A cold catamaran ride

Friday, September 23rd: Santorini, Greece 

• We got up and drove up the hillside to ancient Thira, navigating the many steep switchbacks to the top. At the top, we had incredible views of the island and we toured the ruins while our hair fought against the wind. 

• We went back into the Fira to check it out in the daylight and found a cozy spot for lunch with a seaside view. We tried the tomato balls and garlic bread, which was deceiving on the menu and really just a version of texas toast. Then we headed back to Emporio for our sunset catamaran tour. 

• It was a bit colder than we had been used to in Athens and Milos - not quite swimming weather. We made several stops, but most of the passengers stayed on the boat wrapped in blankets. We chatted with several of the others aboard: Tilly - a dancer and choreographer on Broadway, and Megan and Jarrod - newlyweds from Pennsylvania that had a golden retriever and Belgian malinois. There were others from Costa Rica, Ireland, etc. It was a friendly, well mannered group and not quite as rowdy as those we saw on Milos at Kleftiko. 

• We stopped to swim at the hot springs that reminded us nothing of the Blue Lagoon or hot springs in the Pacific northwest. They were in a small cove stained a reddish brown color and only lukewarm. The crew prepared a full meal for us, including fried flounder, shrimp, chicken, tzatziki, salad and spaghetti. 

• After the swim we all boarded up he boat and raced off to the best sunset viewing point. I went up front to collect a few belongings and on my way back, a gust of wind caught my hat and threw it overboard. I sad ending to my favorite hat.

• We arrived at Ammoudi Bay for the end of the tour, and the vans returned us back to Emporio. We capped off the evening with a run to the bakery where we had gelato, nutella cake and phyllo straws filled with vanilla cream and Kinder Bueno cream. 

• Accommodations: AirB&B, near Emporio, Santorini, Greece