June 27, 2010 - Our cab driver picked us up at 11:00 this morning. This is the same driver from day one. He is a very nice, hard working man. He talked to us on the ride to the port about the houses in Paros and the tourist season. He mentioned that its very expensive to build a house there. You must buy the land and you can only build a house that is no more than 200 square meters. They are very strict, but it's nice not to see any large buildings. The houses are all white because it keeps them cooler in the hot sun.
We arrived at the port, had a quick lunch and got on our boat. The ferry came from Athens and they don't stop very long, they must stay on schedule. We were all corralled into the garage so they could get going - it was very chaotic, but we were on our way. We hung out at our seats until we entered the port at Naxos. We grabbed some seats on the top deck when it cleared out and were ready for the rest of the trip and waiting to see the spectacular view of Santorini as we approach the port. Everything we read was absolutely right, the scenery was unbelievable.
Things are very chaotic as you come off the ferry - people and taxis everywhere. Nicholas made it perfectly clear that he doesn't like this part of traveling! I'm not too fond of it either, but it's how you get around these islands! There was a driver from our hotel waiting for us with a taxi to climb the magnificent caldera. It was crazy busy in that port. We arrived at our hotel got settled in our room and rested for a short while. We set out to eat dinner and Naussa's restaurant - we've read in a few different places that this is THE place to eat. Our first adventure into the town of Fira didn't go perfectly. We got lost - if you saw these roads you would easily understand why - but we eventually stumbled on the restaurant (completely by accident). The owners of this restaurant were by far the nicest people I've ever met. Nicholas had a pork kabob, Tommy had braised beef in tomato sauce and Tom and I each had Moussaka. The owner told us it was the best mousaka on the island and if it wasn't, it was free. We both LOVED it. Nauossas was one of our best meals this vacation. After dinner we were given a shot of cherry sorbet - it did have alcohol - Nicholas wouldn't try it but Tommy, Tom and I did. It was delicious and we all wanted more! Nicholas was too afraid to try it because it was liquor - but he was mad when we told him it tasted like kool aid! Dinners in Greece are very relaxed. No one is rushing you out of your table. Many of our meals took 2 or more hours. The owners and waiters are very pleasant and do not rush you at all. Most of the time they would ask us if it was ok to bring the meals. They wanted you to take your time. This is something that none of us were used to.
We wandered around the streets and shops, got lost in all the windy roads and shops. We entered a wine shop and a expert salesman grabbed Tom. I say expert because he was good, really good. 240 euros later, we walked out of there laughing (and crying) at what we just did! It was hilarious. How much wine, ouzo, olive oil and olives do you really need?? Actually, we ended up going back to tell them that the shipping was too much and we were not going to spend that much - we knocked it back a bit!
Tom and Nicholas headed back to the hotel, but Tommy and Julie were not finished with our evening in Fira. We explored some more, walked around the caldera looking at all the homes, etc. and found our way back to our hotel. Things were just starting to happen in Santorini. We laughed because Happy Hour is from 9:30-10:30. The dinner hour is so late here we almost always have dinner by ourselves even when we eat at 8:00! We've read that nothing happens before midnight in Santorini - I'm starting to believe it.
It's been a long day - everyone needs a good night's sleep for tomorrows adventures!
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