Thursday (Crete and Santori) Update –

We arrived (docked) at 7:00 a.m.   We signed up for the next three tours on the ship.  Word to the future wise traveler – if you don’t like “cattle call” tours, wait to you get on land and check into a personal guided tour. 

Crete – We were on an English/French speaking tour where the tour guide seemed to spend more time parlevousing than speaking Americaneze.  We visited an authentic olive farm, got to taste different types of Raki (Greek moonshine - too early in the a.m.), saw how they used to crush olives and Greek dancers perform for us.  We went by the lake in small village of Aglos Nikolaosake (Voulismeni).  According to legend, the goddess Athena took her baths in this lake.  We also drove through some of the small villages.  Back on the ship as we were due in Santorini at 4:00 p.m.

Santorini –

This is the first port where we had to take a tender in to shore.  And we were the fifth cruise line to be in port at the time (approx 1200 x 5 = mucho tourists!). 

We boarded our tour bus and began an interesting road odyssey.  Imagine a switchback trail going up a very steep mountain.  OK – now change that trail to a (maximum) two lane road.  Now envision NO guardrails on the side of the road.  Now envision tour buses going up and down these roads with numerous “hairpin” turns.  As the tour guide said “if you are afraid of heights close your eyes.  That does not include the bus driver.”   On the way up we were able to see great views of the island.  We then visitied the Oia village where we walked along the cobble-stone narrow streets.  These are the picturesque scenes that you see on those travel posters that say “Visit Greece”.  We took what we hope are some great photos.  Beverly found some cats to feed so she was happy!  We then returned to the port of Athinios.  We boarded a rocky tender back to the ship at 8:30 p.m.  Long day!