March 2

This morning we got up in time to call a taxi at 5:30. While we waited for the cab, we chatted with the guy, Walter, at the front desk. This was a different person than we had been dealing with previously. I guess Walter has the night shift. Anyway, after listening to Walter call the cab company and speak on the phone, Allie asked if he were from the States, specifically, the south. It turns out that he is from South Carolina and even spent a few years in Mount Pleasant! He then went on about Sullivan’s Island beach and Dunleavy’s pub. Again, this world is so small. He was very nice and, as always, it is great to hear other people gush about your hometown. It makes me proud to be from Charleston.
The cab driver dropped us off at the ticket booth, and after a minor freak out where Allie couldn’t find her ATM card (which she found once we could go through here suitcase), we boarded the boat with plenty of time to spare. We grabbed a seat in the dining area, preferring the spacious tables and comfy chairs to the enconomy class seating that was assigned to us. Most people seemed to prefer the dining area as well and it soon filled up. The hours flew by as we chatted, read, and looked at our pictures on my computer. A couple we recognized from the hostel sat at the table next to ours at one point and it turns out that they were also travelling to Santorini for a bit, and were staying at the same hotel! Allie and I had planned a bit better, however, as we had arranged for Stavros, the hotel’s owner, to pick us up at the port. We ended up sharing the car with them, however, and they seemed very happy to accept the ride.
The hotel is very cute. Stavros and his wife, Maria, were very, very happy that we chose to stay with them, and she lovingly rubbed our hands as she smiled and showed us the room. Though we signed up for a double bed, they took us to a room with a double bed and a single, so Allie and I won’t be sharing the same bed for 4 nights. This room comes with a fridge and a small electric stove top (we have already made 3 cups of tea), a set of dishes and silverware, a small balcony with a table and chairs, and a bathroom. This may be one of the best rooms we have stayed in so far (except the swanky Marriott in Cairo, of course).
The hotel’s description of its amenities included internet and asked Maria about where we would find the computer. She told us we could come to her home, where we were to find the coffee and tea in the mornings as well, to use the internet anytime. After getting settled, we ventured just down the street and asked if we could use the computer. I expected to find some sort of desktop, designated for guest use, but soon realized that the internet promised to us came from the teenage daughter’s laptop, which she was bringing downstairs for us. So Allie and I each shot our parents emails to let them know we had safely arrived, but we’re going to wait till we get back to Athens till we go online again.
But weirdly, while shooting out those emails, in walk Mary (a girl on the trip) and Elizabeth (her friend from back home), who are also staying in the Stavros Villas. This must be the only hotel open this time of year! It was strange to bump into someone from the trip so immediately and unexpectedly. Now I am anticipating to keep running into people, given my track record.
After the emails, we set out for downtown Fira. Almost all of the shops were closed as today was a national holiday, but we did find one mini mart open and purchased some oatmeal to make for breakfast, green tea, instant coffee, and a few other things to serve as light dinners. We headed back to the hotel after two hours poking around the few open shops. One bookstore sold particularly neat cookbooks. We both want to find a good one to bring home so that we can cook some of our favorite Greek dishes when we get home.
We headed back to the hotel for a bit and then went to dinner at a very cute, authentic looking restaurant we passed while out for the afternoon. This was a fish taverna and we had a wonderful meal. The house wine was very tasty, as was the fresh swordfish I ordered. Though we will only be here 4 nights, we will no doubt go back to that restaurant. There were only locals inside and we sat for about 2 hours just enjoying the meal, drinking the wine, and telling funny stories about our families and how wonderfully kooky they are.
Now it is bed time. I have no idea when I will be able to post this, but hopefully sometime soon.