On Day 6, after breakfast and some time at the pool, it was off to the ferry. After leaving Naxos late and getting into Santorini about two hours late,
perhaps that is what is known as Greek time, it was time for a dip in the pool and then supper and the sunset that is beautiful anywhere on Santorini.
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Above: The Astir of Thira Hotel where I stayed, very close to the main part of Fira, the largest town in Santorini.
Thera or Thira was the ancient name for the island of Santorini.
The name Santorini was given by the Crusaders after a chapel of
Saint Irene (Santa Irini-Santorini) which was located in Perissa.
Today, the Greek government jurisdictional name for the five islands
in the volcanic caldera is Thera, but many Greeks still call the main island Santorini.
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1 is the Astir of Thira Hotel and my room in it.
3 shows a shells of buildings, just behind the Astir Thira Hotel, like many seen all over the island. I was told these are mostly buildings
started prior to Greece's financial trouble, and leaving them in this state instead of finishing them greatly reduces the property tax.
4 and 5 show views along the main street of Fira.
6 and 7 show the fine meal of locally brewed Red Donkey beer and Mussels in a tomato and cheese sauce at the To Ouzeri restaurant,
which I had there last year, and it was still excellent, and the view behind the restaurant.
8 to 10 show the front and interior frescos in the Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral on the main street of Fira, built in 1827,
badly damaged by the 1956 earthquake, fully renovated shortly after.
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