Paulette

This is our last day on the island of Santorini.  We have been doing a lot since we got to Greece.  We decide to spend a more relaxing day before we start heading back to Ottawa.

After breakfast we take a walk on the Caldera to get some last photos.  We walk up to both churches (there are a lot of churches here) and then back again.

We spend some time at the pool cooling off.  We then head next door for lunch again.  The owner is very friendly.  We’ve been the only people there at lunch (well at the Canadian lunch time).

I ask him what is good today.  He says he can get us this or that or …   Then he says he can bring us a variety of different things and we agree.  He starts off with a plate of dips - tzatziki of course and some fava beans and the third is eggplant.  Tomatoes & cucumbers ring the plate.  We have bread and oil & vinegar.

Next he brings out a plate with meatballs, cheese pies, stuffed grape leaves and probably some other things I don’t remember now.  We can’t finish it all.  It is very good and we thank him for the variety.  The bill is very reasonable.

We head back to the pool to spend our last few hours.  Fred has let us keep our room until we leave.  No one is coming that night so he doesn’t rush us out.

We take a taxi down to the docks for our 5:00 PM ferry ride.  I’m not looking forward to this.  When we get down to the port we get “fished in” by one of the restaurant owners.  “The ferry is late tonight.  It won’t be here until 7:00 PM” he tells us.  We can either wait in the terminal or sit at his outdoor eatery and have a drink.

We opt to sit at the eatery.  We start with a drink.  Eventually we split a sandwich.  The owner is very friendly and lets Carla use his cell phone to call Eva.   She and her family are to meet us at the hotel for one last visit.   We didn’t want them to show up on time and we are 2 hours late.  They still agree to come into town even at that hour.

The ferry shows up and I take a double dose of Gravol.  I hope I’m not sick as I was the ride over.  This time we are in the business class upstairs.  We have reclining seats.  I find the ride much smoother.  I don’t get sick.

When we arrive at the port I grab my bag from the bag area.  Carla’s is missing.  She waits and it finally is sent down the conveyor belt last of all baggage.  Someone must have moved it inside.

We can see our hotel from the dock so we walk.  We end up having to climb a large amount of steps to get to the hotel.  I feel like I’ve been doing the Amazing Race.

We finally get to the hotel and Eva, Manoli, Anthony and Maria are waiting for us.  I can’t believe they came into town for just an hour or two to see us.  What nice people they are.  Manoli wrapped up a large bottle of their olive oil and two smaller bottles of their Raki for each of us to take home.  I know Kat will love the olive oil and Dave and Brian will grab the Raki.

We say our goodbyes.  I’ve definitely made some new friends.  I hope they can come to Ottawa to visit someday.