Someone from our hostel picked us up from the airport and it wasn't too far away. It ended up being the cutest place! Such a better deal than anywhere in Italy. It was so nice, cleaned everyday, with fresh towels, and a mini fridge. And it's run by the nicest couple. They really were there to make our experience the best it could be. They offered to drive us around all the time and helped us with anything we needed. When we got there we were ready for dinner so we walked to a local taverna. The people there were really nice too and Greek food was sooooo good after not having it for a while. I got Mythos (the Greek beer) for the first time and it was delicious. Santorini is famous for cherry tomatoes so we had some of those that were grilled and stuffed with some like rice and feta. So good. We also had lamb, greek salad, tzatziki and bread. In Greece they usually bring you something free at the end of the meal and at this place they brought shots of Raki (a hard liquor like ouzo). yucky but kind of funny since they kind of made us take them. We went back there later in the week after dinner just for fun.
The next day we wandered around Santorini's main city, Fira/Thira, that was within walking distance of the smaller town we stayed in. We really were in the perfect location because all of the island's buses come and go from Fira. We had to find Aliza some clothes and a bathing suit since she didn't have her suitcase so it was a pretty low key day. We got cheap gyros for lunch (yum! I missed those too).
The next day we went to the red beach which was pretty cool but wasn't really for lounging on the beach.
Also, the weather did not really like to cooperate with us on the trip but we still loved it and thought it was beautiful. It would always feel nice and warm and sunny on our porch at the hostel but when we got to the beach it would be cold and windy and overcast at times. Oh well, I'm used to sitting on the beach bundled up occasionally.
We also went to two black beaches on the island: Kamari and Perissa.
One day we took the boat tour to the volcano and hot springs. Fira is up high so we had to walk down a bunch of zig-zagging stairs to get to the Old Port where the boat left from.
Santorini was so hilly and when you see it from this view, I think it should really be called a mountain range in the middle of the ocean instead of an island :).
The boat tour was very nice. The water was unbelievably blue. I love being by the water. Our first stop was the hot springs. Unfortunately we had to jump into freezing cold (ok not really but it felt pretty cold) water first and swim over to them. When we got there it was pretty cool but not as hot as I would have liked, more like luke warm bath water. Then we had to swim back through the freezingness to the boat. And guess what!? Aliza and I both have cold-induced hives! Crazy, especially considering the fact that we're not even blood related. So we were both a little red but soon enough we were climbing the volcano! It was definitely cool looking and a nice hike with great views. Should have stretched beforehand though because we were both very sore the next day. Sad I know. We took the boat back to Fira and then we rode donkeys all the way up the stairs. It's just something you have to do in Santorini.
Our last night in Santorini we had to go see the sun set in Oia (say "eeee-ya") because it's supposed to be one of the best sunsets in the world. Best sunset I've seen anyway. I don't know why but the sun just seems bigger, rounder, and brighter there. Santorini in general had great sunsets but it was nice to just go watch it on purpose without thinking of anything else.
Perfect ending to a wonderful spring break! Lots of traveling but then a lovely relaxing time on a beautiful island (mountain range).
Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/kaitz.j/Santorini#
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