Stunning views ... |
The next dinner out? |
Piso Livadhi |
The entry to Santorini was somewhat foreboding with the sheer lava-layers cliffs dropping into the sea. Despite the tourism, Santorini is a stunning island with white villages clinging to the imposing volcanic cliffs and dotted with numerous blue domed church’s. Santorini was formed by a massive volcanic eruption that destroyed part of this once-circular island in 1450BC. The resulting under water crater is associated with the legend of the lost city of Atlantis. We enjoyed the day meaning along the main town with it’s winding, narrow streets full of shops and restaurants perched on the clifftops. We saw a novel way of collecting the town rubbish down a steep path using a donkey.
Memorial in private garden |
Paroikia is the main ferry hub for Paros and an easy town to walk around with a real ‘working feel’ to it. We found the best well stocked hardware store since leaving the UK in Paroikia with a few more items now crossed off the boat shopping list. A trip by bus down the coast to the local dive shop enabled us to fill our dive tanks ready for the next boat dive. At Paroikia we were able to secure a berth in the town quay after the charter boats departed which made it easy for us to walk off the boat at anytime as opposed to a trip (which usually incurred a wet backside) ashore in the RIB. We all enjoyed a relaxing few days at Paroikia and made the most of the local bakeries complete with an ice cream section, several meals out at a local taverna watch and walks to the different beaches depending on the weather.
We then moved to Naxos Is which were perfect conditions for Maree and Colin's last sail on Sabbaticus with a light 10-15kt breeze and a short 20NM trip. Naxos has been another enjoyable island to visit with the Venetian Castle on top of the hill. We anchored under the major tourist attraction the marble arch which was part of a temple started in 530BC but never completed. Naxos is our last stop with Maree and Colin who catch a ferry back to Athens to return to NZ. We will then have to adjust the two of us again as we sail further east to the Dodecanese group of islands next.
The next update will be from Maree and Colin to provide a 'first-time sailing' perspective of their holiday on Sabbaticus. Below are a few more photos.
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