Santorini & Hydra (July 10 & 11)

Click on the thumbnail to view the full-size image, otherwise Shift+Click to download.

On Thursday while sailing toward Santorini, the light winds allowed some of us to ascend the foremast to a platform about 20 meters above the water level for a spectactular view of the ship and the surrounding Aegean.

DSCN0913.jpg	DSCN0914.jpg	DSCN0915.jpg	DSCN0916.jpg
DSCN0917.jpg	DSCN0918.jpg	DSCN0919.jpg	DSCN0920.jpg
DSCN0921.jpg	DSCN0922.jpg	DSCN0923.jpg	DSCN0924.jpg

Santorini (Thursday, July 10)

The classic picture-postcard Greek island, located in the southern Cyclades, Santorini is the remnants of the ancient volcanic island of Thera which blew itself up in a cataclysmic eruption around 1650BC that was larger than Krakatoa. This eruption is thought by many archaeologists to have hastened downfall of Minoan civilization. The explosion left behind a broken cresent shaped island with an immense caldera inside.

DSCN0925.jpg	DSCN0926.jpg	DSCN0927.jpg	DSCN0928.jpg
DSCN0929.jpg	DSCN0930.jpg	DSCN0931.jpg	DSCN0932.jpg

The modern towns of Fira and Oia (the largest) are built high on the cliffs overlooking the caldera of Thera. The buildings of Santorini are perched precariously out over the sea, white-washed brilliant white, and noted for its blue-domed churches. Fira, being overrun by tourists from one of the mega-cruise ships anchored nearby, we headed out along the caldera rim towards the villages of Firostefani and Imerovigli, where we were treated to stunning views of the caldera, and had lunch in a quiet taverna (Skaros) overlooking the sea.

DSCN0933.jpg	DSCN0934.jpg	DSCN0935.jpg	DSCN0936.jpg
DSCN0937.jpg	DSCN0938.jpg	DSCN0939.jpg	DSCN0940.jpg
DSCN0941.jpg	DSCN0942.jpg	DSCN0943.jpg	DSCN0944.jpg
DSCN0945.jpg	DSCN0947.jpg	DSCN0948.jpg	DSCN0949.jpg
DSCN0950.jpg	DSCN0951.jpg

We set sail again at sunset, with the moon rising above the caldera rim. Our destination was back through the Cyclades toward the island of Hydra.

DSCN0952.jpg

DSCN0953.jpg

DSCN0954.jpg

DSCN0955.jpg

DSCN0956.jpg

After departing Santorini the previous night, we sailed through the night and into the next day towards the Argo-Saronic island of Hydra, located off the coast of the Pelopenese.

Hydra is a sleepy island of old mansions and thin beaches. Motor vehicles are prohibited from the island, so the waters around it are plyed by water taxis. A hot day, it seemed better to just seek out a shady spot on board laze around reading a book and taking in the air, than heading for the beach in to see the few sights Hydra had to offer.

DSCN0957.jpg	DSCN0958.jpg	DSCN0983.jpg	DSCN0989.jpg
DSCN0990.jpg	DSCN0991.jpg

In the evening it was time to set sail again, bound for the port of Piraeus and the end of our sailing trip.

We arrived back in Athens the morning of Saturday, July 12. We checked back into the Hotel Attalos, and spent the rest of the day beating the heat in various small museums and tavernas, before flying back home on Sunday morning.