Up and Down

Photo courtesy of M. Lobert

Next stop on the mini tour was Santorini.  By the time we reached Santorini we had been away from home for about a week and a half.  Looking through the photos, it is evident that Greg had begun to seriously miss Kanti by this stage of the trip.  The number of dog versus people and landscape photos was steadily increasing despite the fact that we were in a unique and beautiful place.

Not a M. Lobert photo!

The ship dropped anchor out in the harbor which meant we had to use tender boats to shuttle to the shore.  Once on shore we stood at the bottom of a large cliff faced with three choices; climb the stairs, ride a donkey, or catch a cable car.  Knowing we were going to be exploring all day, the stairs didn't seem like a really wise idea.  Nothing like nearly killing yourself before you start.  The stench from the donkeys was overpowering so the thought of getting on one and riding in a lineup of stinky donkeys was not very appealing.  Never mind the photo ops that might have presented.  So that left the cable car.

Up we went and the next challenge was to find an ATV rental shop and get set up with a four wheeled vehicle that would allow us to explore the island from end to end.  We found a rental place very easily, were outfitted with helmets and off we went on another day of adventure.  Greg driving, me hanging on for dear life providing a constant monologue of driving instructions and squeals.  Thank goodness, he is a patient man.  I was even driving myself crazy.  But I was certain I was going to lose a foot or maybe even an entire leg sometimes when we were navigating really squishy streets.

Not a M. Lobert photo!

We did park the ATV's when we reached Oia, then we walked.  Oia is situated spectacularly on the cliffs of Santorini looking down onto a wonderfully blue Aegean sea.  All the other tourists were taking pictures of the architecture and the setting, Greg was taking pictures of dogs.  Dogs on balconies looking down at the tourists who were looking up.  Dogs in shops.  Dogs sleeping in doorways.  Dogs, dogs, dogs.  Just to be fair.  There seems to be a different attitude about dogs in Santorini than we might encounter in Edmonton.  If you looked down when you walked, you would notice that nearly every doorway had a bowl of dog food and water.  Dogs wandered from house to house and shop to shop, helping themselves to what ever had been provided.  They were well fed, easy going creatures.  No one seemed concerned that they were wandering freely.  Kanti would have loved it in Santorini, lots of variety in food, new friends to be made at every corner, freedom to roam far and wide and up and down.

Photo courtesy of M. Lobert

I think the only place we didn't see a dog was at Red Beach, one of Santorini's famous beaches located at the base of a red lava cliff.  The only way down was to navigate the rocky narrow pathway on foot, but it was worth it even though we had to climb back up afterward.  Driving back from Red Beach to Fira, we passed vineyards where the grape vines were coiled on the ground instead of growing on trellises.  It looks quite messy compared to the straight groomed rows of vines we are used to seeing, but it works for their climate.

After some issues returning the ATV's we made our way back to the cable car to line up with the hundreds of others who were leaving the island at the end of the day.  We rode the cable car down to the pier, agreeing that we really needed to return some day soon to spend some more time on Santorini.