Santorini 29th May
Santorini is the larges island of a circular archipelago and is the remnant of a volcanic caldera. The Caldera (crater) is about 12 x 7 ks square surrounded by 300 m high cliffs. It erupted 3600 years ago and led to the destruction of the Minoan civilisation on Crete.
As we sailed in you could see the rugged island with steep cliffs and what looked like snow on the ridges. Of course it was the famous white houses.
We tendered into a really pretty bay - and Royal really improved from the terrible tender process in Thailand.
We started the day with a Mule ride up the cliff.
Doing internet research I had found many reviews saying how cruel this is..the poor little donkey being forced to clamber up the huge cliff with men beating them with sticks, hot sun etc. But I had never found a review from someone who knows horses.
We arrived to find mobs of fat shinny Mules (not little Donkeys) some around 14hh. They were all saddled with thick saddle pads and halters - so no one was pulling on their mouths. People mounted using a large mounting block so no twisting of Mule's backs. They also put small people of the smaller mules.
The biters wore large wire muzzels.
The Mules marched down the trail in groups of around 10 or 15 and walked up in line towards the mounting block. Only one person was needed to control the mule flow. The rest waited at the top under shade shelters.
Crackers and Tim were persuaded to have a go and off we went.
It was the most awesome way to travel up the cliff face and to see the stunning view.
This is me.
As we neared the top, Crackers guy spun his head into the wall and was going no further.
I got my guy going again but then we realised we were at the top. As we got off our mules headed off to various places. Mine went down the track a bit, started braying until a few others joined him them off they went back to get more happy tourists.
It really was sensational. I could have done it a few times.
The whole place was pretty stunning. Just like the photos.
We found the hire lace and collected our car. We drove first to one end of the island then the other.
The southern end was incredible rocky.
There was a lot of agricultural land with rich soil. The grapes grew as bushes - not trussed. Tim says that's why their wine is such shit!
We visited Black Sand Beaches under gigantic volcanic rock walls.
Perched way up on one cliff was a tine church. There is a windy foot trail up the valley.
There was also an important archeological dig site nearby but it was accessed by Mule. I had no chance of convincing them of this one.
Those Greek Orthodox people know how to built pretty churches.
We then headed to the northern end of the island to see more. This end was even prettier although the traffic was mental in the town of Oia due to two ships full of bloody tourists.
Greek food is not pretty though.
But the whole calamari sure tasted good.
And The Puffin wanted some squid as well.
More stunning views, then down the cable car and back to the ship.
We are the ship on the right.
A fun day! The weather was brilliant. Low 20's and then heavy rain!!!!!!!!!
Must go - have to be up at stupid o'clock for my tour in the morning.
Athens - 30th May,
I went on a ship tour today as it was the only way I could to Corinth.
Two big targets today.
The Corinth Canal and Ancient Corinth.
We stopped along the way for our first look at the Corinth canal.
Then we headed off to Ancient Corinth. But first a stop at a pottery place where everything is handmade.
Corninth was a walled state on the Isthmus of Corinth, roughly halfway between Athens and Sparta. Since 896, large parts of the ancient city have been revealed by archaeologists. It was one of the largest and most important cities in Greece, with a population of 90,000in the year 400 BC.
It was made up of three parts; the acropolis on the hill, the city, and its port. Acrocorinth is the giant hill behind the city with an acropolis on top. It was first a Greek acropolis, then a Roman citadel. Later it became a Byzantine fortress.We visited the city.By around 44BC the Romans had built a new city over it and made it the provincial capital of Greece.Pottery remains suggest that it was occupied as far back as 6500 BC and continually occupied throughout the Bronze Age. Population then dropped off until around 900 BC when the Dorians settled there. The Myth is that it was settled by Corinthos, a decendent of the Sun god Hellios.The remains of the Temple of Apollo, built around 540 BC, were beautiful. This temple was built to replace the older one built in the 7th Century BC. Pretty spectacular.
The marbled road ran from the city to the ocean. 4 Ks.
Olives everywhere.
Then the Canal.
The Corinth Canal connects the Gulf of Corinth with the Saronic Gulf. It cuts through the isthmus and separates the Peloponnese from the mainland Greece. So really the Peloponnese is now an island. The canal was dug down to sea level. It’s 6.4 ks long and only 21 metres wide. It’s now too narrow for most shipping so is of little economic importance. Really small cruise ships and private vessel are the ain customers. The ideas was planned in classical time. A failed effort was made in the 1st century. Real construction began in 1881 but was not completed until 1893. It never was really an economic success due to it’s narrowness, navigational problems and occasional closures due to landslides.
Why would you jump off a perfectly good bridge.
But WOW, it was awesome and fun! As well as being so attractive.
Back to the ship for sailaway. It was really lovely going through so many islands - Greece has 6000 of them and only 208 are inhabited.
Tomorrow Turkey!
Now go tot he TURKEY TAB.
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