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Published: June 11th 2010
It’s now Friday afternoon around 3:30 and I’m just about to get ready to head to a nearby town for sushi! I know some of you are thinking sushi in Greece?! But I’ve read a lot of reviews about this place, and it’s supposed to be amazing, and I’ve kind of been craving sushi this whole trip but haven’t let myself indulge because I knew I’d be having it here.
Anyway, before I head out for sushi I’ll tell you about my last couple of days. Yesterday, for some crazy reason I was awake at 6:30am! So I decided it would be a good time to go out an snap some photos, and it was, there was no one around. I basically had Oia to myself, besides the store owners getting ready for the day. I wandered through the walking streets of Oia taking photos of everything I wanted to remember. I got some great shots of this town…I hope that I’ll be able to come back someday instead of just reliving it through my photos. I made my way back to my hotel, and by this time people were starting to wake and head out for breakfast. So I dropped
off my camera and found a café with a great view and a nice breeze and enjoyed a cappuccino, fresh orange juice, yoghurt and toast with ham and cheese. It was a lovely, relaxing breakfast…I was the only person in the café!
I then went to take my ATV out for a spin before I had to return it but…someone stole the gas! It would start, so I went back to where I rented it from, told them what happened and showed them were it was parked and was on my way to relax on the veranda for a while. I had a spa day planned today and had been looking forward to that this entire trip. I thought after almost 3 weeks of walking and traveling my body and feet would be hurting a little so a massage and pedicure it was! I had a facial which included a foot and arm/hand massage, a chocolate massage…yes, I said chocolate! It’s basically a massage where they use chocolate instead of massage oil…AMAZING! My skin felt, and smelled, so good for the rest of the day. I also had a pedicure which was much needed after all of the walking I’ve
done.
I relaxed in my hotel for a while then decided it was time for another adventure. I walked down the 400 plus steps to the sea. These steps aren’t your typical stairs. Some are steep, some are narrow, and they are all made of rocks, so they are very uneven. I made it, eventually, and found myself a nice rock to sit on at the edge of the shore and took a nice dip in the sea. It was hot, so it felt so nice! I sat on the shore and enjoyed the view and the sound of the crashing waves and watched the sailboats go by. I think a couple of hours passed and I decided it was time to make my way up the stairs. I really didn’t want to walk up the stairs, and with flip flops on, I didn’t think my feet would like it. So…I took a donkey! Yep, like I’m sure you’ve all seen in the movies or on TV, they do actually have donkeys here to take you up the mountainside! It was scary and hilarious at the same time. I laughed the whole way, but was certainly holding on tight…I have
a bruise on my palm to prove it!
Once I got to the top of the stairs I hoped off and went back to my hotel to shower and get ready for dinner. I found a great place with an amazing view of the sunset and enjoyed a steak and cheese balls for dinner. This was probably one of my more expensive meals, but I felt like splurging a little. I enjoyed some wine on my veranda and then fell fast asleep.
I woke this morning to another beautifully sunny day in Santorini. I don’t think there’s ever a bad day here! I wandered to find some breakfast and ended up at the same place I went to on my first morning here, Flora’s Café. I had fresh orange juice, a cappuccino, yogurt with honey and walnuts (I think there’s a pattern here!) and an omelet with cheese. How I was hungry enough to eat it all after last nights dinner, I don’t know! I contemplated going sailing today, and I’ve been thinking about going ever since I started planning my trip here, but decided that I wanted today to be leisurely and relaxing. So instead I wandered through some
shops and bought a couple pieces of pottery and some other little souvenirs then went back to my veranda to enjoy the sun for the afternoon. Today feels hotter than the other days, so sunscreen was my friend today! I think I still got a little pink, but not too bad, I think! I enjoyed some wine, started reading another book I brought and enjoyed just being.
It’s time for sushi! I’ll continue when I return!
I decided to “dress up” tonight, even though I was only dressing for myself. Once I was done getting ready I took a short bus ride to the town of Firostefani and found Ginger Sushi Lounge quite easily. The atmosphere was great, and the rolls were delicious! I had edamame, and a Blue Lagoon cocktail to start. For the rolls I had a spicy tuna, tempura prawn, and a Rainbow roll. I have to say the tempura prawn was my favorite by far! The flavor was amazing. The tuna was good, but much spicier than I’m used to in MN. For dessert I ordered banana coconut harumaki which was bananas and chocolate rolled in thin pastry and fried, served with a caramelized
milk and ice cream. Before dessert the waitress brought something called granika. I’m not sure if that’s how it’s spelled but it was awesome. It’s crushed ice, garlic, ginger, and champagne. It came it a little shot glass, so it wasn’t overwhelming, but the flavor was so intense. The dessert itself was incredible. By this point I was stuffed, and knew that this was going to beat last nights bill, by far, and it did! I didn’t care!
I’m now looking out at my amazing view and am so thankful for this, for everything that I’ve been fortunate enough to have in life. For the amazing memories I have of my Mom that I’ve remembered along my journey, and for the incredible friends and family that have all been so supportive of me during this adventure. I can’t wait to come home and share more of my experience with all of you.
After I post this I will head back to my hotel and toast with a glass of Moet & Chandon champagne to this wonderful experience I would repeat in a heartbeat. And, for one last time, enjoy the breathtaking nighttime views from my veranda. I have about 18
hours of traveling tomorrow, but think I’m actually ready to come home.
If any of you have somewhere you want to travel to, someone you want to travel with, or someone you just want to experience something incredible with, do it! You won’t regret it. You’ll look back on the experience and be so thankful you took the time, and the money, and the energy to plan and follow through on your dream. I have many, many more dreams I need to fulfill, but now I am so happy to say that I can cross this one of my list, and have memories that will last me forever!
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Karen
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Thank You !
Christina ~ I can not tell you how much I have enjoyed reading about your daily adventures and looking forward to your posts. Your pictures are incredible and you have a knack for taking something ordinary (to some) and making them extraordinary. I am a scrapper, so these pictures are FANTASTIC !! Even though I have never met your mom, I found myself tearing while reading your posts. Not out of sadness, but out of pride, love and the way you express your day and your reasons for being there. Your mom would have been very proud of you for taking the leap and she was with you during every step of the way. She certainly has raised one beautiful daughter. Inside and out! Thanks for sharing your journey with us! See you next week !!!!