Trip to Greece : Day 1-2, NY to santorini

My husband Ed and I went to Greece from Oct 4th to Oct 13th for vacation.

Day1 : Leaving NY JFK at 8AM by British Airways, arriving London at 7:40 PM. Leaving for Athens at 9:40PM.

Day2: Arriving Athen at 3:10 AM, leaving Athens for Santorini at 5:30AM by Aegean Airlines, arriving Santorini at 6:15AM. All the stewardesses on Aegean flight looked like living Greek statues with full make-ups at 5:30AM! A friendly girl from Las Vegas on the seat behind us told us Athens was safe and we're relieved. Santorini was very windy and cold. Ed was stopped by a security guy at Santorini airport and was asked to delete the photos he just took at the airport. We left the airplane by steps, so, he took those photos of rare sight nowadays..The driver hired by our Kavarari hotel in Fira dropped us off at 6:30 AM near the hotel. Although its reception desk didn't open until 8, the virtually non-English speaking driver insisted that the hotel was open and left. Ed watched our luggage in front of the hotel and I went to look for a shelter and found a small café. All other places that I could see were closed.

The café was nice and we enjoyed cheese pie and Greek coffee. The owner was kind. His English was very limited, but offered us the seat his wife(?) was sitting and closed the door to shut cold wind and gave Ed a Wi-Fi access code, all without us asking. First cat-sighting, but she run away.

Went to Akrotiri ruin, unimpressed, looked like a LA modern art museum. 

Red beach, looked good, but its picture was better and too many Chinese honeymoners around. Each couple could be nice, but together, they asked me to get out of their way because they were taking pictures!!

  First photographed cats and dogs!

Around noon, finally checked in. Lunch at Greek Mezedes Ouzerie, had grilled sardine, meat balls, and grilled eggplant & zucchini. Good, but could be better.

 

 

Enjoyed the view and sun from hotel terrace. Short nap at terrace in bikini, then nap in room.

Beautiful sunset from terrace. 

Window shopping. Dinner at Nicholas Tavern : fried cheese, grilled and marinated octopus salad, stuffed tomato and pepper, white house wine. The food was delicious and the restaurant people were proud of it. A German couple next to us said very good and the owner(?) said “I know!” 

More window shopping after dinner.

Gift-wrap without asking.