Santorini

The ship arrived at 9 am, and Santorini is a tender port. Santorini was once known as Ancient Thera. We were not able to book the ship’s tour of Akrotiri, because those tours filled up before we booked the cruise. But we figured out how to do it on our own.

We had to wait in line to get a tender ticket, we ended up being in group 11, but got on the third tender from the ship.

Then we waited in line for an hour to get the cable car up 800 feet to the top of the cliff. There is also the option of riding a donkey up, but the donkeys are not well treated, so we didn’t choose that option. Walking up would wear Donna out for the latter part of the day. Santorini is a volcano, and the ship sailed into the crater.

Then we walked over to the bus station and waited 30 minutes for the bus to prehistoric Akrotiri which was destroyed in the Thera eruption. The bus drops you off right across from the entrance to Akrotiri. The bus was quite full.

Akrotiri was part of the Minoan civilization. Akrotiri was probably settled between 5000 and 4000 BC. It was destroyed by the volcano sometime after 1600 BC. Although the city was destroyed, no bodies were found. It seems as though people heeded warnings that the volcano would erupt and left.

We arrived shortly after noon and saw the site first, then came out and grabbed a quick bite to eat at the café at the museum. Then we walked out just as the bus back pulled up. We managed to get on, the bus was packed full, with the isle full of people standing. The young woman taking tickets could hardly get down the isle.

The Santorini Archeological museum is closed on Tuesdays, so we didn’t get to see the frescoes that are preserved there.

We stopped at Zoto’s for some gelato. Bitter Chocolate and Pistachio.

We walked northward through Fira but didn’t actually make it to the north side of Fira.

Along the way we stopped at the Orthodox cathedral on Santorini.

Coming back to the ship, we saw a long line at the cable car to come down, so we chose to walk down the switchbacks. This is the same path the donkeys use, so you need to pay attention to where you step.

After supper, we went up to take sunset photos again.