The ferry that took us from Crete to Santorini. It made the trip in about 1.75 hours which on the back of an envelope calculation means it was traveling pretty close to 80 km/hour. This was in spite of a 4 to 5 foot swell and strong enough Northerly winds for pretty good white caps. The stability and smooth ride was really quite amazing and we would certainly recommend these high speed catamarans as a way to travel between the islands

Unlike the images you get on the travel shows of people streaming on or off large steel hulks, these ferries are like very wide bodied aircraft (18 seats across) and the seating is assigned - we got a window seat but there isn�t a lot to see but sea on the crossing. You can�t go out on the deck when the boat is moving - thankfully, it is non smoking inside!

Our hotel is in the middle of the island capital, Fira, but it is a small town atop the cliffs of the caldera with everything within walking distance and most of the original streets to small for anything other than foot traffic and the occasional motor scooter.

The view from out table at The Flame of the Volcano Taverna where we had lunch on our first day here.

Santorini day 2 we went on a cruise to Nea (new) Kalema, the active volcano in the midst of the archipelago (which was a single island until said volcano blew most of it into the stratosphere about 3500 years ago).

This is what it looks like from Fira.

But this is what it looks like up close. The slope to the right is about 150 years old, the left 80 years old and the lava in the distance is 60 years old.

Jane about half way up what was really tough climb on paths made of loose volcanic scree.

We then went to neighbouring island of Palea (old) Kalema, which has been around for a couple of thousand years and has hot springs flowing into the sea. The boat stops about 100 yards out into a volcanic bay and anyone wanting to try the hot springs has to jump off the stern into remarkably cold water and swim into the spring - which is a saturated solution of iron and other sulphides - definitely a case for keeping your head above water! Malcolm is the one on the left in the green water. This was also about the only calm water we saw - very windy again with 4 to 6 foot swells in the main channel.