Mooning around the Mediterranean

[drron29]

 

Several other ships with us.But no very large ones. Vantage tours Vasco da Gama and Windstar's Star Pride plus 2 smaller expedition ships.

 

[drron29]

 

So we are tendered in to the old port. Busses meet us at the pier. No donkeys or chairlift.

 

[drron29]

I am off to Oia for a self guided excursion. Rojaan is staying on board as it is listed as strenuous and she is not perfect yet.

As usual some pictures from the bus.

 

[drron29]

 

Their vineyards look very different to those we have seen recently.

 

Not windmills but a new hotel.

[drron29]

Prickly pear honey in the making.

 

Unfinished business.

 

And a couple of signs that a couple of Greek Aussies have come home.

 

And now in Central Oia.

 

[drron29]

Now it was a lot of up and down narrow pathways and stairs. Lots of boutique hotels,villas and presumably Air BnBs here so a lot of people lugging heavy suitcases up steep flights of stairs. I never want to do that.

 

 

 

[drron29]

 

[drron29]

[drron29]

I needed to take a few picture breaks. The climbing was getting to me.

 

A fairly distressed young Japanese bride. Might have sounded romantic to be married on Santorini but it was obviously proving not so good.

 

[drron29]

 

Nice to have the views from this hot tub but the public is only centimetres from it as they walk by.

 

[silkismom]

You must be truly thankful for digital, can you even imagine how much it would have cost to develop all those rolls of film, back in the old days.

[drron29]

Came around the point and the paths became narrower and the stairs steeper.

 

 

[drron29]

I am now back at the top of the village. I had first turned right and all the laneways were narrow. But turning left there was a nice wide path. Lots of shops and restaurants and all at tourist prices.

 

Came across a photo shoot.

 

[drron29]

 

 

It was a little past midday and we were to be back at the bus by 1pm so I thought it time to see if there was a restaurant with reasonable prices. Fortunately I saw this sign.

 

It led me down the hill a short distance and out of the tourist area and I saw this.

So in I went.

 

Looked the part and the menu prices were nearly a half of those back on the main path. It must be on a French travel site as I was the first in but noted the next 8 in spoke French as did the waiter. So I kept count. 22 French customers,4 American one other English speaker and me. Though one of the American couples were seen to their table,got the menu and then asked where the restrooms were. On exiting the restrooms they walked out of the restaurant.

So I had a 250 ml carafe of alocal red wine which was decent, a bowl of mussels, dolmades and bread for a total cost of 31.5 euros. The food.

 

It was good Greek homestyle cooking and I thanked the staff who appreciated that feed back saying that was what they want their restaurant to be.

 

[RachelG]

lucky you for being in Santorini with so few other cruise ships. When we were there last June on Regent, there were 6 other ships, huge ones, in port.  The place was packed, so packed it was impossible to get a photo without a hoard of people in the way..  and so packed it was not pleasant.

[Daveywavey70]

1 hour ago, RachelG said:

lucky you for being in Santorini with so few other cruise ships. When we were there last June on Regent, there were 6 other ships, huge ones, in port.  The place was packed, so packed it was impossible to get a photo without a hoard of people in the way..  and so packed it was not pleasant.

It’s much better earlier in the season Rachel. I Was there on April 9th a few years ago and despite being the only ship in that day it was still busy in Fira and extremely busy in Oia. I Don’t think I’d like it any later in the season. 

[drron29]

 

 

Quite a bit of rubbish around.

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

 

Local tender. Shipp not allowed to use it's tenders.

 

 

Edited May 2, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

[drron29]

 

 

Edited May 2, 2023 by drron29

[drron29]

The last of Santorini. One of the small Expedition ships

 

[drron29]

Kaiseki dinner menu. It was the last night with the couple from Florida we met at the IC Lisbon before boarding the Moon.

 

The wine.

 

Lobster soup.

 

King crab tempura.

 

Waygu kushiyaki.

Surf and turf - waygu plus lobster tail

 

 

 

 

Furkake rice.

 

Passionfruit creme brulee.

 

A much better meal than we had on the Dawn 6 months ago at Kaiseki.

[Stumblefoot]

5 hours ago, RachelG said:

When we were there last June on Regent, there were 6 other ships, huge ones, in port.

My goodness!  I could not fathom such a scene.

 

4 hours ago, Daveywavey70 said:

It’s much better earlier in the season Rachel. I Was there on April 9th a few years ago and despite being the only ship in that day it was still busy in Fira and extremely busy in Oia. I Don’t think I’d like it any later in the season. 

The best strategy I've found is to stay overnight in Oia, just like Venice, to avoid the crowds.  The last time I visited in June with Silver Princess, it was glorious.  The crowds start to thin by mid-afternoon and by late afternoon, it's a totally different vibe as if you have the place to yourself.

[QueSeraSera]

10 hours ago, drron29 said:

Their vineyards look very different to those we have seen recently.

If you like dry white with aromatics, seek out Santorini Assyritko (sp?) when you get home and you will savor memories of your visit.

32 minutes ago, Stumblefoot said:

The best strategy I've found is to stay overnight in Oia,

I have to agree but would add that any spot on Santorini will do to give you a great experience.

[drron29]

Friday and the third segment of our nearly grand voyage is over. I take the in transit tour. Nearly didn't happen as only 20 in transit guests. I had not known about this until a couple of days before sailing in to Piraeus. This was because the cruise was booked as 2 cruises. First Lisbon to athens and a little later Athens to Cittavechia so officially we were not recognised as being in transit. The other 9 on the tour were lucky as when I signed up it reached the minimum of 10 passengers for the excursion to take place. Rojaan decided on staying aboard as the tour said there were more than 100 stairs.

 

A bit of a worry as later that day we got the form for passengers disembarking in Venice. Hopefully now sorted.

So as usual some scenes from the Moon. It is obviously a busy cargo port and lots of ferry movements.

 

Out to see many ships waiting. I counted over 30.

 

And a hydrofoil ferry sets off.

 

Then it was on the bus to Mt. Lycabettus.