Our boat, the Flying Cat 4 was late, we waited quite a while.
We see the catamaran in the distance.
Here is comes.
Playing cards
Not playing cards.
The intrepid traveler lands in the Caldera
The bay is formed by the inside of a collapsed volcanic caldera
The whitewashed cities stand in stark contrast to the red volcanic rock.
Small shops line the port with only a short distance between the water and steep caldera walls
The buses and other vehicles climb a narrow switchback to get over to the rest of the island.
Georgia - happy to see such a sight.
The sun setting over the bay/caldera as we climb in our own bus.
Jon and I getting ready for our morning trek to ancient Thira.
The trailhead to ancient Thira.
The story goes that 2,800 years ago, King Thiras of Sparta was exiled and arrived on this island with a band of his loyal followers.
Our first sight of relics of the city.
Airport and ocean below.
The artifacts are laid out.
An array of capitals.
Jon up high.
An interesting underground structure in Ancient Thira
Long view of the village.
Another view of Ancient Thira
Had to get into the picture.
Radio towers across the way.
Looking into the valley.
A small church at the foot of the village of ancient Thira.
This Christian church is the best preserved relic.
Eating lunch at the hotel cafe.
Michelle and Brownie
Dogs life in the oldest church on the island Panagia Episkopi built during the rule of Byzantine Emperor Alexios Komninos in 11th century A.D.
The church
Grapes laid out to dry for making a sweet holy wine in Mesa Gonia.
Family in front of the grapes.
Hanging vines in a alleyway of Mesa Gonia. This was a ghost town.
Another street in Mesa Gonia. The town was abandoned because of an earthquake several decades back.
A small church courtyard in Mesa Gonia.
Jon, Jenna and Michelle in a small church courtyard in Mesa Gonia.
The church
Rich and Georgia in front of the church.
This church is freshly painted, families are starting to move back into town. So this is not so much a ghost town anymore.
Jenna peering into an abandoned home in Mesa Gonia.
Out into the caldera fron Oia.
Out into the caldera fron Oia.
Oia
Oia
Oia
Our table at a family owned restaurant in Oia
Jenna and Jon
Michelle
The restaurant on the edge of the caldera.
Cheers!
Mule train.
Is this our honeymoon?
Almost like a honeymoon.
hand games
Sun gets lower
Swinging my girl.
The sun finally sets but alas, the effect of the fires cuts down on the spectacle.
Getting back to the tour bus.
Rich waiting for tour bus in Oia
Jenna and Michelle
Jon
Jenna and Georgia waiting for the bus in Oia
The cars come on to the ferry.
Playing Uno to pass the time.
Jon got intensly interested in Greek Mythology.
The wake of our ferry as we leave Santorini
The center of the caldera is still just black volcanic rock (basalt?)
The white buildings of Oia
Georgia's holding my empty beer cup.
The sun is setting over the Agean as we head towards Athens.
On the deck of the ferry.
Vodafone is big here.