Santorini: Three

 By Maryanna Gabriel


As one walked, tiny skinny men said "Excuse" in an anxious sort of way. I would turn and quickly yield for they were laden with suit cases. These men are doing what mules used to, running to wherever, with great heavy bags. Not sure as to why using humans is considered a better alternative, I sought out a WC only to find a line up and that I had to pay. Just grateful I was taken care of, I munched on a bland sandwich given by my hotel, worrying it was ham, and boarded a new bus.

I was confused. I had chosen to do the "option" and I had no idea what that entailed except that it somehow involved a volcano. I was thinking we were going to the caldera and that I might see the Santorini museum. Long before Pompeii, Santorini experienced a rupture in 1650 BCE that was the largest in global history which vanquished the rich Minoan civilization that lived here.

But no. That wasn't it. I was being herded back to the harbour. A woman in front of me filmed the breakneck turns we were making and I confess I gasped twice as we narrowly missed vehicles. We were directed onto a beautiful wooden ship, maybe 60 feet long, and this was fine with me. It helped me to relax and I took in the sea air.

Our guide sounded drunk and I had absolutely no idea what he was saying. What happened next was a surprise. We dropped anchor at a volcanic "outcrop", an island of black rock laced with yellow sulphuric water. On one edge of the pumice a tiny Greek Orthodox Church was perched. People were pouring drinks, playing loud music, and jumping into the water and swimming into the warm yellow sulphur. No thanks. What if things started venting? I was relieved when we pulled away.