Welcome to Santorini!

Katerina & John's Hotel

We checked out of our hotel, took the metro to the airport, and took our scenic 30 minute plane ride to the island of Santorini.  We were greeted by a tiny airport and a single bus service which connects to all the different towns on the island. The bus also doubled as a school bus and we picked up children as we made our way to the bottom of the Island, Perissa, where our hotel was.  We got dropped off in the middle of a dirt road with a few houses on one side, the ocean on the other, and no street signs.  We were hot, and tired, and couldn't find our hotel.  So I sucked up my discomfort and walked up to a greek man painting a house.  He didn't speak any English put picked up the name "Katerina" as our hotel owner.  I told him we didn't have a phone so he walks over to his car, opens up the trunk, clears out his painting gear, and motions for us to climb inside.  Hmmm.  I was taught never to get in the car of strangers, but what other option did we have?  pick us up. Woops!  Apparantly we didn't get the email.  After hotel

View from roof of burnt house in Pyrgos

"orientation" she drove us in a tiny car that she's been using as an 'animal shelter' to the market where we could pick up our breakfasts.  We still had some evening time left so we took a bus to Pyrgos, towards the center of the island to try to find a view to watch the sunset.  But the driver told us that the last bus left in an hour so instead, we explored the town by winding our way through picturesque white cement houses.  We happened upon some cafe's still closed for the winter season, and an abandoned house that had been burned down.  We climbed on the roof and gazed at the beautiful island before us.  There was a cafe by the bus stop called "Secrets" so we walked in to grab some coffee.  The waitress, of course, was named "Katerina."  She had waist-long dark black hair and was extremely friendly.  She made us the traditional Greek "Frappe's" and even showed us how to make one ourselves.  Before we left for the bus, she begged us to stay and fed us free cake and invited us to a party the following night.  Everyone in Greece has been so unbelievably friendly so far!  Arriving back in Perissa we walked the 5 minutes from our hotel to the black sand beach to watch the sun go down.  We were so excited to finally see ocean after many weeks in the city that despite the chilly wind, we splashed in the water like little children.  When it got dark we went back to the hotel where we met a girl named Kelly, who was actually from Wayzata, MN!  She was a student on Spring break but she was here by herself.  So we invited her to join us for our ATV tour in the morning.  She pointed out a nearby bakery where we picked up "cheese pies" for dinner.  We ate them in our room and took our salty showers, excited to explore the island the next day.  We climbed in and sat tensely as he drove us about 10 minutes away from where we thought our hotel was.  He dropped us off at "Katerina and John's hotel", refusing payment and drove away.  (The fact that he knew what hotel to drop us off at was incredible considering that practically everyone on the island is named Katerina).  We were greeted by a young man named Alex who dressed like a 90's Fruit Loop: Bright red pants, an orange vest, pink longsleeve and green shoes--and a big smile. He showed us to our very basic room: 3 beds, a bathroom where the shower was a box on the floor, with no curtain and a handheld showerhead, and salty water.  But hey, 7 Euros a night!  We slept until a knock at our door startled us awake and we were greeted by a middle-aged woman with long brown hair.  She began chattering quickly wondering why we weren't at the airport where her husband was there to pick us up.  Woops!  Apparantly we didn't get the email and wasted a couple of hours riding the bus.  After "hotel orientation" she drove us in her tiny white car that doubled as an 'animal shelter' to the market where we could pick up our breakfasts.  There was still some time in the evening so we took a bus to Pyrgos, a central town on the island with the plan of catching the sunset there.  But the bus driver told us the last bus left in an hour so instead, we weaved our way up the small paths between the beautiful white cement houses, passing by cafe's still closed for the winter and happening upon a burnt down house where the roof presented an amazing view of the island.  There was a cafe next to the bus stop called "Secrets", so we stopped in to grab a cup of coffee.  The bartender, of course, was named "Katerina."  She had waist-long dark hair and was super friendly.  She served us the traditional Greek "iced Frappe's" and even showed us how to make our own.  Upon leaving, she begged us to stay for 5 more minutes and fed us cake and even invited us to a party the

Black Sand Beach

following night.  Everyone in Greece has been so incredibly friendly so far!  We hopped the bus back and took the 5 minute walk from our hotel to the black sand beach.  We were so eager to see the ocean after weeks in the city, that despite the chilly wind we played like little children in the water as the sun set.  Heading back when it was dark we met another student staying at the hotel named Kelly.  She was also from Wayzata, MN and was on her Spring Break by herself so we invited her to join our ATV tour in the morning.  She pointed out a nearby bakery where we picked up our "cheese pie" dinners.  We ate them in our room and took our salty showers, excited to explore the island the next day.