Saturday, August 23, 2014

2nd Day- Santorini

We slept well and had a nice buffet breakfast at the hotel.  Really enjoyed the Greek yogurt.  I watched people put granola, fruit and honey on it.  It was delicious that way.
The Gate 1 tour representative told us we could take the city bus around the island.  So we asked the hotel where to find the bus stop.  It was only a 10 minute walk from the hotel.  I had researched before going to Santorini about a Wine museum and tasting near the hotel.  So we decided even though it was 11 a.m. that we would stop there first and then take the bus into Fira for lunch.
The bus was so crowded and there was a man going down the aisle collecting money.  He never got to me before we got off at the Winery.  I thought Januck was paying for me and he thought I had paid for myself.  What an experience!  Much different than Japan where we pay the driver when we get off.
The Winery Entrance

The museum was in a cave

Wine barrels inside the cave
We tried 4 different wines.  One was a sweeter wine called Vizcaino that the Greeks cook with- later we had a chicken dish used with this wine.
After the winery, we got back on the City bus and went to the city of Fira.  I had heard so much about this city being built on a cliff and being a beautiful and romantic place.  The bus was once again very crowded but I was able to pay my fare this time.  The last stop in Fira was at the bus terminal and it was on top of the cliffs.  The cruise ships that come into the port can take the cable car or donkey up the hill.  We walked along the cliff and found a delightful restaurant that overlooked the water.
Our lunch was tomato balls and seafood salad.

Cruise ships docked at Fira in the caldera

The cliffs of Fira

Beautiful day in Fira
We ended up walking around more after lunch and getting some delicious ice cream where they make their own flavors.  Januck got pralines and I got coffee almond crunch- so good!
We had heard the sunsets in Oia- (pronounced without the O) are beautiful and decided to get on the City bus again and head there.  When we got to Oia and walked around though the heat got the best of us and we headed back to Kamari beach after a few hours.
Shopping streets of Oia

Beautiful flowers blooming outside a public restroom.  Had to pay 75 cents to use it.

The cliffs of Oia with the white buildings and blue domes
25 years of marriage!

A blue dome


Castle ruins at the edge of the city of Oia

When we got back to Kamari beach we asked our hotel about a good local pizza place.  We had heard the pizza was really good in Greece and it was!  I think the Pizza place had the best WI-FI too.

After getting back to the hotel, I decided to take a swim in the pool and Januck decided to have a beer from the bar.  It was a great second day in Greece.


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