MYKONOS AND SANTORINI

While Kristen and I were in Mykonos, we rented an ATV (all terrain vehicle) and drove around the Greek countryside looking for a beach called Fokos. We heard about this beach while talking with an Australian waiter at our hotel. Since I love to ride motorcycles, riding an ATV was a blast! Ultimately, we found the beach and it looked like something straight out of "Pirates of the Carribean." There were very few people sunning themselves on the beach, and there was only one tavern on the shore. We found out that this tavern could stay open only during the high season (when lots of tourists visit Mykonos), and the owners could make enough money to sustain themselves for the rest of the year! What a life :)

Now Kristen and I are in Santorini; it is absolutely beautiful here! Since Santorini is an elevated island, hotels and taverns are built into its side. In other words, the rooms in buildings are kindof like caves. Also, because buildings are at a lower elevation than the top of the island (which is often where the walkways exist), doorways accessible from the walkways look like they lead into nothing but the sky.

Yesterday, Kristen and I ran down 600 steps in order to catch a ferry to the active volcano that sits in the middle of the Caldera (circular bay on the west side of the island). We bought our tickets at 10:15 a.m. and the ferry left at 10:45 a.m., so we needed to rush! Donkeys blocked our path all the way down the steps; these donkeys were carrying people up from the port to which the steps led. Dodging people and donkeys (as well as donkey poop - gross!) all the way down the steps made me feel like I was in an obstacle course! Luckily, we made the ferry :)

Today, we are traveling to Naxos, which is another island in the Cyclades. More to come...