12: Kamari, Oia, etc.

Today we decided to go to a black beach (Kamari) on the opposite side of the island.  Imagine a crescent moon, and that we are on the inside edge just above center.  The beach is on the outside, just below center.  So a quick walk to the bus stop in Fira, a 25 minute bus ride, and we are there.

The black beach (for me) was a disappointment.  It was a black stone beach with rocks larger (but smoother) than your typical gravel driveway back home.  Here are some highlights.  Lisa found a patch of black sand, about 4 or 5 shovels full.  Linda got a couple of beach chairs for 6E.  The rest of us, yes Wayne included, since he is standing over me now asking if he is in the blog, walked the street of the small village, we had real pita (chicken) gyros (pronounced "heros").

All but me got in for a swim.  It was as much painful to watch as it was painful to get in.  Stepping bare feet on stones, and losing one's balance as you fall quickly into the water.  I have and will post video of the torture.  Lisa and I forgot our pool shoes at the hotel.

After the bus ride and walk from Fira home, we hung out at the pool.  Nice, refreshing water, great vista, what's not to like about that?

Later in the afternoon (4pm or so) we headed for Oia, the town at the top of the island.  A one street town, yet so beautiful, so white, so peaceful.  The shopping here was more to my taste, less tourist crap and more real art.  We visited several artist's shops and nearly bought (to have shipped home) some original art.  We have their website URLs and so who knows...

While taking pictures, Wayne and I, and yes even Lisa, (Lisa has become more than just a self portrait specialist) we noticed people lining the walls, every crack you could find, for the event - the Santorini sunset.  We hunkered down in a spot, and waited.  There was at least an hour or more to wait.  Unfortunately, the sky had some clouds down low, and the event, while an experience, turned out to be not quite the event.  But I can see the attraction.  Watching the sun drop into the ocean atop a cliff-side.  Again, what's not to like.

09: Mykonos to Santorini (Thira)

Had problems sleeping last night, not feeling well, had the chills, ate almost nothing for dinner, and again this morning for breakfast.  Got 11 hours of sleep, still a bit light-headed, but hoping the sleep will take care of it.

We check out at noon, get our bus at 2pm, get on the high speed ferry at 2:45, and are in Santorini at 5:30 or so.  The forecast calls for 25C daytime and 21C nighttime for the next 4 or so days in Santorini.  However, except for Thursday at 8kph, the winds are forecast at 20-30kph.

High speed ferry, upgraded to 1st class.  Arrived at the new port and got on the waiting bus. Got to the hotel around 6:30 (30 minutes or so later), checked in, had a complimentary cocktail at the pool (otherwise they are more than 11E each), got a lovely room,cave-like overlooking hanging off the cliff.  Our picture window is just that.  A drop straight down the cliff to the ocean.

Had dinner nearby in this village Imerovigli, where our hotel is located.  It is called Honeymoon Petra Villas.  Sounds tacky, but isn't.  The owner used to sail the ocean years ago, in the shipping business, to the Great Lakes and back.  An earthquake almost leveled this village in 1956.  The owner helped rebuild it.  He now owns the hotel, and a sailing business.  A catamaran, at least 2 sailboats (40 and 50 footers) and a speedboat.  Since we are staying over 4 days, we qualify for a sail day - whoo hoo!

Here are some images of the resort, and the views from various positions including our patio/room immediately above and below.

... Videos

Click on links below to view videos.

View from small pool
View from room patio
Tour of room
Geno and Lisa

08: Last day in Mykonos

view from our patio

Tomorrow just after noon, we high speed ferry to Santorini.  But hey, we still have over a day here, and this is really nice.  The upgraded room Lisa sprung for paid off.  Large patio, great view, steam room in the shower, etc etc.  She knows how to pick them.  Here is a link to our resort.  Petasos Beach Resort an Spa.  Where they do everything right, except they don't know how to sell.  Cut the drinks price in half, and I think they'd sell 10 times what they sell.  The poor girl at the small pool bar doesn't make more than 3 or 4 drinks per day.  Dumb dumb dumb - oops, I think I've already said that.  Also, the drinking water here is very safe, but the ph is higher than we are used to so they tell us not to drink it.  Brush your teeth, gargle, rinse, take your meds with the water is fine.  But quantities of it, we are not used to.  So, the hotel should provide no charge drinking water - a necessity of life.  Even in the poor countries of Cuba, Dominican Republic, and Mexico, they provide free unlimited bottled water.  I see sparkling and mineral water on the mini bar price list, but not regular drinking water.  Maybe I'm missing something here, maybe I should call room service and ask for drinking water.

Anyway, slept in today, then did a short stint at the small pool.  I then took a long walk up to the other beaches on the coast.  Paraga, Paradise and and Super Paradise.  A beach is a beach is a beach to me.  It is a place of sand and water to lie and swim in.  Nice beaches, not crowded this time of year.  Not the sandy, long endless beaches of the Caribbean, but nice in their own different way.  The land, coastline here reminds me of the French Riviera - cote d'or.  Dry, burnt, not much green, rocks, rocky shores.  Actually, the French coast did have much greenery, but here, nope.

After the walk up thru the hills, took me nearly 2 hours, great exercise, needed it to battle the 5 pounds I think I gained since I arrived.  Took a quick swim the the ocean, got a Greek salad at Nikos' to go, and headed back to our warm sunny deck to dry, eat and relax.

Tonight the others want to eat down from Nikos' at a place that has lamb giros, so, I will go with the flow.  Tomorrow night I will (try) to update from Santorini, let's hope for a reasonably priced Wi-fi connection.