I heard there was going to be mud involved so I wore the bathers I wore to the dead sea. Better to get one pair dirty than two. We strolled to town, to the edge of the cliff. We walked along the streets that teetered on the edge and looked at the views. They were breathtaking. We followed them to the cable cars, which we needed to get down to the old port. The cable cars were 6 small carriages joined together. The girlsin the car infront of us were screaming as we went down. It wasn´t bumpy or fast or anything worth screaming about. They were funny.
Down at the old port, we bordered a boat. It looked old and had place for sails, but didn't have any sails, just a motor. We sat on the side of the boat. The wind blew and we got wet, very very wet. Each wave hit the side and showered us so that we were soaked through. a lot of the group retreated upstairs but the rest of us soldiered on. Getting soaked wasn´t all bad. In fact it would be a blessing with the sun and heat of our next venture.
We arrived at the small volcano island of Nea Kameni.
This means new island. The volcano peaks above the water twice, with the second being Palea Kameni, ´old island´. The volcano walk was mostly just a mountain hike to a spectacuar view of the caldera. There were little actual volcano things to see. The walk was a few kilometres up and down rocky paths.
On the way there were rocks covered in bright yellow circles. We thought they might be moss, maybe with the sulphur.
The view at the top looked out over the entire caldera, all the islands. It was windy and I think worth the trek in the end.
On the way back we passed one of the craters. There was steam coming out of a green crystal covered hole. The guide was very enthusiatic and fit. We ran back and forward up the mountain to the different groups. Then she dug a hole in the path near the crater. It went 20cm from the black sandy ground to the darker sand below. As I put my hands on the dirt, it was hot. Hot enough that you couldn't leave your hand there for long. That heat from such a swallow hole is amazing.
Next we took the boat to anchor near some rocks on another island. There were hot springs there from the volcano, with therapuetic mud. We docked 50-100m of shore and got ready to depart. I jumped off the boat and swam out to the shallow hot springs. As we got closer the water got warmer and warmer until it was 20-something degrees. It was also far more shallow at that point. We looked for mud but it was hard to find. The Niki called us over to where the good mud was and we covered ourselves in it.
The mud wasn´t as nice as the dead sea mud. It was more stony and more sticky. It was really hard to get off. Despite our best efforts we all had red-fake tan looking blotches on us for the rest of the day. So did our towels and bathers. I was glad I used my already mus stained bathers.
The boat took us to Thirassia for lunch. As usual we all got bread, Tzatziki and Greek salad. I´m really getting into the Tat and salad. Starting to crave olives and feta. Then we had a Thirassia specialty, squid with pasta in a light tomato sauce. I liked it.
The boat made its way back to old Fira port, via the scenic route. It sailed passed Ioa (pronounced Ee-ah). This town house the painted houses that everyone seems to think of when Santorini is mentioned. Also a huge castle and a library with versions of all the bibles in many different languages.
Once again we got soaking soaking wet. I was tired and wanting to go back to town. To get there we had to take the donkeys. Well, not had to, but they were included and more fun than the cable cars. We each took turns mounting the donkeys, most of which looked like they were probably mules.
The donkeys were crazy crazy.
They kept stopping. They zig-zagged up the 500 or so large stone steps. They rammed into each other. We had no reigns to control them. We were at their whims where we went and when. Still, we all had a great time seeing who would win. It was a blast riding up together. Also watching as our steeds almost ran over the walking tourists who had to take the same path. I see now that it would have been a mistake to walk. Lets just say your shoes would suffer on a path trodden by dozens of donkeys all day.
My donkey stopped behind some others that were just standing around, so I figured this was the end. There wasn´t any other way to tell of we were at the top. On dismounting, I tried with all my might to land on a clean piece of stone. Then dodged donkey-droppings up to the shops.
We were given free time until the evening bus, so we looked around the town. I had seen a donkey marrionette at the port before we left. Now we were back I decided i wanted one. I got one for myself and one for a present. Josh found a shot glass.
Back at the hotel we took a quick dip in the pool before getting ready to go out. At 9pm the bus picked us up and took us to the other side of the island where we were to have our farewell dinner. Have the group had made plans to stay longer in Santorini and not boat back with the tour. That meant this was our last night all together.
The food was the usual greek salad, tzatziki, bread and a grilled chicken dish. There was also pasta for veggies. It was good and there was lots of wine being passed around. The desert was a strannge cake that had the texture of polenta and the taste of Nutri Grain cereal. I was one of the only people who kept eating it after the first bite.
The food was followed by Greek dancing. The girls and some of the boys got up did a dance similar to the hora. We dancing arm in arm, straight out the door into the street. We almost got hit by some cars doing it. I think some of the girls sat at the table and didn't join in. I think they were missing out just sitting there. The dancing was a perfect end to the night.
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