Santorini - Wow, I'm Really Here!!

We've been on the plane for a couple of hours (after a 3.30am taxi pickup to get to the airport on time ...) and all of a sudden I look out the window and see the amazing blue of the Mediterranean and it hits me – I'm really here and this trip is real – wow, I'm excited!

Within 2 hours of landing, we are at the beach and shortly thereafter in the ocean – incredible! We're staying in Kamari (best place on the island I've decided) – it is quite a small town with a main boardwalk beside the beach where the majority of the restaurants and shops are. We're lucky – our hotel is right on the boardwalk and there is a lovely courtyard pool inside or else beach chairs right outside – hard to get more perfect than this!

The first couple of days are spent unwinding by the pool with dips into the ocean – it took us a few days to figure out the 'towel' protocol with the beach chairs but once done, we're right out front by the waters edge. While I am not a water baby (really don't like putting my head under), I do love being in the ocean – when it is warm! We're on a lovely little bay which is quite protected by a side of rock and so swimming – or my version thereof – is just lovely. (I've invented a new stroke – “the chair” - sit upright in the water, kick your legs and use your arms to pull you backwards – not the most efficient I'll grant but very pleasant and effective when going into the wind and surf!)

I think it was by the 2nd day as I was puttering in the water, that I realized, there is really no reason not to come back to Europe and travel more frequently – it's been 11 years since I left, and while I've been back on business, never for vacation. Now granted, it took me about 5 years to vacation at all, but why keep flying to Hawaii or Mexico when there is just so much here. Requires saving of course – but every couple of years seems feasible ... we'll see how I do going forward but that is my thinking at the minute!

All in all, I think this is going to be a most excellent vacation! Or shall I say, very, very nice indeed.

PS - sorry technical issues preventing the uploading of pictures ... but maybe that is better?