The Book of Ashes

Holiday Montage - The Greek Islands 7:29PM

Ok so I'm way behind on the diary entries (blogs). Best stitch together a few memories so I can catch up to present day.

Where were we? Oh yes Santorini. Six hours on the ferry. Better than from Wellington to Picton (but probably just as boring for the locals). Islands, sea, distant haze.

Arrival in Santorini, a volcanic island, blown its top. Red lined walls, white topped cliffs. Buildings like snow. Perfect weather. A recent (geologically speaking) volanic island in the middle. Paradise...

We got a room with a view. A pool, a resturant and only 1/3 full. It was the most excellent place I've ever stayed (due to the views).

First night, first Greek salad. Awesome, I've never liked feta that much before, here it is soft and tasty. A wine at the hotel resturant, by a view over the caldera. Magical. Paradise.

This is the sunset we see. The same every night. Monotomous after a while perhaps (for the locals), beautiful for us. However for Wellington sunsets, a new appreciation found. Red under the clouds, unheard of here.

First day we explore. Another cloudless day. Into the town, beautiful white and blue houses. Cool little streets. The day heats up. All geared up for tourists. Prices 3 times normal Greek. Still it is amazing. A donkey track found. A foolish walk down. This path is not for humans. But survive it we do. Back alley ways, back streets, buildings and paths. People we pass, donkeys on the side. We buy the gyros for $3 euro, good it is indeed. Kebabs are second best.

The buildings are beautiful, teetoring on the edge. The views amazing, this magical world. Its not quite like the movies, not quite like the pictures in your head, but still it amazes. Recommended it definitely is.

So here it is typical, all white and blue buildings. Stunning in colour, simplicity and beauty.

And here are some arches, plain white with bells on. Not much but with that view, everything to you.

Second day a car rented, driven wrong side around the island. On other side quite flat with a big hill there somewhere. Red rocky beaches and stony beaches we found. Many lined up deck chairs with people laying down. Hot day, air conditioned car. Driving all around everywhere. From one end to the other to catch the sun setting from a resturant. Once again amazing, wine, greek salad and a meal. Nothing can beat this, so good is the food.

Then before its started, its ended. And off we do head. Towards Naxos we flee. A more relaxed and laid back place. Here below is the split and the main town/dock area.

So in Naxos we stay, there are beautiful beaches and a bus trip in land. Lots of fun to be had and some beautiful buildings. Then once again we head off, back to Athens we do travel. Here we do sleep another night.

Then next day we do find, it is time to visit the Acropolis. Athens is hot. So many ruins to see, what another marble column, already I am tired of thee :)

Above is the ampitheatre, not the old but the new. Amazing in design. Impressive in size. The Acropolis is amazing, huge buildings built on a marble hill. The stone ground worn smooth by a million travelling feet. So advanced were the Greeks. So great was their architecture, for the next 2000 years, what did mankind do?

So in awe did we stand. All the ruins we did look. And that day and that trip, 100 photos we did take (plus some).

Then as it has started, already it must finish, on the metro, to the airport and we're off to Spain...