Friday 28 September - Heraklion - Santorini

Sunrise: Heraklion              7:11am

Sunset:  Santorini               7:06pm
Steps:                                 12,782

I had a really crappy nights sleep on the hard mattress. Got up with the alarm, showered, dressed, packed the main luggage, kept the raincoat & brolly out and took the suitcase down to reception. 
Had a look outside while down there and yes, it's raining. 100% rain.  Fingers crossed for a ferry crossing. Back to my room, as the breakfast room wasn't opened and double checked that I had everything.  The last thing I want to do is leave something behind on Crete. 
Down to the breakfast room and just had a fried egg on toast today, with juice and coffee.  Back to my room to finish charging the phone & iPad mini.  Because rain was also forecast in Santorini, I packed the DSLR into my carry-on, as I wasn't planning on taking any photos while on the ferry. The raincoat & brolly were in my back-pack.
We departed the hotel on time and it was only a short drive to the port and the ferry.  Found where we had to leave our luggage and then went upstairs to the seats.  Almost like being on an aeroplane. And we had front row seats.

Not that there was a lot to see out of the window.

The ferry depart on time.  An hour into the trip and the rain had all but gone.

 It was almost 11am, when we sighted Santorini in the distance.  I think we dis-embarked about 11:25ish

It was a bit chaotic getting off the ferry but Christina had told us beforehand what to expect and where to go and wait, so all was well.

There were a couple of cruise ships in the harbour.  To get from the port to the top of the hill/mountain, there is a very narrow switchback road.  I'm hoping to find a postcard of it tomorrow.

The ferry started on it's return journey at 11:45, so not a long turn-around. 

Vicki is our local guide for today and Costa the driver.  First up was a visit to a small vineyard, 

to see how they grow their grapes and then we walked down through the village. I think it was Megalochori.  

Once we were back at the bus, I took my carry-on from under the bus, on to the bus, so I could take my DSLR out, so I could use it to take photos.  Because is was so sunny, I was having trouble seeing the screen on both my iPhone and iPad mini.

We then went up to the highest point on the island to enjoy the views and some of us also walked up to the monastery, that is up there.

From there we went down to visit Pyrgos, first having some lunch before doing a walking tour.  Some of the many photos I took there. A very picturesque village. 

After that we then went to a winery for a wine tasting. 2 whites and a red and a lovely view over the ocean in the distance.  finally arrived at the hotel around 4:15.

A resort hotel.  My room, as do most of them (I think) faces a pool. I think there are 4 or 5 pools.  I'll take photos of them tomorrow.

Walking orientation tour into the town of Thira at 5:30.  Took some photos  and then had dinner with a couple of people.  

 Walked back to the hotel with Elizabeth & Lois, buying some water at a local supermarket along the way. 
It's another free day tomorrow, so I might be spending some time by the pool.

Night.