Santorini

We left Rhodes after dark and were scheduled to arrive in our next island, Santorini, in the morning. Tim got up early and was able to take some stunning photos in the early morning light. Santorini is a small Greek island known for its white buildings with blue roofs. Its towns are located on top of steep hills with the traditional transportation being mules (donkeys bred with horses). Now there are buses which take tourists up from sea level and a cable car to take people down what is also 600 steps.

We opted for a tour and were part of a phalanx of buses which snaked up the switchback roads. Our first stop was a tour of a very old set of ruins outside the main village of Fira. These were very interesting as they had interesting murals and huge columns. On the way we stopped at a scenic lookout which gave a dramatic view of the cold era that the three islands were formed from - the result of a volcanic eruption.

Back in Fira we walked around in and out of the shops after taking in the history museum which contained original paintings from the ruins we visited. Afterwards we walled amidst crowds of people from three cruise ships. Tim bought a blue linen shirt and we had gyros for lunch. Then down in the cable car and back to the ship. After dinner we sailed off with views of the town all lit up at night.

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