Ios and Santorini

We wanted to see the famous Santorini Island but after talking to other sailors who explained the poor anchorages there, we heeded their advice to instead go up to Ios Island where there was a safe harbour and then take the ferry ride over from there.

So early on the morning of May 21st, we left Astypalea for mountainous Ios where again we Med-moored 10.5 hours later at 18:30 (N36°43.329' E025°16.421'). It was a great sail with little motoring.

Panorama view of Ios

Village above

The next day, we caught the fast-ferry to Santorini, an island shaped by a prehistoric cataclysmic eruption leaving only a circular archipelago with near vertical barren interior cliffs rising up from the deep bay. After entering the pass, the ferry docked against the vertical wall and the only way to the top rim was up the switchback road where the whitewashed buildings were perched along the rim like snow that capped a mountain.

No, it is not snow capped!

We rented a car and toured around the Island, up and down and along the edge of the rim, taking in the dramatic sights. We drove down to the "red beach". It was a disappointment as there was no sand, only reddish coloured rocks and boulders.

Red beach

But most impressive was the Old Town called Fira where the white buildings hung on the edge of the cliffs and where we hiked up and down the hundreds of numbered stairs through the maze of blue and white houses, churches, and tourist shops of Cycladic and Venetian architecture. We stayed for the sunset and a fabulous dinner overlooking the view.

Old Town of Santorini

Fabulous calamari...

...and sunset

We spent the night at an impressive AirBNB with a swimming pool and a large delicious breakfast in the morning. This is where we said goodbye to Aaron and Dee. Jordan and I caught the morning ferry back to Ios on May 23rd and Aaron and Dee flew out from Santorini to continue exploring mainland Greece for the rest of their vacation.