Santorini, Donkeys

Our ship anchored near the island of Santoríni at 4:00 PM, and stayed until 7:00. The ship is tied, one line to shore, and another to a buoy offshore, so we rode small boats to and from the ship. The very white town of Thíva is perched about a thousand feet up, on top of a mostly black cliff, but with many layers of volcanic colors.

The members of the tour group paid $12 to ride a boat to Athiniós, then a bus ride to Thíra. It would have cost at least $225 for us to take all the tours offered on the 4 days on this cruise, and we think we saw more than the tour groups, and our cost was much, much less, and we were our own boss.

There are three ways to scale the 1,000 foot cliff from the dock to Thíra, Santoríni. Walk up the 587 steps zigzaging up the side of the cliff, ride one of the donkeys or horses which carry passengers up those same steps, or ride the cable car. Easy decision, and the cable car took us right into town.

When it was time to leave, Emmy decided to walk down the stairs. After stepping in millions of donkey donuts she wouldn’t admit defeat and ride a donkey, but her knees were shaking long before we got to the ship.