Only four days remained in our European adventure, so we high-tailed it out of Athens and set sail for Santorini, one of the southern Cyclades Greek islands. After an eight hour ferry ride, we landed in Athinios port and were picked up by Stavros, the man who ran our hostel. Driving to the hostel our breaths were taken away by the landscape of the island: it looked fake, it was so beautiful. I've been to California and Florida and neither prepared me for the blue of the water. The main city, Fira, was built right into the cliffs. We stayed in a small village called Karterado at Stavros Villas.
The city of Fira
After relaxing away the first night on the black sand beaches, we started the next day with an island excursion. Right off the island is another small island with a volcano named Thirasia and hot springs. Climbing around the volcano led us to see only black and red rock, and blue blue ocean. We got back on the boat and headed to the hot springs on the edge of the mini-island. They were not hot springs- more like swim in freezing water to get to lukewarm springs. But, it wasn't as cold as the water in Wales, and still gorgeous.
Coming down from the volcano
The day after, Lainey signed us up for scuba diving. I wish my camera was water proof because the most amazing sights of my entire 5 months abroad came from beneath the water with swarms of fish around us. The comedic part of this adventure was that Lainey thought she'd signed us up for snorkling... and was in for an awakening when the air tanks and weight belts were brought out. Still, the sight of the sunlight coming down through the water while a rainbow of fish swam around me is something I will not forget in this lifetime or the next.
The Red Beach
The moon was even gorgeous in Santorini
Santorini has the most beautiful sunset in the world. I'm not exaggerating. Google it. We rode our ATV up to the town of Oia and watched this sunset. Tears came to my eyes, speech was driven from my mouth and I took about 800 pictures. Truly, this was the best sunset in the world- prove me wrong- I dare you.
Only four days remained in our European adventure, so we high-tailed it out of Athens and set sail for Santorini, one of the southern Cyclades Greek islands. After an eight hour ferry ride, we landed in Athinios port and were picked up by Stavros, the man who ran our hostel. Driving to the hostel our breaths were taken away by the landscape of the island: it looked fake, it was so beautiful. I've been to California and Florida and neither prepared me for the blue of the water. The main city, Fira, was built right into the cliffs. We stayed in a small village called Karterado at Stavros Villas.
The city of Fira
After relaxing away the first night on the black sand beaches, we started the next day with an island excursion. Right off the island is another small island with a volcano named Thirasia and hot springs. Climbing around the volcano led us to see only black and red rock, and blue blue ocean. We got back on the boat and headed to the hot springs on the edge of the mini-island. They were not hot springs- more like swim in freezing water to get to lukewarm springs. But, it wasn't as cold as the water in Wales, and still gorgeous.
Coming down from the volcano
The day after, Lainey signed us up for scuba diving. I wish my camera was water proof because the most amazing sights of my entire 5 months abroad came from beneath the water with swarms of fish around us. The comedic part of this adventure was that Lainey thought she'd signed us up for snorkling... and was in for an awakening when the air tanks and weight belts were brought out. Still, the sight of the sunlight coming down through the water while a rainbow of fish swam around me is something I will not forget in this lifetime or the next.
The Red Beach
The moon was even gorgeous in Santorini
Sadly, paradise had to end. Eight hours later, we found ourselves back in the shithole that is Athens. Ten hours later, I landed in London. Twelve hours later I took off for Chicago, my first destination stateside. Another eight hours found me in O'Hare. In three hours, I touched down in St. Louis, and 17 minutes after my plane landed, I collapsed into the arms of my parents.... I was home. My time abroad had come to an end. 
Jerry's Food!!!
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