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Cats and dogs everywhere

Throughout Turkey and Greece cats and dogs roam freely.  They are well fed and carefully looked after although they mostly don't belong to any particular families.  Cars drive around them as they totter down the road and people feed them table scraps at the restaurants.

Cute puppy that reminded us of Rocky outside a little shop on Santorini.

One of the many cats that roam around Greece.

Last day in Santorini

It was our last day in Santorini and the weather was cloudy and cool so we decided to have a quiet, lazy day and just 'soak it in'.

It is hard to come to terms with the fact that we will be home in a few days after a trip filled with so many varied experiences once again.  To me the highlight of any travel is always the people you meet - walking along the street, waiting in queues, on the bus, in the hotel, anywhere. We met some interesting people of all nationalities.  Some we will keep in contact and others we will never see again but that is just life.

The next thing is the beauty to be found around every corner.

Kumari beach did not even tempt Michael to go for a swim.

One thing I will not miss about Fira is THE STEPS!!!!!

Even in the room there were steps up to the bedroom!

The Donkeys of Santorini

Fira, in Santorini is perched on the edge of a cliff face looking over the caldera to the volcano Neo Kameni.  Historically this has made access to the top of the cliff challenging.  Donkeys and mules have been used by locals for centuries to cart people and produce to and from the old port the 587 steps.  It is a long winding path.

Luckily now, because there are so many ferries and cruise ships that call in to Santorini there is now a cable car.  So for 4euro you can save the donkey or save yourself from a heart attack after climbing all those steps.

Oia, Santorini

It was a discovery today, learning what "Greek time" is.  After deciding to take a local bus to a village on Santorini called Oia 12km north of Fira we headed to the bus stop.  Michael and I chatted to a French woman and her nephew, a chinese couple and a gentleman from the US while we waited for 1 3/4 hrs.  The bus is supposed to come each hour!  As it finally pulled up to the stop the driver yelled at us in Greek and we piled on to already packed bus!  1.40euro each and we arrived in beautiful Oia.

The pictures tell the story.

Pretty close to heaven on earth

Venetian fort at the mouth of the Iraklion port

Up early to drive back to Iraklion (Heraklion) this morning to catch the ferry to Santorini.  We were at the port in plenty of time to drop off the hire car and have a walk around the old Venetian port there.

Caught the ferry over to Santorini.  The water was like a mill pond - so calm. Taken to the Dana villas where we think we have died and gone to heaven.  The view across the water is absolutely magic.  We watched the sun go down with a glass of wine. Michael tried to describe it in his travel diary. 

Doesn't get much better than this!


Panoramic view from pool and in room. 

Arkadi Monastery, Rethymno. Crete

We travelled inland today, up in to the mountains where a 16th C Monastery exists as a monument to the bravery of 900 men, women and children who took refuge there during 1866 invasion by Turkey.  They blew up the gun powder to avoid being taken.  This time in Greek History is known as the Holocaust and is remember each November.  Two monks still live there.