Day 25 - With the extra pounds I've put on during this cruise, riding a donkey up to the town of Thira would have been classed as animal cruelty. The cable car wait seemed too long so we walked up.
We didn't celebrate the five month anniversary of Jay's open heart surgery yesterday. So, today marks a new beginning in recovery! My Mi Band has recorded our daily, count between 6 KM on sea days to over 13 KM on several port days. Today, it wasn't the total number as celebration; it was the accomplishment of 900 steps both up and back from the biggest town to the Old Port!
The MS Westerdam dropped anchor inside the water-filled caldera of the ancient volcano. Thira is one of the strips of land that make up a noncontinuous, ring of land.
As soon as we scaled the donkey trail with the multitude of people and animals, we found the public bus station. It cost €1.80 each to ride to Oia (pronounced Eee-ah). It took 35 minutes due to the small, crowded highway. This is the spot that makes all the Greek tourism publications. Two other large cruise ships were at Santorini today and thousands of tourists were swamping the picturesque streets and alleys.
One of my favourite cult movies from the 1980's, featuring Daryl Hannah, was shot in Santorini. Summer Lovers took place here. At last, after thirty years, I got to see the island with my own eyes.