Friday 20-06 - The Chaucer

This was the day we were to ferry to Santorini. But before that could happen, we were on a mission. A day earlier we had found a Book of Chaucer´s Canterbury Tales in an internet café and now we wanted it. So we returned to the shop in town. It was a book exchange but we had no book to give in return. So we gave the shop owner 2 Euro for it. We were very pleased with ourselves. We waited for the next bus back. We sat, reading out loud the introduction of the book, like some kind of english literature class. Back at the hotel, we waited for the port pick up, taking turns reading.

The wind was very strong and everything was getting blown around. The giant ferry were rocking around like tiny fishing boats. It probably wasn´t the right day to wear a skirt. One of the girls on the trip had been feeling sick all day. I tried to see if there was anything I could do. I think it might have been to much time in the sun. I tried to get her to drink as much water as she could. I felt sorry for her having to be a boat in this weather.

The trip was indeed, rough. I read some more Chaucer and then slept for the rest of the 4 hour journey. Before I knew it we were in Santorini. The first thing you see there is the Caldera. Santorini (or Thira) is a C shaped island with a Volcano floating in its centre. Around the volcano is an underwater valley then large round ridges of what used to be volcano.



These are the caldera and include Thira, Thirassia and some other smaller islands. As we approached Santorini we saw enormous red and black cliffs along the span of the island. The port below and the town of Fira perched on top of the cliffs. It is incredibly dramatic. It was very different to the other islands. The beauty of the place is greater than merely white painted houses or parties. Paros and Mykonos could never recreate this.



Apparently they are expecting an eruption in the next ten years. It will happen after their sister volcano, that is now active, closes up. The last was in about 1950 I think, when a lot of the land fell into the sea.

The bus rode up the winding road to the top of the mountain. Every turn felt like we would miss and drive over the cliff to the ground below. The sun was setting as we rode up, so it sat above, the islands and the water below.





We all dumped our bags and marched across the street to Taverna Simo, for food. Josh and I got Moussaka and stuffed tomatoes and capsicums. I was tired and decided to sleep that night instead of going out.