We slept in and got a late start because we weren't pulling into Santorini until around 1:00. The ship anchored because there wasn’t a port big enough so they used a ferry to get us to and from the ship. Once we got on land, we discovered there were three ways we could get up to the city - walk, take the electrical tram thing, or ride a donkey. We picked the donkeys, obviously! We found the donkey place and it was only 5 euros a person. It was crazy - like four old men would help you get onto the donkey super quickly and then they would smack the donkey on the butt (get it - an ass’s ass hehe) and it would start going. They didn’t care if you were actually on correctly or comfortable or whatever. It was amazing! It was such a different experience than it would’ve been in the U.S. - first off, they wouldn’t allow us to ride the donkeys in the first place, let alone on the same pathway that people were walking on, and we would have to be strapped in and have guard rails and stuff. It was SO fun! Mom went first, then Al, then me, then Dad, then Cory, then Jess. Mom kept screaming because Al’s donkey kept biting hers. Dad and Cory were kind of freaking out because Jess was stuck behind another group and they couldn’t see her. It was hilarious! We climbed higher and higher and the view got more and more beautiful. The donkeys were so trained to just go up and down the mountain. I kept having to give mine a little kick to get it moving. Sometimes they got a little close to the wall and my leg would scrape against it. There were people walking on the same trail which was stupid for several reasons - it is a long freaking walk! The pathway is covered in donkey poop which makes the path really slippery. Plus, the donkeys don’t have steering wheels! We can’t control where they go or if they got close to people. Some old guy was like yelling at us because our donkeys were getting too close to his wife and Dad said, “Do you think they have steering wheels on them? We can’t help it!” It was awesome haha when we got closer to the top, this group of hippies were walking down and yelling at everyone riding the donkeys because we were hurting them and we were being cruel and we should just walk. Cory’s response to that was if the donkeys weren’t carrying people up and down the mountain, they would be turned into glue. I don’t think Cory and Dad have an opinion at all, do you? It was a super fun, beautiful, hilarious ride with Mom screaming and Dad yelling at hippies.
We got off the donkeys and walked around the city for a little bit, took some pictures of the view.
We decided we wanted to go to one of the black sand beaches so we found a taxi station and a bus station. The taxi was going to be pretty expensive for all six of us so I walked down to the bus station and discovered it would be 1.50 euros each. I pride myself on knowing how to travel cheap, I learned some good skills on study abroad! We got our tickets and waited for the bus to come.
In the meantime, Jess had to go to the bathroom, of course. There was one on the other side of the bus station. She was gone for a while and we were about to send someone to go check on her when she came out all huffed and puffed. Apparently the bathroom wasn’t really a bathroom, it was a hole in the floor. And the best part is she had to pay to pee in the hole. She said she didn’t really know what to do because she couldn’t really aim… I was dying! She was all grossed out. My solution was we were going to the beach so she could wash off haha moral of the story - just hold it!
We decided we wanted to go to one of the black sand beaches so we found a taxi station and a bus station. The taxi was going to be pretty expensive for all six of us so I walked down to the bus station and discovered it would be 1.50 euros each. I pride myself on knowing how to travel cheap, I learned some good skills on study abroad! We got our tickets and waited for the bus to come.
In the meantime, Jess had to go to the bathroom, of course. There was one on the other side of the bus station. She was gone for a while and we were about to send someone to go check on her when she came out all huffed and puffed. Apparently the bathroom wasn’t really a bathroom, it was a hole in the floor. And the best part is she had to pay to pee in the hole. She said she didn’t really know what to do because she couldn’t really aim… I was dying! She was all grossed out. My solution was we were going to the beach so she could wash off haha moral of the story - just hold it!
We got on the bus and headed to the beach. Once we got there, we discovered that the black sand was actually little black pebbles which really hurt your feet but it was gorgeous! There were lounge chairs set up all along the beach and when we occupied a few of them and no one said anything or yelled at us in Greek, we stayed. It was so strange - I’m used to a beach that slowly slopes out to the water and deepens as you walk further in the water. This beach was different. There was like a build up of the rocks and right behind it was the water about a foot deep. Dad got to change into his swimming suit on a Greek beach while we held up towels around him haha so that was cool. Dad and Cory got right in but it was a little too chilly for the girls. I collected a bunch of rocks to bring home - they were mostly black volcanic rock that was smooth because of the water but there were a few white or red rocks as well.
After a while, we walked up to the little beachfront shops and did some shopping. I found some epic leisure pants and a floppy sun hat, I was very excited! The lady was really cute and gave me a little wrapped up prize for shopping with her. I later discovered it was a little magnetic turtle - little weird but cute!
After a while, we walked up to the little beachfront shops and did some shopping. I found some epic leisure pants and a floppy sun hat, I was very excited! The lady was really cute and gave me a little wrapped up prize for shopping with her. I later discovered it was a little magnetic turtle - little weird but cute!
We packed up our stuff, got back on the bus, and headed back into the city. We did some more shopping. We found this little shop with a bunch of cheap t-shirts and stuff. The girl running it was super friendly and cute. She had a bunch of baby stuff - I bought baby girl a donkey onesie haha the girl kept touching Jess’ stomach. We got baby girl two Greek dresses - one white one and one blue one. They are so cute! Al and I found some cool paintings and I, of course, had to buy a little donkey to remember that experience haha
The last ferry to the ship was at 9:00 that night. We didn't want to risk it so we headed down around 7:30. We were thinking of taking the electrical tram thing down. Al and I started walking up there but the stairs got steeper and steeper and we were like there is no way pregnant Jess will be able to handle this. So we headed back down. Turns out, Jess and Cory had found a much easier way to get up to the tram and were already down the mountain. So me, Al, Dad, and Mom decided to walk down. The sun was setting while we were walking down and we got some truly beautiful views.
It was super slippery and I was wearing flip flops so I kept falling haha plus, I have old lady knees and they were not liking the downhill stairs. But we made it back onto the ferry and back onto the ship.
At 9:30, there was a magic show in the Stardust Theatre with the magician Jorgos. We went down and it was the weirdest thing... he did some pretty cool tricks but mostly just paraded girls around in skanky outfits and bragged about the awards he has received. It was strange... but entertaining.
It was a wonderful day! I loved Santorini, the donkeys, and the beach. And thankfully, that was the worst bathroom we experienced in Europe this trip!
The last ferry to the ship was at 9:00 that night. We didn't want to risk it so we headed down around 7:30. We were thinking of taking the electrical tram thing down. Al and I started walking up there but the stairs got steeper and steeper and we were like there is no way pregnant Jess will be able to handle this. So we headed back down. Turns out, Jess and Cory had found a much easier way to get up to the tram and were already down the mountain. So me, Al, Dad, and Mom decided to walk down. The sun was setting while we were walking down and we got some truly beautiful views.
It was super slippery and I was wearing flip flops so I kept falling haha plus, I have old lady knees and they were not liking the downhill stairs. But we made it back onto the ferry and back onto the ship.
At 9:30, there was a magic show in the Stardust Theatre with the magician Jorgos. We went down and it was the weirdest thing... he did some pretty cool tricks but mostly just paraded girls around in skanky outfits and bragged about the awards he has received. It was strange... but entertaining.
It was a wonderful day! I loved Santorini, the donkeys, and the beach. And thankfully, that was the worst bathroom we experienced in Europe this trip!
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