Santorini Day 2

Santorini August 5th, 2010


Today was a lazy day. We woke up late at 9 AM and walked the 30 metres to the restaurant where breakfast was served. This is a busy resort and there were a few hundred people cruising the buffet tables, filling up on breads, yogurt, eggs, bacon, coffee and some other Greek items. There was also some fresh fruit of apples and oranges which seemed to disappear in bunches into bags, headed back to rooms or on excursions.

After breakfast, we slathered on the sunscreen and installed ourselves by the pool. Kate almost immediately went to play and babysit these two Australian kids aged 2 and 4, whom she had met yesterday. She alternately swam and played with Isabella and Costa. Their parents are a couple from north of Sydney, of Greek origin. They are on a month long vacation which included sailing for two weeks amongst the islands. Guittel and I bathed in the hot sun with quick dips in the pool. Entertainement was provided by some of the other people around the pool, including a guy wearing a thong, either German or Dutch. He was large and made sure everyone could see his package and his butt. With two earrings and rubbing on sunscreen every twenty minutes, he was a sight to cause sore eyes. I theorized that he was a porn star on vacation and the mousy woman with him is his producer or something. Meanwhile Guittel’s theory was that he is gay and flamboyant, based on his technique for executing a cannonball into the pool for attention.

Soon enough lunch beckoned and Kate and I shared a delicious pizza washed down by a large Greek draught beer (for me not Kate). More swimming and an ouzo on our deck cut the afternoon heat. A short siesta also helped. We then walked into town and up the caldera rim after a stop at an elegant outdoor café for cold cappuccino (cappuccino freddo). The walk uphill led to the cathedral and spectacular vies of the caldera and ships below. The sunset was approaching with a spectrum of shades on the horizon and diffusion of light on the town of Fira behind us. Camera flashes were visible from the deck of the cruise ship anchored and the sailboats returning from sunset cruises. After a little more shopping, we settled on dinner at a rooftop tavern, again a pleasant event. I had shrimps sagamaki (tomato sauce, feta cheese and ouzo), very tasty. A good Santorini rose wine helped to wash the food down. We then wandered the streets and alleys of Fira, browsing the gift, clothing and jewelry shops. People everywhere despite the late hour. Not a parking space even for another scooter. Many, too many, people smoking heavily on all these outdoor terraces and in the street. Of note, café culture and cell phone use are ahead of North America, but recycling, garbage , reusable shopping bags are still foreign concepts.

For the next two days we plan on exploring the island to see other villages, the black sand beaches and the vineyards.