We are going to hike to Oia today.  There is a path from Fira/Thira.  We hear it is 9.8km and should take 2.5-3 hours to complete.  Just as we were leaving our hotel, a young woman asked if we knew the way to the bus station or the path to Oia.  Well what a coincidence 🙂  we guided her up to the start of the path while we went in search of breakfast.  We thought that the hotel breakfast was a bit too large.  We looked around for a bit and decided to start walking and find something along the way.

 

We notice that there are 5 cruise ships in the bay today.  There was only 1 yesterday.  We figure this is a good day to get out of Fira!!  Someone told us that they were expecting 20,000 people in town.  There were also a couple other ships arriving later in the day.

 

We catch up to the young woman and find out she is from Orlando.  Travelling on her own.  She is on her way to a friends wedding Tuscany and thought she had to come to Santorini as she was in the neighbourhood. 🙂

 

 

We walk with her for a while but leave her as we follow signs for coffee and a bakery.  We finally find it after passing many signs promising it is 100m away.  We pick up 2 coffees and 2 pastries.  It cost 12 Euros!!!   OUCH!!  Feeling ripped we make our way back to the trail to at least have a view with our pricey coffee.

 

 

 

We continue on to the north.  We think that we will climb a bit and then the trail will level off along the top of the caldera and be fairly flat all the way to Oia.  Sounds reasonable right?

 

 

Well we couldn’t be more wrong.  There are lots of elevation gains and losses.  The views are UNBELIEVABLE!!!  We need to keep our head down a lot in order not to trip on a stray rock on the path.  Also not to see the hill ahead 🙂

 

 

 

The photos are worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Can you see the little white dot up on the side of the hill?  That is where we are headed. Not sure what is waiting for us after that 🙂   Long road ahead.

 

Steep hill on the left.  Keep looking right!!!  The trail is very rocky and slippery due to loose gravel on top of the hard packed base.  This requires careful steps.  We are wearing our hiking shoes but we see lots of people in flip flops and flimsy sandals.  We shake our heads.

 

 

 

 

The little church is near!!

 

 

We see this sight.  Donkey rides and a scooter.  The old and the new both together.

 

 

 

 

We made it to the church.  I grab this little bench that is in the shade.  It is surprisingly cool.  The temperature is in the low 30’s.

 

 

 

 

 

Should be all downhill from here.  That is Oia down below.

 

 

 

 

Down we go.

 

 

 

 

 

We are back in civilization.  Can’t beat some of these views.

 

 

Found a little taverna for some well deserved beer and a snack right along the caldera.  Great views and great little old Greek guy serving us.  We meet up with the young lady from Florida and find her name is Emily.  She joins us at our table and we strike up a conversation with a couple that now live in northern California but used to live in Nanaimo.  The little Greek guy keeps selling us beer.  He is thrilled when I give him a Canadian maple leaf key chain.  Part of my geocache sharing treasures.

I am patting myself on the back again!!  This was a tough hike in very warm temperatures.  Lots of water in and out 🙂

This was another AMAZING DAY!!