Sandy's Travel Adevntures 2016: Italy & Greece: Santorini: Sailing Adventures

Santorini: Sailing adventure and archeological site

Sunday had arrived way too quickly.....

We started the day getting organised for our next adventures.

Annie headed off with Trish, Tina, Squizz & Sarah while Sandy & Jenny went via the Thira Dolpin to collect the Canadians.

We then made our way to our local village to tour the well renowned Akrotiri Archeological site.

This archeological excavation which began in 1967 continues today. The site is situated 1300feet over the white caps of the Aegean Sea. Santorini's own prehistoric museum is studying how life was back then. The total area of the excavated site to date is 1200square metres.

The street level had to keep being raised as the area was destroyed humour times by volcanic activity.

It is preserved under 25feet of volcanic ash.

Mid afternoon we all gathered and were very excited when our tour bus arrived to collect us for our Santroni Sailing adventure.

We had booked a private charter so we could have some say in where we sailed and swam etc.

Suffice to say it exceeded all our expectations.

The crew of Perikles, Eliza & Billy looked after us from helping us board (via another boat to Sandy's concern), to providing never ending beverages of choice, to wrapping our towels away around us after we emerged from the Segean sea, to guiding us safely around the deck when under full sail.

We checked in on Red and White beaches and the Akrotiri lighthouse as we sailed the coast and then turned into the caldera.

As we motored along we had the opportunity to see the steep cliffs and white buildings layered across the coastline. We were amazed by the contrasting colours of the sea, strata cliffs and various buildings.

We all took turns guiding the boat from the dolphin seats in the front corners of the bow and staying cool on the nets.

We then put down anchor at the private island beach owned by the sailing company and the majority of the travel buddies took the opportunity to plunge into the very salty Aegean Sea....quite refreshing. We then clambered gracefully (NOT) back on board (when the help of the crew) and set off again.

Our next stop was the volcanic island cove (Nea Kameni) which a home to the Hot Springs. Once again we plunged in only to find the hot / warm springs were actually quite cool! We were warned not to go too close to the rocks because they were sharp and boiling hot. We were also advised the sulphur in the water could tarnish / tint our bathing suits......Sarah took this to mean her new bikinis would not stay as they were so even though the travel buddies suggested she just went in naked she stayed on board with Squizz.

Squizz used her time very wisely and was scoring the dives into the sea by her fellow travel buddies...not too sure about the fairness and judging scale she was using.

We next put down anchor at another volcanic island for our dinner. Palea Kameni was a scenic spot to stop for a while and we represented with a virtual feast including saganaki prawns, Greek salad, pasta salad, BBQ chicken and pork with special marinade, mussels, olive pate, fresh bread, tzatziki, vegetable rataloui and so much more!

We then headed back to the bow of the boat as Periklese set the sails for the trip home.

The sunset was to die for and we are so lucky many of our travel buddies are such awesome photographers that we have captured the moments.

We had originally booked the adventure from 3pm - 8pm, lucky for us interesting winds kept us out in the water till after 9pm.

The fun continued back at the apartment with us meeting our challenge of having all travel buddies in the dip pool....well except for Jenny who was MIA.

Squizz was a tad challenged by tying to take the pic and be in it herself!

Annie withheld the key to the apartment but Sarah took one of the team and jumped back in the pool (hoodie and all) to obtain the access many of us were needing to the facilities!