- Caught a 9am ferry from Heralkion to Santorini (Thira). It’s a one and a three quarter hour journey under normal conditions, but there was a bit of a swell about and we got in 50 minutes late. Quite a lot of people on the ferry were sick along the way. I was OK (though had to stop reading and writing) and Julie has a cast iron stomach when it comes to being on the water.
- Sailing into Santorini’s drowned caldera and seeing the clusters of white, geometric buildings clinging to the cliffs is a remarkable sight. Many people obviously think so and the place is completely overrun. I confess to having mixed feelings about it.
- This visit we decided to stay at Perissa Beach on the eastern side of the island to avoid the hurly burly of the caldera. The hotel we stayed at will pick you up and drop you off for free if you stay at least three nights. It turned out to be a pretty chilled spot, with a decent black sand beach, good cafes and tavernas and easy access to ancient sites and other beaches.
- Julie was happy to hit the beach for a while so I walked up to Ancient Thira, a lovely site sprawled over a hilltop (567m) at the northern end of Perissa Beach. You can drive up from the other side at Kamari Beach.
- Next day we hired a small car and toured the southern part of the island. Visited the impressive site of Ancient Akrotiri which was buried in a volcanic eruption in 1613 BC. It’s now protected in a climate controlled building with wooden walkways criss-crossing the site. Take your time, let the pulses of bus tour groups blow past, and you’ll find it a very rewarding experience. Stopped at the village of Akrotiri and wandered around its backstreets and lanes. A lovely interlude. Drove on to the amazing looking Red Beach but it was super crowded so we headed down to the lighthouse at Cape Akrotiri and then found a decent taverna for lunch. Finished up the day with a swim and relax under the wind sculpted cliffs of Vlychada Beach.
- On our last day we caught the bus up to Fira for a walk around the edge of the caldera. Back to Perissa Beach then off to the port to catch a 19:00 ferry to Milos, via Folegandros. It’s about a two hour journey.
