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We overslept on our first full day in Santorini and woke up at 9:15 in a panic. The volcano tour was leaving at 10:15 so we called the owner who made arrangements for a quick breakfast on our terrace and a drive to the port from where we were leaving. Delicious greek yogurt and honey again for breakfast which we relished. We joined the others on the cok and left right on time for the 5 hour tour. It was a beautiful wooden ship that transportated on the high waves to our first stop-the active volcano which was an hour and half from Oia. There were about 100 of us on the tour and our guide who spoke 4 languages met us on the island. She led us on a 40 minute hike up to the top which was no easy feat-hot, rocky, steep. Our guide was very knowledgeable and shared that she had first come to the island with her grandfather at the age of 3 and had since been here over 3,000 times leading tours. She took us to a hole from which you could feel the heat of the volcano and was very mindful of where we wandered.
Her son had once got to the bottom of the crater without her knowing and came back very sick in an almost drunk like state. She also shared how the biggest volcano had caused tsunamis bigger than those in Japan and SE Asia (waves were felt in Africa) and had changed the geography of the islands. After the summit, we hiked back down and the next stop was to the sulphur springs. The ship was taken close to the site but could not get very close because of the heat. People were invited to jump off and swim to the location to enjoy the hot springs. Khyati stayed behind but Jordan jumped into the sea and swam to the hot springs for a quick swim. The next stop was an island that was similar to Santorini 50 years ago. Residents have rejected offers to be a tourist destination so life there is much more close to reality of Greek island life. We walked around some and had lunch at one of the 5 restaurants along the water. It was great to have that experience. Again it was time to board the bus and this time it was to heard home.
We reached Fira at 15:30 and took the bus back to Oia. We were gritty, dirty and ashy from the sulphur so it was time to relax by the pool and hot tub when we returned. A couple of hours later, we got ready and dressed for another night of dinner and sunset. This time we decided to walk to farthest point on the island to see the sunset. Of course, the rest of the island had the same idea as hundreds had gathered spilling over terraces, ledges and cliffs to watch this pheonomenon we take for granted so often. After another beautiful Sanotrini sunset, we menu shopped and settled on a restaurant with a terrace to enjoy the colors of dusk. We had amazing vegetable risotto there and decided to grab dessert at a place nearby to enjoy on our cave house terrace. After dessert, we took advantage of a midnight swim in the hot tub under Santorini stars overlooking the Med sea. Santorini had left us speechless...
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