Day 22 on Santorini
Left: The "Red Beach" made of red lava rock
Right: Ia (pronounced long "e"-short "a") at the end of Santorini - We enjoyed sunset here and had a fabulous seafood dinner on the docks.
We slept until 9 and then went down to the patio for our breakfast. Same selections and very filling. There are 3 large cruise ships in today so the city will be packed. We are glad that we are renting a car and leaving Fira. We went to the reception and the car man was there on another task. But Anna directed us to his store (Kosmos) and we met him there.
We rented a little yellow Peugeot with stick shift. The doors are electronically operated and move back like the door on a van. But both the driver and passenger doors worked this way. We got the car (50 euros including insurance - not bad) and headed off on our adventure.
We first headed south from Fira to Akrotiri where the ruins are. An entire city was buried here centuries ago when the volcano erupted. We saw the ruins last time but they are closed now as the roof fell and killed a tourist and they are trying to repair it. Whoops!
From there we went to Kokkini - the Red Beach built into the tall cliff of a huge red rock. Lots of swimmers and sun worshippers here.
Then we went through Vilchada en route to Perissa - the black sand beach. The sand was hot, hot. hot and made from black volcanic rock. Lots of people on the beach - some topless! We stopped at a cafe and enjoyed a Mythos beer (Greek) and then got back in the car and drove through Perissa and Perivolos (the swankier beach). It was all beautiful.
We then had to drive almost back to Fira to get around the mountain next to Perissa and we went to Kamari where we parked the car on the boardwalk (we don't think we were supposed to be driving there, but we did as it was all pedestrians - and our little yellow car - but no one said anything!) We sat under a trellis and ordered the mixed grill for lunch - it was magnificent. We started with Santorini tomato balls - delicious - and then the seafood platter arrived with a large whole fish (including head), 2 fish filets, 2 large shrimp, a large octopus tentacle (that was so good!) and a large dish of mussles in a delicious sauce. It was yummy! We also enjoyed a bottle of Santorini white wine.
After lunch we left Kamari and drove north bypassing Fira and headed on a back road all of the way up the island to Kouloubo, a beautiful secluded rocky beach where clothing was optional. We relaxed there for a while - and Tim got a nap after the large lunch. I went in the water but it was really rocky on the bottom and that hurt my feet.
We left Kouloubo about 5 and headed into Ia for sunset. We walked all around the city taking in its charms and the spectacular views. Rather than cobble stone streets/walkways like Fira they had marble. Nice.
We found a restaurant/club with a pool that had a spectacular view for sunset. As sunset drew nearer (about 8:30) the crowds got larger and larger. We enjoyed a bottle of wine and I nursed a martini (not a typical martini but it was good). Tim had 2 cups of coffee that ended up keeping him up much of the night.
Sunset was beautiful - the prettiest one we have seen here. We then retrieved the car and drove down to the small fishing port at the foot of the cliffs where Ia is built. Our reception at the hotel had recommended this for seafood and it was so good. The fish couldn't have been better. I had seafood pasta - yummy and Tim had a swordfish steak that was excellent. We sat in this small restaurant right by the water. Good food, good ambience.
We then went back to the car. I had a hard time backing it up in such a steep hill and feared we would be thrust over the edge (no guard rails here) but we made it. We found our way back through Ia and then to Fira - about a 20 minute ride.
Parking was a bit of an issue but Kosmos had told us about a parking lot at a school where we parked the car for the night. We walked back to the hotel and it was about midnight and the comfortable bed was waiting.
We enjoyed our explorations all around the island of Santorini. We have seen many different things this visit. Tomorrow on to Mykonos by ferry boat.
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