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<\/a><\/p>\nToday, the island of Santorini is a major tourist destination because of the geological uniqueness of the island, the incredible beauty of the region, and perhaps, the shopping opportunities! \u00a0Fira is the main city on Santorini and was built on the rim of the volcano 1200 feet above sea level. \u00a0From a distance, the white buildings look like snow on a mountain top.<\/p>\n
For visitors who arrive by sea, there are three ways to get to the civilization at the top of the cliff: climb 588 steep steps up a zigzag path, wait in line to take a cable car, or ride a donkey. \u00a0Everyone discouraged donkey rides as “too dangerous.”<\/p>\n We found another option. \u00a0We signed up for an early excursion to the historic village of Oia<\/em> (pronounced “ee-ah”). \u00a0The plan was to ride a tender to a different port and take a bus up to the top of the cliff and then continue on to Oia<\/em>. \u00a0After the excursion, the bus would drop us off at the main city of Fira 8 miles away. \u00a0Then later, we would have to decide how we want to descend the mountainside to sea level. \u00a0Same three choices: steps, cable car or donkeys.<\/p>\n The tiny cliffside town is known for its cave houses which were built into the rocks high above the sea as protection against pirates. \u00a0Fishermen and their families lived in the two-room stone dwellings carved out of the side of the mountain. \u00a0I felt like a mountain goat clambering along the path.<\/p>\n Higher up the side of the cliff were the captain’s houses. These were larger two-story houses with tiny gardens. All the buildings were painted white, originally to ward off disease according to the guide, but later to reflect sunlight and keep the homes cooler. Why people chose to live on top of the high lifeless, waterless, treeless cliffs is a mystery to me.<\/p>\n Today, most of the buildings are commercial shops, restaurants, or luxury boutique hotels. Oia<\/em> reportedly has the best view of the entire caldera which is enough to make photographers happy.<\/p>\n We had a couple of hours to explore Oia<\/em> by ourselves then we boarded the bus again and drove slowly through traffic to Fira, the capital city of the island.<\/p>\n Our guide, Sophia, led us up to the main pedestrian walkway and set us free. \u00a0Jeff and I took more pictures of the caldera and the sea and the lovely whitewashed buildings.<\/p>\n The weather was perfect: a strong cool breeze and warm bright sun. We strolled along the path with many tourists. \u00a0Fira was very crowded with too many cruise ship passengers.<\/p>\n It might be more fun to stay on the island for a few days and visit Fira in the evening after the tourists leave. Sophia recommended staying in one of the smaller villages elsewhere on the island away from visitors.<\/p>\n Before we left Santorini, we stopped at one of the many restaurants perched on the cliffside overlooking the sea. \u00a0We relaxed, away from the crowd, with iced ‘cappuccino freddo’<\/em> and a strong breeze off the water….<\/p>\n We strolled along the main pedestrian walkway in Fira and eventually, we rode a cable car down to a waiting tender to return to the ship. \u00a0We opted not to ride donkeys down the steep path. \u00a0It was an incredible view to look up at the inside walls of the volcano.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n