The Daily for Sunday October 24, 2021

[GeorgeCharlie]

We visited Santorini in 2012 onboard the Nieuw Amsterdam. Santorini's primary industry is tourism, particularly in the summer months. Agriculture also forms part of its economy, and the island sustains a wine industry.

The dock used by the tenders.

 

View from the ship showing the tender dock at the bottom right; the zigzag stairs; and the cable car building at the bottom centre; with Santorini’s principal city, Fira, at the top.

 

You can also ride a donkey. 

 

View showing the cable car route up the hill.

 

 

We used the cable car to get both up and down, but we did take a picture of the final few steps of the stairs. Our congratulations on the people who were able to either climb, or descend, the entire way on the stairs.

 

There were flowerpots on some of the streets.

 

There seemed to several places offering terrace views of the area.

 

One of the bus stop shelters. There is regular bus service that links Fira to most parts of the island.

 

Departing the island, we sailed past Skaros Rock, a prominent landmark located just north of Fira. 

 

 

Originally the location of medieval fortifications, it remained a prominent settlement until the Santorini volcano became active and began to erupt in 1650. This eruption caused several strong earthquakes which collapsed part of the town into the sea. The volcano continued to go through periods of activity, erupting from 1701 to 1711 and again from 1866 to 1870. The 18th century eruptions were notably impactful, as they caused most of Skaros' residents to move to Fira or the nearby village of Imerovigli. The old Venetian fortress subsequently fell into disuse, and by the early 19th century consisted of only a few weathered ruins.

 

Skaros as seen in a sketch by Thomas Hope dating to the 1790s.

 

Internet picture as to what Skaros Rock looks like today.

 

A sad side note from a cruising point of view.

 

The cruise ship MS Sea Diamond operated by Louis Hellenic Cruise Lines ran aground on a well-marked volcanic reef within the caldera and sank in April 2007. The 1,195 passengers, mostly Americans and 60 Canadians, were initially all reported to be safely evacuated.

But later, it was reported that two French passengers, Jean Christophe Allain, aged 45, and his daughter Maud, 16, were missing and presumed dead. Allain's wife said her cabin filled with water when the ship struck rocks and that she narrowly escaped. She was not sure whether her husband and daughter made it out because the events happened so suddenly. Her son was on deck at the time and was evacuated safely. The family were accommodated in cabin 2014, an outside standard cabin on the starboard side of the vessel on deck 2, the lowest passenger deck.

Internet picture of the accident.

 

A video: Sinking of Sea Diamond - YouTube

 

After the sinking there was much demand from the residents of Santorini for the wreck be raised and removed. Further questions were posed but never answered as to why the ship was moved to deeper water to be allowed to sink in the first place. In May 2011, the Greek government claimed that removing the Sea Diamond would be "too costly" and said that the 150-million-euro cost of raising the ship should be the responsibility of the insurers and company that owned the ship. The latter two have no plans to raise the ship, however.

In October 2017 the Merchant Marine Ministry of Greece announced the wreck will be raised, out of environmental and navigational concerns. It is an artificial reef for now.
 

 

Edited October 24, 2021 by GeorgeCharlie

[dfish]

@Overhead Fred

[garlictown]

🎂Best Wishes to @Overhead Fred on the special day!

☕Katie

[AncientWanderer]

All or most of us here are animal lovers.  I just ran into this and thought gotta share it.  These are waaaay darling.

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-10108035/Adorable-animal-snaps-melt-hardest-heart.html

[kb4683]

@Overhead Fred

 

[rafinmd]

47 minutes ago, smitty34877 said:

@Overhead Fred I join in the Happy Birthday wishes.Please let the many 67 year Olds on this thread know what 68 is like!

I thought 68 was great.  Among other things, about a month after my birthday I had my one and only cruise on Rotterdam VI and immediately afterwards fell in love with MS Prinsendam.

 

Roy

[grapau27]

2 hours ago, Overhead Fred said:

Despite what the photo may imply, we are celebrating my 35th Birthday (again!) today -

 

Lovely decorative chocolate cake.

Happy birthday.

Graham.

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, Quartzsite Cruiser said:

I'm back with the rest of the pictures of Santorini.

 

@aliaschief  Welcome to the real world!  😱

@mamaofami  Carol, I'm happy you had a good time visiting with friends, but can't believe many were not masked.  Glad you both are getting the booster.

@grapau27  Graham, loved the picture of the cake.  It's amazing what bakers can do with cakes.

@kazu  Great you got your new toy figured out and that it saved a lot of work and bags.

@Cruising-along  Glad you had a great time with the DGS.

@Horizon chaser 1957  Hope you don't lose power or trees.  Stay safe.

@StLouisCruisers  Sandi, I hope your DH gets this tooth fixed soon, and lets them know about their failure to answer an emergency call.

@durangoscots  welcome home.  Sorry you had to return early and hope you are negative.

 

In 2019, the Veendam took us to Santorini for our second visit.  We opted to take a ship's tour that included the Minoan ruins, Oia and Thira.

 

 Akrotiri was Cycladic cultural settlement related to the Minoan culture.  The village was  destroyed by the volcano in the 16th century BCE.  The village, named for the nearby modern village of Akrotii,  is well preserved and is still being excavated.  The first excavatons were in 1867.

 

A couple of stops on the way to Akotiri.  The first was a roadside chapel, the second the view from the road, and finally ruins of an old windmill.

 

Pictures of some of the ruins, which fortunately are under a cover to protect them and us from the sun.  It is hard to tell, but the site is huge.

 

Oia near where the bus dropped us off.

 

The church and views from Oia

 

We had quite a bit of free time in Oia, and after wandering through most of the upper part of Oia, we found a nice place to sit and enjoy gelato.

 

This view. I think, is Oia from the Veendam.

 

Lenda

 

Thank you and awesome photos.

Graham.

[grapau27]

1 hour ago, StLouisCruisers said:

In 2012 we stopped at Santorini for the first time on Crown Princess.  Once we made our way to the top using the gondolas, we walked to the local bus station and boarded a bus headed to Oia.

 

This stop was in late November so the crowds weren't terrible.  Along the way the view of the island and coastline.

 

Once in Oia we did what we all do, walk around and take photos.  Here is the blindingly white church.  Everything there is blindingly white!

 

Anything not white seems to be Santorini blue.

 

 

I like to take photos of doorways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't figured out what this is.  What do you think?

 

After our nice visit to Oia we rode the bus back along the two lane winding road to Fira.  Another ride down on the gondolas and a tender over to the ship.  A beautiful stop on our Greek Isles cruise.😎

 

 

 

All those fabulous photos bring back memories of our visits to Santorini.

Graham.

[Quartzsite Cruiser]

21 minutes ago, grapau27 said:

Thank you and awesome photos.

Graham.

 Thank you

[57redbird]

Thank you all for the prayers & well wishes!   Looks like his surgery will still happen tomorrow --- since it's for cancer, he'll be the last case of the day.  Is supposed to be a same-day procedure but we'll see.

I'll get my Covid results tomorrow & they won't re-test him.

 

[57redbird]

@Overhead Fred  Happy Birthday to you!!!  🎂 🎉

[grapau27]

26 minutes ago, 57redbird said:

Thank you all for the prayers & well wishes!   Looks like his surgery will still happen tomorrow --- since it's for cancer, he'll be the last case of the day.  Is supposed to be a same-day procedure but we'll see.

I'll get my Covid results tomorrow & they won't re-test him.

 

🙏🤞

Best wishes tomorrow for you both and hopefully a very successful operation for your husband.

Graham.

[JazzyV]

Good afternoon. Thanks for the Daily.

Good days. I don't have a MIL, used to like bologna as a kid, and salute the UN.

Funny quote.

I make pork loin roasts fairly often; but not today. I'll pass on the drink and wine.

I've been to Greece, but not Santorini. Thanks for all the pictures.

 

It's damp and cold here today. The National Weather Service has been out surveying damage and now say there were 10 tornadoes! And there were some the week before making 15 in October. So strange for this area.

 

@Seasick Sailor Happy Anniversary! 

@grapau27 Very kind of you to pray for our care list. Great photo of that cake.

@kazu Good going on mulching the leaves. My blower is a Worx and I like it a lot, especially as I can vary the blowing speed.

@57redbird Praying your test is negative and DH's surgery goes well.

@mamaofami I'm glad you all got out for an evening; it surprises me too how many no longer mask.

@TiogaCruiser How exasperating that this is dragging out so long for you.

@StLouisCruisers That's bad that the dentist's office didn't contact DH! Why is there an emergency number if no one calls back?

@Overhead Fred Happy Birthday!

@Horizon chaser 1957 Oh my on the earthquake and good that DD is ok.

@durangoscots I hope you stay well, and that your friend remains ok. Will you get tested?

 

Prayers for the care list and cheers for the celebration list.

Stay safe everyone.

 

 

[57redbird]

Here we go again -- now his surgery has been postponed for 10-20 days d/t the positive Covid test.  We'd still appreciate prayers but not as urgently as before.

Thank you all so much....love this group!

 

 

[57redbird]

3 hours ago, StLouisCruisers said:

In 2012 we stopped at Santorini for the first time on Crown Princess.  Once we made our way to the top using the gondolas, we walked to the local bus station and boarded a bus headed to Oia.

 

This stop was in late November so the crowds weren't terrible.  Along the way the view of the island and coastline.

 

Once in Oia we did what we all do, walk around and take photos.  Here is the blindingly white church.  Everything there is blindingly white!

 

Anything not white seems to be Santorini blue.

 

 

I like to take photos of doorways.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I haven't figured out what this is.  What do you think?

 

After our nice visit to Oia we rode the bus back along the two lane winding road to Fira.  Another ride down on the gondolas and a tender over to the ship.  A beautiful stop on our Greek Isles cruise.😎

 

 

 

❤️ all your doorway pictures!

[StLouisCruisers]

 

16 minutes ago, JazzyV said:

@StLouisCruisers That's bad that the dentist's office didn't contact DH! Why is there an emergency number if no one calls back?

 

 

Exactly my thoughts!  We've been patients there for 10 years, for goodness sake.

[StLouisCruisers]

12 minutes ago, 57redbird said:

Here we go again -- now his surgery has been postponed for 10-20 days d/t the positive Covid test.  We'd still appreciate prayers but not as urgently as before.

Thank you all so much....love this group!

 

 

 

That's so unfortunate!  Didn't they retake the test today?  

 

5 minutes ago, 57redbird said:

❤️ all your doorway pictures!

 

Thanks!  You should see the Stavanger, Norway doorway pics.  I made a wall calendar using 12 of those doors.  They are so beautiful.

[Cruising-along]

4 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Thanks!  You should see the Stavanger, Norway doorway pics.  I made a wall calendar using 12 of those doors.  They are so beautiful

I would love to see those photos (I love doorways too).  Stavanger will be our first port on our next cruise. 🙂  

[kazu]

1 hour ago, 57redbird said:

Thank you all for the prayers & well wishes!   Looks like his surgery will still happen tomorrow --- since it's for cancer, he'll be the last case of the day.  Is supposed to be a same-day procedure but we'll see.

I'll get my Covid results tomorrow & they won't re-test him.

 

 

16 minutes ago, 57redbird said:

Here we go again -- now his surgery has been postponed for 10-20 days d/t the positive Covid test.  We'd still appreciate prayers but not as urgently as before.

Thank you all so much....love this group!

 

 

 

Well DAM.  I was just about to wish him the best for tomorrow and then I saw your new post.  Still sending prayers his way but sure wish they could have done it as planned 😔 

 

Best of luck failing your test.  The covid test is one we all want to fail (negative).

 

2 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

Thanks!  You should see the Stavanger, Norway doorway pics.  I made a wall calendar using 12 of those doors.  They are so beautiful.

 

Appreciate the warning 😉. DH is a door way person too for photos.  

I’m now prepared for Stavenger and will have to tell him about it 😉 

 

 

@JazzyVMy WORX has two speeds too.  They recommend high speed unless you are blowing in gardens.  Haven’t blown with it, just used the vacuum and mulch.  I have two other blowers that are lighter and easier for me to manage - especially since this one is electric so even though the cord is very long I use, it can’t reach all of the yard. 😉 

[grapau27]

26 minutes ago, 57redbird said:

Here we go again -- now his surgery has been postponed for 10-20 days d/t the positive Covid test.  We'd still appreciate prayers but not as urgently as before.

Thank you all so much....love this group!

 

 

Oh no.

I'm sorry to hear the surgery has been postponed.

If your husband has covid19 he will need to properly recover from this hopefully mild infection before his operation.

Take care.

Graham.

[57redbird]

40 minutes ago, StLouisCruisers said:

 

That's so unfortunate!  Didn't they retake the test today?  

 

No, they didn't.

 

[bennybear]

Good day all.   Happy anniversary seasick sailor! 
We’ve been fortunate to visit Santorini  several times and say there for a few days.   Last time we were so lucky to be on the Koningsdam because her dynamic positioning allowed her to stay in port when other ships came and couldn’t stay so we had the place to ourselves!  
 

 

[bennybear]

I particularly liked this sign in the church in Santorini

[JazzyV]

43 minutes ago, kazu said:

My WORX has two speeds too.  They recommend high speed unless you are blowing in gardens.  Haven’t blown with it, just used the vacuum and mulch.  I have two other blowers that are lighter and easier for me to manage - especially since this one is electric so even though the cord is very long I use, it can’t reach all of the yard. 😉 

 

Mine is older and has 5 speeds, with a little wheel you turn with your thumb to adjust the speed. And my arm feels like it'll fall off after doing the yard all in one go, lol.

 

1 hour ago, 57redbird said:

Here we go again -- now his surgery has been postponed for 10-20 days d/t the positive Covid test.  We'd still appreciate prayers but not as urgently as before.

Thank you all so much....love this group!

 

 

 

I was surprised they were going to go ahead with the surgery, frankly, with his positive test. Continued prayers.