Santorini, Greece

Before I start with the who, what and where, I thought I would explain what an escort does. No, I don’t do that. Crystal likes to have a crew person on each tour bus to make sure we don’t lose anyone and that we can take care of any problems that arise or answer questions about how and where to go. We carry an emergency water supply, first aid kit, and toilet paper. Yes, TP. Actually, it is a lot like herding cats. I walk at the back of the group and make sure we don’t lose anyone, or I urge the stragglers to get a move on. There is nothing more disconcerting than losing your guide in a crowd in a place you have never been, and you can’t ask for directions because you don’t speak the language. Today, I had to get a go cup for a 94-year old’s coffee so I could get him to the bus on time. I hold a paddle with the bus number on it and stand outside the bus directing people to the correct bus. You would be surprised at how many people do not pay attention to their surroundings and have no idea which bus to get on. We also have to fill out a report and evaluate the tour. Having said that, I get to develop a relationship with the passengers as they like to come on my bus once they have experienced my herding techniques. I tell them, ask a question and I’ll try to answer it; if I don’t know the answer, I will make it up.

Santorini is unlike any other place I have been to. The island was created from a volcano that erupted 2,000 years ago with such force that the center of the island literally exploded, leaving behind a submerged crater. The main towns are built on the edge of the rim of the caldera. Since all the buildings are white, it looks like snow on the mountain tops. This is the second largest caldera in the world and is 11 kilometers wide.


As the ship came to rest at anchor below the town of Fira, I could see the whitewashed buildings and church domes lining the top of the cliff. We tendered to shore, boarded our bus, and made a torturous journey up the side of the mountain with incredible switchbacks. My tour was basically a driving exploration of the island. We passed vineyards and windmills (which is a symbol of Santorini and are no longer in use today). We drove on winding, extremely narrow roads to the top of the highest point, Profit Elijah, which is 2,000 feet above sea level.  On top of this mountain was a monastery that was built in 1100. We hiked up the hill and saw the priests giving communion. Coming back down the mountain, we saw vineyards everywhere except they did not look like traditional grape vines. Instead of growing up and spreading out on support wires, the vines grew in the shape of a basket. This is due to the windy conditions.

We went to the Santorini Vineyard and sampled white wine and cheese, olives, tomatoes, and a bread that was as hard as a dog biscuit. I actually had a glass of wine – before 10:30 am! We next drove to Kamari village, which has a black sand beach (it is made of volcanic ash; that is why it is black). We saw churches and more churches; one small village had 49 of them.

Now this is where the day gets interesting. The bus was scheduled to drop us off in Fira, the main town. We were to walk the pedestrian street for 500 meters and then take a cable car (funicular) down to the pier to get the tender back to the ship (Fira is over 1,100 feet above the water on a sheer cliff). Or we could walk down the 564 stairs or ride a donkey down. Well, it was not quite what they advertised or what the guide said. It was closer to ¾ uphill. I was hauling this heavy backpack and soaking wet (it was quite warm). I was supposed to meet Michael and then we were going to have lunch in town (for falafels). I waited for his bus for 45 minutes and he never showed up, so I started walking up the street searching for shade as I went. I see Michael coming down the street wondering where the hell I had been as we were supposed to meet at the cable car. Oops, our wires got crossed – my fault. Poor Michael walked from the museum to the cable car back to me and then back to the cable car. We never did get lunch as there were no falafel places and everyone seemed to be selling pizza. By this time, I was so hot, grumpy and tired – and so was he – that we head to the cable car, walked down a million steps, rode down a VERY steep incline to the pier below to get the tender to get back to the ship to get some a/c and go for a dip in the pool. And lunch.

Here is Michael’s day: I have to say Santorini is my favorite Greek island, and the village of Oia (pronounced E-Ya) just took my breath away. We need to find a way to get back here for an extended stay. And wow, is everybody religious here. Oia, for example, has only 400 residents, but has 70 churches. Tourism is the biggest industry here, followed by (oddly enough) wine making. There are lots of vineyards, and like Beverly said, they don’t look at all like ours. I found out why all houses are painted white with blue trim.


 It’s actually whitewash (a mixture with lime) that is an excellent insulator and bug repellent. The only problem is that all houses have to be repainted two or three times each year. The blue is simply there as the Greek’s believe it wards off evil.

I also visited Santorini’s acclaimed Archaeological Museum, home to prehistoric artifacts. They had some really incredible pieces that were 4,000 years including old vases with the brilliant coloring still intact, bronze tools and wallpaper that dates back to 1,700 BC. These pieces were all found at Akrotire, a highly functioning society that virtually disappeared thousands of years ago. Could this be the lost city of Atlantis?

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It’s me again. Tomorrow is a sea day and a work day. I have never been so glad to go to work so I can get some rest!