SANTORINI I LOVE YOU!

Well left Santorini today headed for Athens again. What can I say, Santorini I am in Love. What an amazingly beautiful city. It is my favorite of the Greek Islands I visited. I never knew that it was actually once a volcano that blew its nutter thousands of year ago forming the island as it looks today. You learn something new every day. This is my story of my time in Santorini. We arrived in Santorini on Monday. We got all settled into our rooms, I was rooming with the amazing Timmy. We were given a few hours to explore and do things for ourselves before we had to be ready for dinner and the pub crawl. First thing I did was take my washing to the laundry then headed out shopping. OMG the shopping there was amazing. So many pretty shiny things to see and buy. Got back and then got ready to go out to this restaurant right at the top of the Donkey Trail. You would not believe the views from the tables, this place was amazing. We had 180 degree views of the water and the surrounding town. The pix do not do this place justice. You have to see it to believe it. I ordered the pepper steak cause I was so over seafood and let me tell you I was not disappointed, it was to die for. After dinner we headed to the Highlander Bar and that place is just one massive party with hot bar staff and bouncers everywhere. It was 2 for 1 cocktails and really cheap shots. We stayed there and danced, sang and drank our way into the wee hours of the next day, it wasnt that late a night (2.30am) as we had to be up and ready for the Bucket List trip the next day but it was a night that will go down as a pretty epic one. Now for the bus trip. What a massive day we had in store for us. Started out with a visit to an old monastery on top of the volcano, it was so perfect and pretty. After the stop there we had a nice ride to visit the Black Beach, this place was beautiful, black pebbly sand but the weird thing about it was when you stepped into the water! The ground under you was not soft and sandy it was hard, solid and slippery. This is because the floor is made up of the lava after the volcanic eruption all those many many years ago. It was actually a very strange feeling. I was spoilt there and got an amazing massage from Steve the local massage therapist right there on the beach. I was in heaven!!!!! After a swim, my massage and my very first taste of a Caesar Salad ever (im never ever having another one cause nothing will come close to how awesome it was) we took off in the bus again for the Red Beach. This beach has red/burgandy pebbles and cliffs. This is because in the eruption the rocks and stones were sent shooting up 34 kms into the air and as it came down it cooled in the water at the exact temp and colour as it was as it hit. The explosion from this eruption was heard 2 times around the other side of the world. The Chinese actually documented that they heard a roar twice and had no idea where it actually came from. Pretty freaky really. This beach was a bit of a hike to get to but man it was worth it. Also visited an ancient village that was destroyed 2000BC called Akrotiri. This village was so advanced for its time it had hot and cold running water,they grew special plants to help with every day ailments, toilets, brothels - everything that you would find in a modern city today pretty much. Its hard to imagine that these people that long ago could actually develop a civilisation so advanced. It was actually quite humbling to be walking around and looking a the ruins of something so so so old. A must see let me tell you. On the way back from here we stopped in at Santo Winery and got to taste 3 wines, very nice, not to keen on the dessert wine tho it was soooooo sweet. The views from this place was another mouth opening experience. So many pretty pretty picture opportunities but yes again it does not do it justice. Got back and had a couple of hours to ourselves before our picnic dinner at one of the other towns on Santorini. This is the place where the famous pix you have all seen of Santorini are taken, I was lucky enough to have taken my own picture perfect post card type pix. Everywhere you looked was just another picture moment. Saw Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolies Summer residence :) Looked around this town before heading to the picnic spot. Spent way to much money here again, I have to stop, its getting ridiculous now lol Had the picnic then walked back to the bus for the ride home, headed out again for another night of drinking. Im so over the drinking but definitely not over the partying and the dancing - having so much fun. I think I got in about 2.30 again. Fell into bed only to have to get up and say goodbye to some very special people again. This is the suckiest part of my trip, i hate it. Got to speak to my angels again this morning, that is so special and definitely the highlight of my days. Arrived in Athens and had dinner on the rooftop bar overlooking the Acropolis with the original crew from Mykonos, after dinner we all walked down to Yum....Mee!!!! for the best frozen yoghurt you have ever tasted. Off to bed now, have lots of exploring to do tomorrow before heading off to Croatia for 8 days of sailing - its so tuff :) Night all xxxxx PS pix will be uploaded in a couple of days hopefully xoxoxo