Slipping across to Santorini

We new our friends Vic and Vicki were travelling to Santorini at some stage but not sure when so a quick text and within moments we new exactly when and it fitted perfectly with our plans.

We needed to wait around in Crete for a few more days whilst, thanks to George and Debbie, our new cards were sent from Australia. So, with Santorini only 2 hours by fast boat we thought what a great idea, a different Greek island and to catch up with friends again.

The trip we initially booked was cancelled on the morning due to bad seas. However, within an hour we were on another catamaran mono-hulling as we crossed the swollen seas. Within record time we reached Santorini to the welcome of Vic and Vcki with sign in hand in case they didn't recognise us.

What is it that when we meet up with friends it is time for converstion, eating and drinking - I guess we are social animals. By 2 pm we were happily sampling an exotic Greek mezze and sipping cocktails. It was also our friend Murray's 50th birthday back home so with Vic's wonderful technical skills and computer we skyped him to wish him those things that you say when someone reaches 50 and you have had a drink or two. Not sure that he enjoyed the contact as much as we did given our state and the fact we had woken him but we all tried chatting with him and consoling him with great outbursts of laughter and frivolity. (On rereading this, it doesn't sound nearly as funny as it was at the time but I guess we have all had these moments.)

After all that, an afternoon siesta was in store before more eating and drinking. Tales of travel could keep the four of us excitedly recalling the joys that preceded us all.

Vic and Vicki spoilt us by booking 1st class accommodation for us at the Sea Breeze on Kamari Beach. Perfect location, right on the beach with the esplande flanked by restaurants both on the beach and across the pedestrian road (Terrigal could learn a lot from this - we think).

George our hotel host was also a restaurnateur and with Baked Lamb in a Paper Bag and Greek salad, we all waddled back to our room for an ouzo nightcap and to sleep off the day and the excitement of birthdays and another reunion. Sounds totally indugent and it was!

The next day Vic and Vicki had organised a hire car to see the island. Vic, who most of you know is a very adaptable, confident, multitasked and obliging person and a bloody good driver to boot, wound us through the narrow zig zag road to the top of one of the mountains to Old Thera which I would love to tell you more about but, none of us had done our homework - even Vic conceded he need his guide certificate for Thera! It was old and interesting and was once a civilisation, that was, before the 1600 or 1700 BC volcana. Archeologists have found this ancient village but no remains of human life. People didn't return to Santorini until 800 years after the volcano- that's the extent of our knowledge.

Next we weaved our way through the streets of Oia dodging the colourful and gold studded groups from the numerous cruise ships anchored just off the shore. We wondered what it would be like to be tagged with a number and following a guide with some crazy object hanging from stick. Who knows, when we are a little older (or may be a good bit older) it might be our preference? In fact Pavlos has suggested it is on the books for his 80th.

After taking in aspects from all angles of the compass, we finally found a cosy hotel - The Enigma - perched on the side of Fira and with hand clutched around another cocktail, we watched the sunset ease its way into the sea.

And so, again we have shared a wonderful few hours with our friends and as we bidded them farewell and the taxi disappeared, we packed our bags and headed back to Fira for some serious tourist perving and to wait for our boat back to Crete.

The 5:30 pm departure left at 8:30 and the 2 hr crossing ended up being 3 hours without airconditioning and with rough seas. I'll say no more about that catamaran trip!

Tonight we head to Rhodes (by plane) for a day or so before heading to Turkey.

You might notice we have a new camera so photos are again appearing on our blog. Also, thanks to everyone that keep us in touch (Fellie you really do keep us up to date with back home and whilst you're not here physically we feel you are) by comments, texts or emails it has helped us from not getting too travel weary or homesick.