Today we are on the picturesque island if Santorini. This island is shaped like a fishhook as a result of a volcanic eruption sometime before 1600 BC.
Our ship is anchored in the caldera of the volcano and we were tendered to the island. The cities of Fira and Oia are perched along the volcanic cliffs. When you see a picture of Greece.....this is it. There are more Catholic Churches here than in the rest of Greece. The houses are all whitewashed and the churches have blue domes.
To get to the top of this cliff you can either walk straight up a flight of steps, take a donkey or take the gondola. Considering the stories about the donkey rides we opted for the gondola.
We visited a winery here which is very different than any we've seen. Due to the dry weather the vines are grown very close to the ground and woven into a basket type of shape to absorb the humidity and dew of the morning. They said there was more wine than water and more donkeys than people on this island.
We stopped at both Fira and Oia for strolling through the towns and took lots of pictures. We had Greek coffee at a shop with a spectacular view. The weather is perfect for just enjoying being here.
Santorini is known for beautiful sunsets and we were on top deck as the ship sailed away as the sun was setting. We weren't disappointed!!