Day 3 - Birthdaaaaay!!!

Today was Andrew's birthday, so the day began with him opening his presents and cards, which I had hidden in the suitcase. After brekkie, as is tradition, we went for a wee sunbathe, but sadly it was a very cloudy morning so the sunbathing was a little bit disappointing. Undeterred, we stuck it out for a while, but after about an hour and a half decided to call it quits and venture out for a bit of an explore. We went to see if we could hire a car from a car rental place called Stavros Cars, right at the top end of Perissa. The rental "office" was actually more like a family's front room - there was a desk alongside a sofa, a train set and a lego fort. After a couple of tentative knocks, we could hear some movement out the back and then a lovely lady came to serve us. She said that there were no cars today, but there would be one available from midday tomorrow, and we could have it for three days for £75. Well cheap!! Andrew was thrilled...

Our plan for lunch relied on us getting a car, as the place we wanted to go to isn't on a bus route, so we mulled it over with a drink in a bar called The Magic Bus. We'd always dismissed this bar as it overlooks the bus station and it's just not in a very picturesque setting, but it's actually pretty cool with an eclectic, decor and an electroswing style playlist. I really liked the old school telephones on all the tables. The owner was friendly and helpful, so I asked if we could get a taxi to our lunch taverna, and of course he obliged. A HUGE taxi turned up (I'm talking 16 seater minibus!) and cost a colossal €30 for about a 15 minute journey. It was worth it, however, because the restaurant is just amazing! It's called The Good Heart, and it's just past the village of Akrotiri in the south west of the island. We've been here before on a previous holiday, and it was just as good this time around. It's a family run restaurant with traditional recipes on the menu made with home grown produce. Their speciality is a variety of tomato pastes - this doesn't sound that exciting, but they are DELICIOUS. We had Sun dried tomatoes with capers as an appetiser - yum yum yummo! The rest of the meal was just as good, with huge portions in a gorgeous setting - the views are exceptional, (and the sun made a reappearance!). I'd highly recommend it. After we'd paid the bill, I asked if there was a bus stop anywhere near as it's sort of in the middle of nowhere, the kind of location where a 5 minute drive would get you back but it would mean walking for 40 minutes. The brothers who work there had a little conversation, and then said give us two minutes, we'll give you a lift down to the town! How nice is that? Again, Greek hospitality at its FINEST.

We got the bus back to Perissa from Akrotiri and, after a very bizarre route that had us boomeranging back and forth around the island, had a quick shower and change before spending the evening in Fira, the main town on Santorini. The bus from Perissa to Fira is very straightforward and quick, and pretty soon we were enjoying the thrilling view from the clifftop Fira. This is the famous view of the huge caldera around a small volcanic island, called Nea Kameni, and another small island called Thirasia (which means Daughter of Thira, the classical name for Santorini). I've seen this view many times before, but whenever you see it unfurl before you in a blaze of blue from the perilous, vertiginous streets of Fira, it is just breathtaking. We had a wander round the beautiful town, and grabbed a couple of drinks as the sun set in a little bar called Bar Tropical. The Santorini sunset views are world famous, and every sundown has a theatrical feel to it as all the bars on the cliff side are filled with people in rows watching the solar show. It's a beautiful, shared experience that you should definitely find the time to do if you ever visit. The slight drawback is that the "front row" bars and restaurants that tumble down the cliff in Fira are very expensivo...Not so with Tropical Bar! It's a much more relaxed, informal bar and the drinks are probably half the price of the chic places surrounding it. Whatever venue you choose, though, it will be an unforgettable experience.

After the sunset, we went on to the most brilliant evening's entertainment at The White Door Theatro. This is an immersive theatre/dinner experience, and it is really excellent! Your ticket is a wedding invitation, and a troupe of actor/singer/dancers recreate a 1940s wedding for the evening. You arrive at the house of the Pappadopoulous family, and the whole audience are greeted by various members of the family as "cousins" who are all attending the wedding. The performers enact various wedding crises around the audience - missing wine, the wrong shoes for the bride, etc etc - before leading you through to the wedding breakfast in the garden. Then you have a meal whilst the actors sing songs and dance for you, all of which is interactive, and culminates in everyone having a big old dance and smashing plates. It's awesome, and so much fun. Andrew says it's the best wedding he's ever been to! (WhatEVER! Second best, surely?!!) The cast were all so vibrant and energetic, and we had some photos with them. Have a look!

So, that's the end of the birthday shenanigans, but more treats in store tomorrow! See you all then!!xx