August 2012

Awesome to catch up with Gemma and Smit, chasing elusive golden sunsets over the caldera. Chilling out on black sandy beaches and meeting more friendly dogs. Burning around the island in our tiny rental car, and getting stuck up the narrow roads that taper off to footpaths. Heading out for a swim in the 'hot pools' off the crater, which was a 30 metre swim through bitterly cold water to reach the beach that was about 3˚ warmer. Being fed delicious goodies from our hostel lady in preparation for 'Big Week', or Greek Easter. More delicious Greek goodies of pastries baked in ouzo, zucchini balls and tsatsiki, gyros at Lucky's, and of course washed down with raki. Picturesque views everywhere; looking up at village of Thira hanging on the cliff top, the white washed houses making it seem like sugar dusted mountains from a distance; donkey's lining the zigzagging path down to the old port and looking out over belly dropping cliffs. And possibly the most incredible sight ever, watching the mountainside village of Pyrgos being set alight with enormous candles, on the windiest day and fearing slightly for being caught alight.

The rough journey from Crete to Santorini!

Sunset seeking

Sunset over Thira

The road to the old port

Perfect weather for outdoor candles

Village of Pyrgos at Easter

Leftover shells from shooting an effigy of Judas

In search of the crater

Windmills of Oia

Chilling in Oia

Little villages

Narrow escapades

Narrow escapades

Hanging out

Old mate

Scaling ridges

A room with a view

The edge of the world