July 20, 2006

Day 29

Thursday, July 20, 2006

Santorini, Greece

A pretty female ship!

Our first day in Greece is finally here.  We take a tender to the island of Santorini.  We take a bus tour of the island called Santorini in a Nutshell.  We have another great tour guide (Sophia) who gives us detailed history of the islands of the Cyclades.  Centuries ago, Santorini was called “Thera” and was shaped like a round cone.  But volcanic action sank the middle of the island and all inhabitants were killed.  Today, the island is called Santorini after Saint Irene of Thessalonika.

Our first stop is near Akotiri where an archaeological team in 1967 uncovered the remains of a Bronze Age City.  We see an ancient windmill where we have panoramic views of the cities of Oia and the capital Fira, as well as the volcano and our cruise ship.

Next, we stop at a black sand beach in Kamari, and a Greek Orthodox Church.  We then visit a wine museum and winery for wine tasting.  We continue on our tour and stop in Pyrgos for a traditional Greek lunch which included Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), Tarmosalata (smoked fish roe), and Keftedes (spicy meatballs); very good.  We had time to do some shopping, then a cable car ride down the mountain to the port to catch the tender to take us back to our ship.  We ate lunch so late that I think we’ll miss our dinner in the dining room tonight.

Tour of Santorini, Greece

Greek Orthodox church in the Kamari village

Old lady who tends the garden in Santorini Greek Orthodox church

Greek Orthodox church scene

Bell tower of Greek Orthodox church in Kamari

Black sand beach in Kamari

Restaurant overlooking black sand beach in Kamari, Santorini

Kamari street scene in Santorini, Greece

Santorini village of Oia

Church overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in Santorini

Church in Oia, Santorini

Our tour guide in Santorini, Sophia

Our beautiful Princess as seen from Oia, Santorini

Looking down from Oia into Mediterranean Sea

Boating activity around Santorini

Looking up to Fira (capital of Santorini) from tender

Leaving Fira, Santorini

Leaving Oia, Santorini

Ah, this is the life!