Final Day in Santorini



Cable Car Ride to the Boat



Yesterday morning was spent relaxing in the apartment, where I was finally able to finish Queen Noor’s book!  We were originally planning on going to one of the braches to see that black sand, but it was incredible windy and chilly, so we decided to stay in.  In the afternoon we walked to the capital where we poked around in the shops and little streets for a while--I was able to find more gifts during this week than the last two months in Jordan!  I’ll have to step it up once I get back!





Lava Rocks--near Volcano



On the Volcano!



Today we took a boat ride to the volcano that created Santorini, where we climbed to the top of the volcano.  There are craters that are still active, and luckily they decided not to go off today!  The boat also took us to some hot springs that were near the volcano.  The water was so blue, and near the volcano it has a greenish-bluish tint to it, which is due to the sulfur that is released.  It was so pretty and clear--though not warm at all!!  We then took donkeys back up to the top of the island.  My donkey was one of the first ones to get going, but as soon as we rounded the corner he decided that it was time for a break.  I couldn’t really blame him, it was quite a steep climb, but he decided when to move on his own time, without any input from anyone else.



We ate crepes in the city and then took a bus to one of the beaches.  The sand is black, due to the volcano, though it is more like tiny stones rather than sand.  I put my feet into the water, and it was absolutely freezing--there was no way that I would have gone swimming!  I walked back to the apartment from the capital, which about a 25 minute walk.  It was absolutely gorgeous--I was in awe at the fact that I was actually here for a week and that it was something that could never be completely captured in a photo.  We will have our last meal in our apartment today--after that, sadly no more cooking or dish washing until I’m back in the States!  We leave for Amman tomorrow where I have a lot of excursions to get in before I return to home, and not that much time to do it!!

Water near the Volcano--the Sulfur changes the color



Path on our walk to Thira (the capital)







Church on our walk to the Capital