August 7th, 2010
Sun up and I woke at 8 AM. Time to change into running gear and get going. Breakfast was a solo affair and the restaurant was less crowded at that early hour. After coffee and the usual items, I drove the car back to the rental place in Fira. No problems there. A quick stop in an electronics store helped with the Blackberry phone. Then I took off running up the caldera view path and steps to Firostefani and Imerovigli. The views and morning light compensated for the heat and baking sunshine as well as the uphill struggle. People were just getting up and enjoying breakfast in the many hotels and apartments attached to the Cliffside. The higher villages appeared more luxurious and less commercial than Fira. I managed to find the main road back always to the hotel. This made for a short but sweaty run. Back at El Greco, it was into the pool to cool off. Kate was already swimming with the Australian kids and having fun playing big sister to them. We spent the day poolside and there were even a few transient clouds to help modify the sunshine monotony.
Midday lunch was sitting at the bar for Kate and I, Guittel didn’t feel like eating then. A simple chicken salad went down well with a cold beer. Later in the afternoon, we got ready to go into town. We took the netbook in order to sit in one of the many cafes offering free internet and possibly Skype. We went into many stores to look at jewelry, glass work and artwork. Some of the nicer pieces were beautiful and moderately expensive. We liked a glass vase by a Greek artist and some interesting mounted cultures in brass by another artist. The owner of the gallery was also quite a character and designed his own jewelry and watches under the name Louann. I tried on an original piece, a transparent, gold watch with a very modern design for only 9500 Euros. We called Mark via cell phone and he sounded well. Then it was time to join the crowds watching the sunset over Nea Kameni and Thirassia, the island on the other side of the Caldera. The camera got a good workout as we admired the red ball sinking behind the islands. It took a little more scouting for a nice restaurant, rooftop as usual, where Kate enjoyed her lamb chops and we had the mixed grill of meats. More shopping and the streets were getting crowded. The bars and clubs were just warming up and there was not one square metre to park a moped or car. We did get to an internet café with a busy crowd listening to euro beat music while lazing outside with a drink. A little internet and a cold cappuccino ended the evening, before our walk back to the hotel. Tomorrow is our last day in Santorini.
Midday lunch was sitting at the bar for Kate and I, Guittel didn’t feel like eating then. A simple chicken salad went down well with a cold beer. Later in the afternoon, we got ready to go into town. We took the netbook in order to sit in one of the many cafes offering free internet and possibly Skype. We went into many stores to look at jewelry, glass work and artwork. Some of the nicer pieces were beautiful and moderately expensive. We liked a glass vase by a Greek artist and some interesting mounted cultures in brass by another artist. The owner of the gallery was also quite a character and designed his own jewelry and watches under the name Louann. I tried on an original piece, a transparent, gold watch with a very modern design for only 9500 Euros. We called Mark via cell phone and he sounded well. Then it was time to join the crowds watching the sunset over Nea Kameni and Thirassia, the island on the other side of the Caldera. The camera got a good workout as we admired the red ball sinking behind the islands. It took a little more scouting for a nice restaurant, rooftop as usual, where Kate enjoyed her lamb chops and we had the mixed grill of meats. More shopping and the streets were getting crowded. The bars and clubs were just warming up and there was not one square metre to park a moped or car. We did get to an internet café with a busy crowd listening to euro beat music while lazing outside with a drink. A little internet and a cold cappuccino ended the evening, before our walk back to the hotel. Tomorrow is our last day in Santorini.
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