Lost in Venice with a taste of Turkish Delight and Souvlaki

[Pushka]

Yummy breakfast on the balcony.

Boiled eggs. Yoghurt and honey (this was served on the Ist-Ath flight yesterday and is divine); homemade cake (saved for afternoon tea later), watermelon, home made bread and marmalade, sandwiches (also saved) , fresh squeezed juice and tea and coffee. Yummy. And note - Lurpak butter - also posted on the Lurpak thread.







It was foggy first thing but now cleared at 9am

 

[TomVexille]

That's just stunning. Keep up the good work.

 

[Pushka]

Another photo from last night.

This time we hear the Cathedral bells not the Muezzin calls. The bells toll during daylight/early evening hours.



Santorini is long but thin. We can see both sides from the Hotel.



This is the side we saw on the cruise as we sailed away from Santorini a few pages back. Seems a lifetime ago now.

 

[Dougo]

Love it all ... thanks for keeping us up to date !

 

[Pushka]

Someone needs to extract my credit card or I will be in trouble with MrP.





I've yet to sneak a photo of the stunning blue opal. And I don't usually like opal. There are multiple boutiques selling unique designer pieces. The opals from Australia and sapphires and precious gems from Sri Lanka. I know, I've had to try a couple of rings on and they fit. But of course size isn't an issue anyway. Plus they are smaller than Turkish carpet but around the same price. Oops.

Am now entrenched at the Sister Spa Hotel. There's no view here but the pool is quite pleasant.



It's a little stressful for MrP that I have to walk past the jewellery stores to get here.

Now. Shoes are next.

 

[Dougo]

Love it !! LOL

 

[love_the_life]

You said there might be some heavy duty shopping on Santorini! Not too much though, mind, or you won't be doing Alaska as soon as you would like
That breakfast looks fantastic.

 

[Pushka]

Well, that was a visual feast.

This afternoon we took the public bus to Oia (pronounced eeya). This took about 30 minutes, nice seat and air conditioning. Full bus. Cost of return ticket was 3.2 euro.

Oia is the place where people camp out to catch the sunset into the sea. Fira, where we are, the sun disappears behind another Island.

Oia is simply stunning. I thought Fira was amazing but this place is a jewel.

On the way we toured the "back side" of Santorini. It is very dry and very flat. Vines are established here but they are low to the ground due to the wind. Yesterday was windy. Today isn't. Oia was hot!

The back side:



Oia.

 

[Pushka]

Naturally sundried cherry tomatoes. Tomatoes taste so good here.

 

[Pushka]

This is the place to be for sunset. It gets very crowded.



This apartment has both an indoor and outdoor pool. Overlooking the sunset point. Would cost a bomb to rent.

 

[ellen10]

Simply stunning!

 

[love_the_life]

The blue and white of the buildings with the pink/red of the bougainvillea make for fantastic photos. I am really enjoying them. How long here and where to next?

 

[Pushka]

Hey Love_the_life - we have five nights here on Santorini and have just had another lovely breakfast after the second night.

Last nights sunset was beautiful. Of course. Not so windy so all the vantage points were crowded but we have our own little (not so little really ) patio so we can watch the jostle from afar.

The crowds before sunset (around 8.30pm)



Then sunset







As the sun dipped below the far away Island horizon you could hear the cheers from the crowds moving from north to South.

 

[Pushka]

Last night we walked to dinner around 9.15pm and the streets were packed. We hear a real mix of nationalities. We pass by an authentic Chinese restaurant and I think MrP was a little tempted but walked a little further to Daphne's restaurant. This was a typical family owned Greek restaurant which was so friendly. Wine, beer, meatballs and souvlaki. Perfect.





Around 10pm we heard bells and yelling. The donkeys were on their way home.

A bit blurred but it was a quick moment.





There was a guy behind collecting any stray accidents.

The Donkeys. Santorini couldn't do without them as it's a real hike up the stairs and going down them was bad enough as they are slippery. That bothered me more than the years of built up smell. The chairlift cannot accommodate the cruise ships.

I detest any kind of animal exploitation which is why I hate circuses. So I was a little concerned about the donkeys. I tried to check out the condition of the animals and I was quite pleased to see they looked in quite good condition. I still didn't go on them though.

 

[love_the_life]

Agree, there has been a lot written about the maltreatment and exploitation of the donkeys on the island. I am glad you feel that they looked in quite good condition. Not the life I would choose though if I was a donkey!
Those meals look really delish, and you know how much I enjoy my food! Wah, I want to be there not in the cold here.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The jewellery pic had some beautiful pieces, besides you need to get a replacement for the bracelet you lost in Hong Kong so that's the perfect excuse.

 

[love_the_life]

The jewellery pic had some beautiful pieces, besides you need to get a replacement for the bracelet you lost in Hong Kong so that's the perfect excuse.

Was just thinking that as well!

 

[Pushka]

Today we took the bus to the other end of Santorini to the red, white and black beach. It was a crowded bus but we snagged a seat. The conductor refused the 5 euro note we'd just been given at the supermarket. We thought there would be an issue but we later used it on the way home with no problems. Clearly he was having a difficult day.

After 40 mins we arrived at the drop off point for Red Beach. We then got on a small boat for the trip to Red Beach. It was a little bumpy. No landing site so we passed on Red Beach to check out the others.



Then it was off to the white beach. Which was closed as it was too rough. Not sure we missed anything here. On the way the white cliffs were imposing.





Then on to Black Beach. Aptly named.



The water on the way to the beach was crystal clear. But at the beach it was rather unpleasant looking and few were swimming. I'd say 1/3 of the small boat didn't bother getting off.

Then it was returning to the original beach and a few more got off - this beach or nothing. We decided on nothing as it just wasn't appealing.

 

[Pushka]

So we had a quick bite at a restaurant which wasn't memorable but ok.

They love their cherry tomatoes here.



Then back on the bus.

On the way back we had some impressive views of Fira. They are taken through a moving window so not sure of quality.





A few cruise ships in today so we have to put up with the tourists again.



Tomorrow we are going to Perissa Beach. It sounds very pleasant.

I do need a few hours of retail therapy though.

 

[Pushka]

Nice pizza from a newly opened Italian restaurant.



Now this is more like it as a beach. Perissa Beach.

Caught the excellent public bus this morning to this Black Sand Beach. I think it is set up like a Thai beach with numerous restaurants owning the lounges. Buy drinks and lunch and they're free. The prices and choices are much better than yesterday's restaurant which really was a "it's 1.30 PM we'd better eat" kind of choice.

Of course:



Crystal clear water



And excellent 3G so the AFL match is happening. Lunch shortly.