Fira and Oia

By day three, we were sufficiently relaxed and took it upon ourselves to commence exploration.  In Fira, I committed a sin of omission and didn't tell Paul that descending the 500 stairs to the port would be hot, painful and exhausting.  We commenced the journey in 35 degree heat only to be stopped dead at stair 224 by a donkey traffic jam:
                                   
                                             
Paul fancied himself as a bit of a donkey whisperer and managed to pass, narrowly avoiding a hoof to the leg. I waited until a group of tourists on donkey came barreling up the steps nearly ten minutes later, which forced the donkeys to log jam themselves towards me, pushing me back into the stone wall.  It was actually terrifying.

But we eventually made it to the port where I consumed the most deliciously arctic fanta i've ever had.  And after our excellent calf workout we opted for the cable car back up the hill and continued wandering through the narrow cobbles of Fira before setting off, via bus, to Oia.

                                     

                                              

                                     

Oia, Oia

The geologic wonder that is the Island of Santorini is best seen from the West, particularly the towns of Fira and Oia.  To make a long story short, the Greek Islands find themselves on the centre of a tectonic plate, a particularly volcanic zone where the African plate is subducting under the Aegean subplate.  The geology nerd in me loves this!  Anyway, in 1630 BC, a massive eruption occurred and created the caldera (and stunning scenery) you see today.

The entire west of the island is a picture of sheer cliff faces, volcanic soil and whitewashed buildings.  It's hard not to be impressed and a little bit awe inspired.

                                         

                                         

                                         

                                

                                          

Towards late afternoon, Paul and I found a bar-cum-swimming pool at the north westernmost part of the island and guarded chairs for the onset of sunset.  And when the sun dipped under the horizon and people clapped, we felt the full force of Oia's beauty.  

Night hit...

                                              

And wandering back,  it became clear that, night or day, Oia had the wow factor.