Day 37 - Santorini

Although a tender port, we weren't woken by the dropping of the lifeboats, as the local seamen's union demand that their boats will be used; nor the dropping of the anchor, as it is too deep, so the thrusters are running all day to maintain position, rather like a helicopter hovering.

We didn't rush off as we had all day to wander, but we were aware of another cruise ship in first thing and another due later, so we didn't want to leave it too late.  The reason for that is very simple.  The quay is at the foot of a steep cliff and unless you are happy with a couple of eateries and a couple of shops, you need to get to the top of the cliff.  Your options are generally limited so it was either walk up – 400 steps, sharing it with option two, the donkeys (with the rather obvious evidence of their previous presence), or the cable car.  We opted for the cable car, even though the queue was about 100 metres long.  A one way ticket was €4 each.

At the top is a maze of narrow streets with tourist shops on either side, but you can get down to the town square.

When you first encounter the road traffic (as opposed to the pedestrian traffic on the narrow streets), it all seemed to be going downhill, then turning left.  At the junction, was the local bus which seemed to want to go against the flow of traffic from the traffic free square and head uphill, but no-one would stop.  The "No Entry" sign was being ignored too.  Quite why they use a full sized bus rather than one of a more modest size is anyone's guess.

We stopped for a drink and I had a local pastry, supposedly filled with ham, cheese, sausage etc.  It looked nice enough but turned out to be about 98% pastry.  Coffee, a milk shake for Paula's throat and the pastry - €13.  Not exactly a bargain in this tourist dependent town.

We eventually ambled back to the cable car and the quay and a very short wait for the very comfortable and very well presented  tender boat.

Up to the "Horizontal Court" and a vegetable soup plus a nice piece of fish (grouper) and a piece of fennel, before relaxing until sailaway.  Garry's choice of new tee shirt may well mean we won't see him again.

We went to the 7:45pm show in the theatre to see the MacDonald brothers from Scotland.  A very polished performance with accordion and guitar from one brother and the other playing the fiddle and both sang. I enjoyed it and well worth an 8/10.

Afterwards, a bite at the buffet again (our table waiters will think we have deserted…) and we retired to the cabin with a hot chocolate for a decidedly off colour Paula and a plate of cheeses, capsicum, celery and (digestive!) biscuits for me.

A pleasant enough day and we didn't overdo it.  Tomorrow it is Rhodes and if Paula is OK, a similar sort of day as today.