We anchored near the town of Fira. Today, rather than using our own tender boats, we used local tender boats. We were taken to a port further around the island, where buses met us and took us up a narrow road with many switchbacks. But what a view!
We were booked on an excursion which firstly took us to Profit Elias which is the highest point on the island. A great view from all directions, it is also the home to a small military installation and most of the island's communications. Most entertaining for us was the number of buses from our ship, all arriving at the same time, and struggling to turn around as there is no parking area. The bus drivers are very skillful here.
Next we took a leisurely drive around the island, via the main town of Fira, to reach Oia.
Oia is a small town perched on the side of cliffs, that is featured in many Greek postcards and calendars. And it's easy to see why. Blue sky, blue sea, and the most beautiful town with amazing views across the water. We had two hours to walk around, and it's like walking through a postcard. I took plenty of photos and then we found a cafe with a view to sit and have a drink. Absolutely stunning and we could have stayed there all day. The hardest part is choosing which photos to put on the blog to share with you.
Sadly all good things must some to an end, next we were driven back to Fira to leave the bus. Our tour guide walked is into town, gave us directions, and said her goodbyes. We had about 4 hours to get back to the tender to the ship, at a different port we arrived on, directly below Fira at the bottom of the cliff.
Firstly we did some shopping and had some local Greek food for lunch. An opportunity for me to have a nice cold beer, while Helen opted for her new found favourite, lemon flavoured fizzy drink (such as Lemon Fanta) which is readily available in Greece. We then did some tourist shopping, our biggest to date, then we proceeded to wander around and get ourselves lost. Lost in a good way, enough to make it interesting, but not so lost we wouldn't find our way. I doubt that would be possible here, with a cliff on one side and a island on the other and the town long and skinny.
To get back to the ship, we had been given cable car tickets. This is a short ride down the cliff side. There is also a walkway down the hill, which is also used to give donkey rides up and down. I was keen to walk down to get a different perspective, while Helen opted for the cable car. I had been warned the donkeys stink and drop poo everywhere and while this is all true, it was worst at the top and bottom where the donkeys congregate, but for the most part was not too bad. It was however very hot with no shade until I reached the bottom.
Helen was already sitting at a cafe under an umbrella clutching a cold can of drink so I joined here and we waited for the queues to die down for the tender. We eventually arrived back on board the ship about an hour before sailing.
The ship sailed away about an hour before sunset which made for a pleasant final view of Fira and Oia. We were sad to leave this island having enjoyed a wonderful day.
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