Ah, the magical third day of a vacation, the time in a relationship with a travel destination when you start to either deeply fall in love or eye your return ticket. Thankfully, we’re still smitten with Santorini!
My sore thigh muscles sang songs of the many mountains (or at least, steep inclines) we conquered on our way to Oia. Who knew a hike could provide such an excellent workout?
Finally, we managed a good night’s sleep, waking up at the ungodly hour of 4:40 AM, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed. With this unexpected burst of energy, I dove into writing blogs, surprising even myself with this sudden surge of productivity. Perhaps it’s the magic of Santorini or just the relief from yesterday’s digestive ballet.
Sharing my experiences with friends back home brought joy and a touch of wisdom, especially when I heard about my neighbor Sunil’s escapade. Sunil and his wife Loveena, who were also vacationing in Greece, encountered the less glamorous side of travel: they got pickpocketed in Athens, losing money and passports. A visit to the embassy and emergency papers later, they were ready to return to the U.S. It’s a reminder that every rose has its thorns, and every vacation its unexpected twists!
Kia Makes A Debut
After another scrumptious breakfast where the croissants flirted shamelessly with my taste buds, I went on a quest for some 💶—because, apparently, in Greece, cash is still king! Remembering a brief encounter with Vazeos office while searching for our hotel, I met the charming Ntesa (pronounced Desa), a Bulgarian expat who swapped her homeland for this sun-kissed island fifteen years ago and never looked back. Overcome with nostalgia—and perhaps a dash of frugality—I rented a stick shift Kia. For a mere €40, I secured our noble steed, a grand 4-door chariot to whisk us across the island. Nidhi raised an eyebrow at my bargain-bin splurge, but I could tell she was secretly impressed.
Figure 1: Kia rental from Vazeos, Santorini
Akrotiri Lighthouse
Off we went to the Akrotiri Lighthouse, where the crystal clear waters mocked any attempt at description. Despite its beauty, our journey was briefly soured by a silent maps app, sulking until Nidhi unplugged the charging cable—voilà, it chirped back to life! We hydrated (lessons learned from yesterday’s dehydration debacle) and snapped plenty of pics.
Figure 2: Posing in front of the Lighthouse, Santorini
The Red Beach Misadventure
Our techno-troubled trek continued as the app sulked again, directing us onto a dubious detour reminiscent of the Road to Hana. Not keen on a Greek sequel, I backtracked swiftly. Vanya found a longer and saner route, but taking us a whole lot of extra five seconds—victory! My stick-shift skills were rusty, and the Kia stalled mid-turn. I feigned calm, heart racing, but got us moving again without incident.
Figure 3: Beauties at the Red Beach, Santorini
The Red Beach was both grand and awe-inspiring. We swapped photo duties with a friendly Peruvian couple, creating memories and new friendships. On the way back, the Kia hiccupped again, but we pressed on, undeterred by the adventurous path or the thrill-seeking swimmers at the beach.
Black Sand Beach
Figure 4: Black Sand Beach, Santorini
Next stop was the Black Sand Beach, a mere 13km journey that turned into a sluggish crawl through traffic. I mused over how much I missed California’s parking lot-esque drives—said no one ever.
Back to Falafeland
Midday, the siren call of thin pita wraps proved irresistible. We answered with Tzatziki flavored Lays and pseudo-European sparkling water, toasting to another unforgettable day.
A Last Job For Kia
Figure 5: हम अपना सामान खुद क्यों उठाएं?
Nidhi, clearly dazzled by my unparalleled mastery of the stick shift, began plotting the Kia’s graceful retirement. Her grand plan? To swap our noble steed for a shuttle to the mythical Paros ferry. I humbly acquiesced to her request, and so the Kia’s final quest was to transport us to Oia for one last sunset spectacle. “हम अपना सामान खुद क्यों उठाएं?” we mused, as we bid farewell to our trusty chariot.
Sunset & Thai at Oia
Figure 6: Astounding sunset color display, Oia
In Oia, we basked in a sunset that seemed to have stolen its palette from a particularly flamboyant unicorn—astounding, vibrant, and utterly Instagrammable. Post-sunset, we treated ourselves to a feast at Paradox restaurant, where the Thai food was so authentic, you’d swear the chef had a teleporter to Bangkok (or maybe California? we’ve never really been to Bangkok). Our staple order of green curry, pineapple fried rice, and Pad See Ew was a symphony of flavors that had us momentarily forgetting we were in Greece. Who needs moussaka when you can have massaman?
Figure 7: Our staple order: Green curry, Pineapple fried rice, Pad See Ew
Through all the quirks and quips, I remain immensely grateful. Life, as they say, is a kaleidoscope of sunsets, stalling Kias, and lost wallets. Each moment, whether filled with laughter or lessons, is a precious part of this grand adventure. Here’s to more days, more discoveries, and yes, even more digestive ballets. Let the journey continue!