Randy and Katy Smelser

Americans living in Germany but citizens of heaven

Santorini: 25th Anniversary Trip -Excursions 1-3
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Excursion 1 - a walk to a yacht/fisherman harbor for lunch

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It was just a short 45 min. walk.

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Katy had the catch of the day.

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Excursion 2 - the southern part of the island.

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We drove to the end of the island where there is a light house and cliffs.

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On the way we also saw the vineyards. It is very dry so they grow on the ground.

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The lava ash soil holds the dew and the leaves on the ground help by shading.

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They wrap the vines to form a basket inside which the grapes grow.

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The basket protects the grapes from the wind. Vines can be hundreds of years old.

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Among the cliffs of the south side….

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…one can find secluded beaches.

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We also went to Akrotiri, a city buried 1600 BC when the volcano blew up.

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They knew the volcano was about to go off and the people fled with all valuables.

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A few jars and pieces of furniture have been found.

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These stairs could not carry the weight of up to 50 m (165ft) of ash.

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Some buildings are 3 stories tall with wall paintings in the upper floors.

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Wood decayed but left air space which when filled with cement makes beds reappear.

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A bathtub and a shot of the roof over the dig site.

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Excursion 3 - a hike up to the Greek and Roman city of Thira from 2000 yrs ago.

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From our hotel, the highest peak on the left and old Thira on the right.

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We hiked several hours up the donkey trail to the sattle.

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About half way up to the sattle where the entrance was.

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From the entrance 20 more min. up. Looking back at the beach where we started.

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A house with atrium

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Looking down from the top of the amphitheater

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Underground building with the highest peak of the island in the background.

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A temple site

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After Old Thira we walked down the zig-zag road on the other side to Kamari

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In Kamari we ate a late lunch and waited for the boat.

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We took the boat around the mountain back to where we had started the day.