Tuesday, September 16th, after a day of rest on the Viva, we were back to shore excursions. Today we would visit Santorini. The name of our excursion was "How It’s Built Santorini & Akrotiri Archeological Site". We didn't need to meet at the gathering point until 12:45pm. This gave us the morning to sleep in and have a good lunch before going to the Commodore Dining Room to wait. While having lunch at Surfside Cafe, I took these two pictures as the ship made its way to the port area.
Santorini is one of two islands on this cruise that has to stay in the water away from shore. The second was Mykonos which was our day on the ship. This simply means the ship anchors in the water away from shore and the passengers take 'tenders' (small boats) to ferry you to shore for your cruises. This means these two days the meeting place would be in the Commodore Dining Room. Well, outside of this smaller main dining room is a bar are with seating. Not nearly enough for everyone going ashore that day. We were asked to remain in this small bar area until our tour was called. When our shore excursion was called, our tour tickets were checked and we entered the Commodore to wait till our tender was ready. Then you walk out the dining room, your ticket is checked again and you are given a sticker with a number on it that is you tour number. This allows your guide to see that sticker on your blouse or shirt and knows you are with their group. You go down two flights of stairs to deck 4 where your are helped onto your tender and taken to shore. This is the same process when we wait in the Viva theater, however, the Viva Theaters is really large and can accommodate that many people. As we sat in that tiny lounge and were eventually moved to the Commodore and then down the stairs to the tender, I realized that traveling and cruising are really a study in patience and learning to wait in queues. You will get to your site you came to visit, but you must pay the prices of patience and waiting in queues.
Santorini is actually a group of islands consisting of Thira, Thirassia, Aspronissi, Palea and Nea Kameni in the southernmost part of the Cyclades. The islands that form Santorini came into existence as a result of intensive volcanic activity in the 16th century BC at the height of the Minoan civilization. It was originally a circular shape of land with an island in middle. After the eruption, you had five separate islands. You can tell it is the caldera of a volcano by looking at its shape. It has been suggested that the colossal Santorini volcanic eruption is the source of the legend of the lost civilization of Atlantis. The eruption lasted for weeks and caused massive tsunami waves. Our tour was on Thira and we would travel from one end to the other.
Cycladic architecture is what most people know about Santorini. It is a distinct, iconic Greek island style characterized by cubic, whitewashed houses, blue-domed churches, cobblestone streets, and windmills that harmoniously blend with the landscape. It is deeply influenced by the region's harsh environment, leading to functional features like thick walls for insulation, small windows for protection and ventilation, domed roofs for the hot air to rise to and small openings for it to disperse from giving a good airflow in a hot climate. The cities have an organic, labyrinthine layouts to navigate difficult terrain and defend against pirates. The city layout is something you can really get lost in.
Akrotiri was home to the ancient Minoans over 4000 years before Pompeii was founded, and has been preserved just as it would have been in 1500 BCE. The first habitation at the site dates from the Late Neolithic times (at least the 4th millennium B.C.). During the Early Bronze Age (3rd millennium B.C.), a sizeable settlement was founded and in the Middle and early Late Bronze Age (ca. 20th-17th centuries B.C.) it was extended and gradually developed into one of the main urban centers and ports of the Aegean. The large extent of the settlement, the elaborate drainage system, the sophisticated multistoried buildings with the magnificent wall-paintings, furniture and vessels, show its great development and prosperity. The various imported objects found in the buildings indicate Akrotiri was in contact with Crete but also communicated with the Greek Mainland, the Dodecanese, Cyprus, Syria and Egypt. The town's life came to an abrupt end in the last quarter of the 17th century B.C. when the inhabitants were obliged to abandon it as a result of severe earthquakes. The eruption followed. The volcanic materials covered the entire island and the town itself. These materials, however, have protected up to date the buildings and their contents, just like in Pompei.
I have watched several documentaries on Akrotiri and was happy to see it. The other things good about this site is that it is completely under roof. There is a path through the site for you to walk on and areas that extend into the site from which you can take pictures. Here is our walk through the ruins of Akrotiri.
These are two bed frames. It seems after an earthquake, the residents were concerned about sleeping inside and a roof collapsing on them, so, they moved the their beds outside.
This is where an indoor toilet was located. Note the window on the left of the second story of this home. The first picture tells about the toilet. The second picture shows that actual toilet. It is located on the second floor in the corner next to the window.
Our coach deposited us near the town center. We hiked uphill to this spot. Then Viera told us our goal was to hike up this hill to the church and back down. This would take about an hour. There was a short cut that allowed you to hike halfway up the hill, turn to your left and go through a tunnel to another street that went right back down to the town center. This would take you about a half hour. We were free to pick what we wanted to do. Claude and I opted to visit Johnnie's the town center and enjoy a fresh fruit smoothie. Claude had Strawberry Fantasy which had strawberries and bananas in it. I had the Tropical which had mango and pineapple in it. We did have one cat encounter and I got another cat picture for Bailey! I did walk back down the hill and got a picture of the church on top of the hill.
After enjoying our smoothies in the open air in the shade, we walked across the street to a little shop that had some souvenirs. We found a Christmas tree ornament and the puzzle for our family to make a Christmas time. I also surprised Claude by purchasing two Snickers bars for a treat on the ship.
It was nearing time to meet with the group so we walked back down to the parking area where the coach was located. Gradually our tour group began to make its way to the coach.
One of the ladies in front of us got on the coach and said, "Where is my husband?" She was rummaging through her purse and realized she left her phone in a shop. She quickly got off the coach and headed back to get her phone. When she returned, her husband still wasn't on the coach. He was the only one missing from our group. It turns out he took the short cut on the trip up the hill. He took this by himself. He had no cellphone with him. Viera got off the coach and went looking for him. She could not find him. The wife handed her things back to a family member further back on the coach. She got off and went with Viera. We ended up leaving her in Pyrgos with her cellphone and other helping to look for her husband. She had information to get a taxi back to the port. Viera would stay in constant contact with her as the authorities looked for her husband. How nerve-wracking would that be??
Our coach drove us to the north end of the island to Oia. The first picture I took from the ship were this little community. These are pictures of the drive from Pyrgos to Oia.
This is a grape vineyard. It doesn't look anything like you would see in Napa Valley! These are islands of little water. Yet they grow olive orchards, grape vineyards, pistachios and so many other things, even tomatoes. This grape vineyard takes a lot of work. The plants only get this high. They are trimmed as they grow to just three branches that are woven together to form a circle. This allows the leave to spread over the grapes as they grow protecting them as they mature. Amazing what can be done to make things work in whatever our environment is.
We started the long hike down to the coach. We stopped at Lolita’s for gelato. This is a family owned and run establishment that Viera knew personally. The gelato was delicious. We each chose a small gelato and were told we could get two flavors with the small. I had vanilla with chocolate chips and pistachio. Yum!!
On the way further down the hill to the coach, Claude paused to use the W.C. (water closet or bathroom). He said it was a truly nice bathroom with flowers in the men's room. Amazing. While he did this, I waited on the steps. A man riding a mule came up the steps with other mules behind him and several ladies riding those mules laughing hysterically. I asked if they were have fun and, through peals of laughter, they assured me they were.
This was sunset at Santorini from the coach as we traveled down the hill to the port to get our tender back to the Viva.
Once back to the Viva, we enjoyed another fine meal in the Hudson. Sandi had asparagus soup, pecan crusted turkey medallions, and Snickers cake. Claude ate Caesar salad, rotisserie chicken, and Snickers cake. Yum!
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