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.

03: To Mykonos

 

Syros (above)

After a drink and cookie in the lobby, the bus picked us up and we were off to the ferry, where we upgraded our seats to get to the more comfy seats front of the boat. Always worth getting away from the commoners.  The high speed cat was very nice, with stops in Syros and Tinos before we got to our island.  All in all, very comfy and easy, the just under 4 hours just blew by.  And I got to watch two episodes of Dallas (Season 9 - The Dream Season) en route.

View of our hotel in the distance, at the end of the peninsula, between the 2 white boats

On the island, a quick bus ride to our hotel and our rooms were ready.  And they are very nice.  The hotel has 2 pools, both salt water.  The rooms below us have semi private pools, cool.  The beach is a mere minute down the path below our hotel.

While Lisa and Wayne and Linda sat at the main pool, I strolled down to the smaller pool for a fancy drink.  Twelve Euros.  And it wasn't that good.  So that will be my first and last at this hotel.  Other drink menu items include milkshakes for 9 Euros - $13Cdn.  Are they wacko or what?

one of the views from our patio

Out Transat rep gave us the low down on the island, and it was unanimous that it was the best brief we ever got on any trip anywhere. 

Finally we got something to eat at a taverna, called Nikos (traditional Greek food restaurant) on the beach.  It was great.  The beaches here are public, the chairs and umbrellas on the beach are owned by the tavernas usually and can cost between 10 and 30 Euros each depending on the beach.  The chairs in front of this taverna will be free for the week for us since we ate and will eat here.  Our beach, the chairs are typically 10 Euros each.

Lisa just in the smaller more private pool - a bit cold.  I know I stuck in my toe, that was enough.  I then talked her into the other pool, which has two levels, and it got warmer each time she went to the next pool.  I stuck my toes in - too cold.  The sun was going down, the air cooling.  The weather so far has been sunny skies, temperatures 25-30C during the day and 20 give or take in the evenings.

Dinner was at Nikos' competition on the beach.  And it was ok, the service ok.  And that's being kind on both counts.  We ending the evening with drinks (tiny little booze bottles we gathered during our club class flight from Toronto) on our deck that overlooks the ocean - spectacular.  Images will be coming soon.

Ya sas.