Pearls of the Aegean

Arriving at the top of the cliff and smelling ever so slightly of Ass, I started exploring the ancient town of Fira. It was your typical tourist trap, just like St Ives and there were certainly enough tourists, most of them clustering around the cable car station now trying to get back down and causing complete and utter chaos. I walked around the town for a little bit, browsed in a couple of shops and then took this picture of interesting building detail at the top of an alleyway.


I was standing in the main street buying a tea towel set (of all things) as a souvenier when I bumped into Pin. She had returned from her Oia Village trip and like me was now exploring the town of Fira. We decided to have lunch together at a local cafe that had spectacular views of the whole caldera.


I don't think I can emphasize enough how spectacular this view is, it has got to be one of the most magnificent views in the entire world. I just sat there throughout the entire meal just eating in the view.

Here's another picture I took of our almighty cruise ship - looking like a dinky toy as it was dwarfed by the huge cliffs.


Here was some more of Fira Town, just barely clinging to the top of the cliffs.


I hope no one suffers from vertigo reading this, this was the view down to the harbour from where we were eating lunch:



This is Pin at the cafe. As you can tell from her hair, it was blowing quite a gale up there as the cliffs are 300 metres high, but it is a nice wind, a cooling wind, a bit like being here in Cornwall, with just enough cooling air to stop you from totally cooking.


After the 42 degree plus temperatures we had experienced in Marmaris the day before, this cooling breeze was a welcome relief. It was probably the only time during the heat of the day that I actually felt comfortable throughout that entire cruise.

Anyone for a beer?


Looking back now it's hard to believe that we were really there!