat. They made us fish, shrimp, chicken, pasta, salad, bread, tzatziki, Greek wine - It was fantastic! Susan was feeling a little queasy and abstained, but Shawn and I ate with our feet hanging off the back of the boat. Also at the hot springs, they offered passengers the chance to swim in the water. However, it was a very cold day, so I stayed on the boat. 

Then, it was time to get in place for sunset. Our crew navigated the boat toward open water, and the passengers gathered to watch and wait. It was beautiful! There was very little cloud cover at the horizon, and our traveling party got our first official Santorini sunset! 

We so enjoyed this activity, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone. We loved the sun, the sea, the food, the drinks, our fantastic crew, and all of the other fun passengers we met on the boat! I had a great time getting to know a sweet English couple who now live in Scotland, an adorable American couple on a trip for their 18th wedding anniversary, and a group of U.S. travelers kicking up their heels on a European vacation. I took fun photos for all of them at different points in the cruise, with one woman asking for my help as she made multiple costume changes for different photos on the boat! A hoot! 

Sunset from the boat

After the sun fully set, we made our way back to port and back to our rental, where we showered and sank gratefully into bed! 

Day 8

On Sunday, we awoke early and started gussying up! On every trip our group takes, I arrange for us to have some photos made. (I started this in Paris, and I've never looked back. We've had our photos made there, plus in Napa Valley, Maine, and now, Santorini.) I have long been a proponent of services like Shoot My Travel, Flytographer, etc. You get professional images of your vacation, and every member of your travel party is in the shots. They make for wonderful memories! 

Santorini trio!

We got dressed, did our hair/makeup, and headed for the main square in Oia early. Our local photographer wanted to meet early in the morning, before the day got hot and the charming streets were clogged with other tourists. We spent the next hour or so walking through Oia and posing for photos. We crossed paths with a few other tourists and their photographers doing the same thing we were! It was a nice morning of camaraderie! 

When the photo shoot was over, we were starving. We headed back to Lotza's for omelettes and big glasses of orange juice! Then, we all went back to the rental for a rest. 

Wildflowers and caldera views from the Oia-Fira trail

Once my feet had a break (Tripping along the cobbled streets and steep steps of Oia in a pair of wedges was no joke! I should have brought an alternate set of shoes I could change into during the photo shoot!), Shawn and I donned our workout wear, packed our backpacks, and headed out on the 6.5-mile hike from Oia to Fira. This is said to be one of the best hikes in Greece, and most hikers do the one-way route from Fira to Oia. (This approach is easier, with more gentle inclines.) However, as we were already staying in Oia, we decided to tough it out in the harder direction, then relax in Fira for a nice meal. 

The wind is terrific at this elevation!

We had absolutely perfect weather - clear skies, not too hot, a lovely breeze. The trail starts in Oia with some steep elevation, and parts of this section of the trail feel almost like a ridge trail. (Later sections feature switchbacks.) Views are fantastic and everywhere, all along the route. You get gorgeous caldera vistas, views of the countryside around both Oia and Fira, and, because it was spring, we saw oodles of wildflowers - horned poppies, sea figs, daisies, succulent stone plants, just all kinds of gorgeous blooms. Though there are occasional structures along the trail, there are very few services. Bring lots of water, wear sunscreen, and a hat to keep the sun off your face wouldn't hurt, either. 

Along the route, we bumped into one of the couples we'd met on the boat the day before! How lovely! We stopped for a chat. At one point, we passed Nobu Hotel, Restaurant and Spa on the left-hand side of the trail. If I were a different woman, I would have packed my swimsuit, and at this halfway point, I would have stopped for lunch and a swim at Nobu, then changed back into my hiking clothes and carried on! #goals

As we approached Fira, Shawn and I spotted an ice cream shop and stopped for a gelato. (I got strawberry! Yum!) And before long, we were strolling into the heart of Fira. This part of Santorini is obviously developed much more deeply than Oia, with layer upon layer of hotels, shops, restaurants, and resorts built into the cliff. It was much more crowded and hosted much more activity. 

Fish at To Briki

Shawn and I started looking around for a likely spot to eat and found it at To Briki, a small spot with gorgeous coastal views. We ordered water, another carafe of Greek wine, and some bread and olives. I moved on to a plate of fish with an herbal and lemon sauce, studded with Feta cheese. Shawn had a crab salad. 

After we'd eaten and drunk our fill, we bought a few specialty food items from a nearby shop. Then, our driver arrived to ferry us back to Oia. Once there, we changed into our swimsuits, poured ourselves more wine, and relaxed in our rooftop hot tub as the sun went down. 

We basked in the full force of a gorgeous Oia sunset. We munched snacks, tilted our faces west, laughed, chatted, stretched our legs in the warm water, and decided that we may never leave Greece at all. 

Day 9

On Monday, we awoke, breakfasted, packed up, and got ready to leave Santorini for Athens. When we were planning this trip, we didn't want to head straight from Santorini home. Frankly, just getting to Jackson from Athens would be marathon enough, without tacking on an additional 1-hour flight at the start of it. So, we'd decided to fly back to Athens on Monday, spend a final night there, and then journey on to Jackson the following morning. 

We might be a little bit spoiled . . . 

Our sweet driver picked us up one last time and ferried us to the airport. We checked in for our flight, boarded, and were touching down in Athens in no time. A very eccentric cab driver took us from the airport to our second Athens AirBnb (also in the Plaka), quizzing us about American songs on the radio. (Before too long, we were all singing Sweet Home Alabama at the top of our lungs as the cab whizzed down an Athens street! Ah, travel!) 

We arrived at the rental, checked in, and popped right across the road to have a meal at Zorba's. We were seated immediately in their open-air courtyard, which is just across the way from a huge, brilliantly blooming bougainvillea. Its riotous pink flowers made many passersby stop to marvel and/or take a photo. 

I ordered bread, olives, and grilled sardines, and Shawn got dips and salad to share. Susan got a pork chop. More Greek wine for everyone! We ate our fill and then returned to the rental for a second to rest. We checked in for our flights the following day, and I arranged for a final cab to the airport via Spiro, our friend from earlier in the trip. 

A meal at Zorba's

Then, it was back out for a last bit of wandering and shopping in the Plaka. It was a truly gorgeous night. 

Tourists and locals alike were out, getting dinner, having snacks and drinks, and enjoying the evening. We did a little souvenir shopping. I bought a ring, a pair of earrings, some prayer beads for my son, and a few food items for hubs. Susan and Shawn headed to a shop they'd stumbled across earlier for a few items. Then, Susan and I grabbed a table at a little place on the Plaka steps for Aperol spritzes, salad, bread, olives, fries, and (of all things) a grilled ham and cheese sandwich! It was a wonderful way to end our trip!

Day 10

The next day, it was awake-breakfast-pack-cab-airport-home. We traveled all day, from Athens to Atlanta to Jackson. Hubs picked Shawn and I up at the airport and brought us home, where I slept like the dead! 

I loved, loved, LOVED Greece and would be thrilled to return. The people, The food, The history. It's just an amazing country. 

On my next trip, I'd still fly into Athens (and spend some time there seeing some of the museums and other sites I missed!), but I might then visit a different island (say, Crete, perhaps) afterwards. But I'd truly love to come back and experience more of this beautiful country. 

Take me back to Greece!