Santorini: Part IV - Snapshots from a Greek Isle

Beth waits at old port with
Mr. Moustache

It took twenty minutes for Rob and Beth to descend the 588 steps, down the 260 meter drop of the Caldera, to Fira’s old port.  At the dock one lone ferry awaited the six tourists to take them on a voyage to Nea Kameni, Santorini’s active volcano.  The impending storm did not deter Rob and Beth, two friends from Japan that now living apart, and one young gay couple from Washington state from boarding the open-sided vessel.

Rob thinking that he would have
been teaching that day.

It took about thirty minutes to reach the island that was formed from 450 years of lava flows of eruptions, the last one taking place in 1950.  Perhaps because it was the low season, English information brochures were nowhere to be found.  It took the style and finesse of Rob rummaging through a sole forgotten garbage container located along the path of the barren volcanic slopes to find two discarded brochures that highlighted features of Nea Kameni. One he kept and one he offered to the others who happily accepted the discarded and stained pamphlet gift.

A ferry ride

Overlooking a volcano cone

Together the six travellers shared the beautiful, barren vistas the island offered.  They ended their tour with a swim in the warm sea fed with hot spring water pouring out of the island just as the storm clouds rolled in and the thunder began.

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The weather on Santorini was the warmest that Rob and Beth had encountered since they began their adventures.  The heat of the sun was hot enough for a tank top or swimming (for Rob).  However, when the sun went behind a cloud or the wind picked up, layers were required.  And, from their limited experience, the wind always blew on Santorini.  Some days it was only 10-20 km/hr but more commonly it was gusting into the forties.

A growing storm.

By the time they scrambled off the ferry from the volcanic island that day, the winds had picked up and the rains started and they felt the fury of a December wind storm on Santorini. For twenty-four hours the wind blew hard, at times reaching class 7 winds accompanied by rain and, more unusually, hail.  

Despite the weather, Rob and Beth felt very sheltered inside the apartment as it was built according to the traditional Santorini design, it was extremely stable in the wind.  The roof was rounded and included no tiles or shingles. and the entire building structure was constructed of concrete and rock.  Because of its stability in storms researchers are studying the design of Santorini's buildings to test how they hold up in a hurricane and earthquakes.  Although they are finding positive results they may not be practical as they are quite expensive to build.

Despite the shelter of the building, they were both relieved the next morning when the sun peaked from behind the clouds.  Alas, the wind had died down as well.

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"Is it wrong to watch an episode of Breaking Bad while soaking in a hot tub on a Greek Isle?", Beth asked Rob one evening.

Rob's only response was to grab his swim trunks and his laptop already loaded with the next two episodes and head out the door.

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Photography by Aloe!

On the last evening in Santorini Christopher and Emma invited Beth and Rob along with Petros and Maria over for tea after dinner.  As they chatted about teaching and the impending holidays, they enjoyed caramel vanilla tea, hazel nuts, walnuts, and a delicious cake.   As the evening drew to a close, Aloe, Christopher and Emma's five-year-old daughter, played photographer and took some shots by which to remember the evening.

It was with heavy hearts that Rob and Beth bid farewell to their Santorini friends.

"Please come visit us in Windsor.  We will be happy to host you and show you around."  

"Yes, let's stay in touch.  Until we meet again."