Santorini

Day 12 October 11th Santorini Greek Island (Sunny and 25C)

An easy nights steam of 182 nautical miles at a speed of 14 knots sees us enter the circular archipelago of Santorini and is the remains of a volcanic caldera. Again we can see our approach from the balcony and we pass the pretty village of Oia at daybreak, and pass around the central island to moor off the main island. The boat moors to allow passengers on tour to get to their coaches before moving nearer the main town of Fira which is either reached by steps or a cable car. Enjoy the morning watching the scenery change as the ship floats around whilst passengers are tendered ashore by local boats. We seem to be in a controlled drift with no anchor down! Watch the queue for the cable car seem to grow and grow as we are one of three large and some smaller ships all at Santorini today!

Queen Elizabeth and Wind Star in front of Fira

Early lunch before we are tendered across the bay back to where the coaches can get to the waterside for our tour, easy Santorini. Off to the Port by tender then by coach up the hairpin bends winding road to the a viewpoint where we had spectacular views of the caldera.

Santorini Caldara

Then on to a wine shop where we tasted the vile wine but the views were worth the stop. Up to 560 meter Prophet Elias mountain ( not volcanic we were told) for yet more views and back via a church and black sand (more pebbles) beach through the capital Fira to the Athinos Port.

Last dinner and show before we go to Athens tomorrow for our flight home. Its a late flight and we don't leave the ship until just before 1pm, at least we are not been thrown off the ship early and being made to wait hours at Athens airport!

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