2009 Ports of Call 63 - 65

 

Click on this link and you will be directed to pictures of all 2009 trips.

 

Greece:  Santorini Island

Sep 30 - Oct 2

 

Wow!  No wonder most, if not all, people say that Santorini (the Greeks call it Thera) is their favorite island.  The scenery is breathtaking.  The islands in this area were once one oval-shaped island until volcanoes broke them apart, creating the world’s largest volcanic crater: the bay and islands in the middle, partially shown above.  It is still active, with the last one recorded in 1956.

 

After a nice cruise from Naxos, we were hopeful of getting a berth at the port below the capital, Fira.  However, it was not to be so we cruised on to the only marina which is on the south side of Santorini.  The marina was not great, but the fish we bought from the local fishermen were the freshest ever; one even had a live fish inside of it!

 

We rented a car and drove all over the island, stopping at several places to enjoy the villages and vistas.  Ia (‘ee-aw’) was our favorite, but Pyrgos, the capital until early 1800s and the highest village, was a good second with panoramic views.  Ancient Akrotiri was closed.  It is a town frozen in ash from 3600 years ago, long before Pompeii.  It is believed to have been highly civilized, but it is only 1/30 excavated and will take a century to finish.

Greece:  Folegandros Island

Oct 2 - 3

 

Fodor’s GREEK ISLANDS says “If Santorini didn’t exist, little bare Folegandros would be world famous.  Its gorgeous main town of Chora...sits on the edge of a beetling precipice:  this hilltop setting represents, with the exception of Santorini, the finest cliff scenery in the Cyclades.”  NOT!  Actually the statement may have been copied out of context from 777 WONDERFUL GREEK ISLANDS: “Chora ends...on the edge of this cliff...which, if Santorini did not exist, would be unique in Greece.”  Unique, yes; finest cliff scenery, no.  Check out Milos, which isn’t even in Fodor’s book.

 

We had a beautiful, smooth cruise from Santorini, stopping at Folegandros to experience another island before moving on to Milos.  After getting settled, we took a bus to Chora and  walked through and around part of the town.  Views from the Dormition of the Mother of God or the Monastery of Our Lady (name varies by book), shown above, were interesting and it was our easiest climb up a hill, ever.  This 12 sq mi island is very barren, almost all rock.  They say they import everything, although we did see a few goats; surely they reproduce here.

 

We had a nice dinner inside The Prize because it was too cold and windy on the flybridge.

Greece:   Milos Island

Oct 3 - 5

 

Mythological Aphrodite, goddess of love. She wasn’t born here but it is where Aphrodite of Milos was discovered in 1820 by a farmer in a cave.  She is better known as Venus de Milo and has been seen by millions in the Louvre, France’s premier museum.

 

Milos and its neighbor islands were formed by volcanic activity that produced beautiful formations, colors, minerals, and the gigantic Milos Bay.  The last explosion took place 90k years ago; still they consider it potentially active!

 

Milos was one of the first Cycladic islands to be inhabited, around 7000 BC.  It developed more rapidly due to its great mineral wealth, especially the unique to Milos black glass-like volcanic rock, called obsidian, used to make tools and weapons.  Today Milos is still known for its mining industry.

 

We drove all over the island, admiring its stunning scenery, picturesque villages, beautiful beaches, unique catacombs, and even some ruins, including the above Roman theater overlooking the sea near where Aphrodite was discovered.

 

Now we head west, homeward bound.