SANTORINI

Securing a storage berth for Molly with "Big Dave" at Henfold Lakes and after downing a bacon sandwich and a cup of good coffee with Ali and "the other Dave" we headed for Gatwick Airport courtesy of "the other Dave". What a great service from this amazing campsite - complete door to door service and to top it off "the other Dave" was prepared to pick us up on our return, at 12.30am, and "Big Dave" was happy to put Molly on a site and hook her up so that we could sleep comfortably when we arrived back as well. My gosh.....that is service with a smile!!!!!! Thank you so much to all of you.
So off to Santorini but no.............this was not so simple as it happens. Firstly we were flying with Norwegian Airlines.....mmmm not so sure about this company any more.......secondly we were heading into a Greek air traffic controllers strike and thirdly the wrong plane ...?????.....had been sent to Gatwick for this flight....something to do with the amount of thrusters it had, apparently not enough?? Over the hours of waiting at the gate where the flight was delayed, then off, then on, then off again, moved to another gate, hotel and food vouchers distributed etc etc we witnessed some very aggressive, rude and totally unnecessary behaviour from both sides of the counter and although we missed out on any vouchers and hot food on the plane that finally got us to our destination at 1.45am the following morning, we remained upbeat and ok about our experience. The only thing we ask of airlines is to treat us with respect and tell us the truth - fabrication is not necessary and brings out the worst in many people.
Even at 1.45am our transfer was waiting to take us to our hotel on the far side of the island of Santorini and we were happy with our choice. Hotel Notus was built in the old ice making factory by the side of a peaceful, little fishing harbour where sunset cruises could be taken from.......the sunsets there are amazing but we had no need to move any further than from Flo's verandah to watch them.
Our surprise was that a few days before we were due to leave for Santorini Flo decided to join us and whilst we had a room overlooking the harbour his was on the sunset side so we had the best of both worlds. We loved having Flo there with us, we hired a car, had fun, ate plenty, drank a lot, swam, sunbathed, read books and walked endlessly. The whole week was perfect.....secretly though I think Flo is a closet boy racer!!!!!!!
Exploring Santorini was wonderful. Once again every which way you turn there is something exotic and different to see. Thira was magical, the white and blue of the cuboid buildings striking. The weather was perfect and the food exceptional. There were donkeys to take you down the mountainsides and as you walked the walls and the alleyways the smells and colours assaulted your senses. Gyros was the best there and cheap. Although it was busyish we still managed to find a park and not feel rushed through our day. Stopping for a beer here and food there the day was perfect.
Our hotel had a bar in an old windmill which unfortunately was about to close for the season but Joanne made a wicked Mojita......or two!!!!!! Only God knows what Gary and Flo were drinking because I am sure she made them up as she went along!!!!!! We spent a couple of evenings there but it was a little sad when it closed. There were a couple of Greek restaurants close by i.e Dimitries!!! and one evening we decided to call in for Baclava. We arrived and were welcomed, sat down and I asked for Baclava. At that stage they started water blasting the windows and the water was going everywhere - Dimitri was soaked to the skin laughing his head off, the curtains were soaked and there was a river running through the restaurant. To cap it off the Baclava was rancid ........ should have realised things were not right as we were the only people there. Flo told us Dimitri sings?????.......maybe that is why no one goes there.
We did find a cute but tired local restaurant in the harbour where the fishermen eat. It was cheap, plentiful and very good food cooked over coals - the downside here was the crazy dog trying to dig a hole through the tiled floor?????
Our next trip was to Oia, similar to Thira but a lot less touristy. This town literally spills down the hillside and the white walls and houses look like icing dripping down the side of a cake. Walking down the side of the cliffside takes you into Amoudy Bay which for us was the perfect find. Settled at the edge of the Agean Sea it is like no other place we have visited. We arrived in a quiet time, few tourists in October, which again made it perfect. Flo and Gary filled their tummies with Squid, Octopus, some wierd fish, Greek salad and Tzatziki and I had Haloumi........the perfect meal in the most perfect place with the most perfect weather and the sea the clearest of aqua coloured water.
Gosh Santorini did us proud - we loved every moment.
We visited a lighthouse right on the edge of a cliff - ate Indian in Perissa and visited a vineyard....somewhere? The whole island is dry, volcanic and barren. The vineyards - well I am not sure how they produce grapes - they are scraggly, scrawny, old vines finding their own way on the dry landscape, propped up here and there with a brick or two or maybe a rock. They wind the vines round and round the stem to form a nest to provide shelter from the cold and keep in the moisture. The wine tasted more like old Chardonnay or sherry and was disgusting!!!!
Our hotel had a spa pool, plunge pool, sauna and massage rooms, all in cave like areas where the ice was originally stored in the factory so, after all our walking, climbing and driving we decided to take advantage of  them all. This just added another plus to this hotel as it was all at no extra charge.
All in all our trip to Santorini was 10 out of 10 and adding Flo to the mix made it 20 out of 10. Thanks Flo for being our chauffeur for the week, we so enjoyed your company.
Santorini is a definite bucket list place if you have not already been. I personally would not stay in Thira or Oia we were happy where we were - maybe a little isolated but perfect for us. To remember: everything closes late October but when we were there the weather was still perfect - sunny and hot.
Our trip back to Gatwick was uneventful, "the other Dave" was at the airport to meet us and Molly was all ready and waiting for us. Downside.........it was bloody cold back in the UK.
Sleep well, for tomorrow we head for Crowborough to start preparing Molly for shipping to NZ but also to spend a weekend in London with Brenton and to catch up with Eddie, Charlene, Ian and Sarah Louise.
Till then xxx