Santorini, Greece

Santorini is also in the Cyclades group of islands. It's about a 3.5hr ferry ride south from Paros with a short stop over in Naxos and Ios.

Here is a quick snap shot of Naxos port from the ferry.

And here is one of Ios.

In the 16th century BC, Santorini was home to the second largest volcanic eruption known on Earth.

The caldera, which is Santorini, presents a scenery that is totally unique. And stunning.

I'm staying in Fira which is one of the two main towns on the island along with Oia.

So I'm in Fira for all of maybe five minutes. And I'm walking up the steep steps that lead to all the bars and restaurants on the cliff edge and I hear a jungle jingle behind me. I turn around and there's a team of mules walking up the steps.

They're used for tourist transport!

Coming from Paros, where at times I felt like I was the only tourist, to Santorini which is still very busy with tourists is a bit weird.

Fira isn't the type of place you visit if you want to wander around and do heaps of walking. Sure you can and should do some but it's all steps. And extremely steep.

And anyway, if you can sit at a bar, drink beer, look out over to the volcano and watch boats jetting around in the sapphire blue water. Why would you want to?

And yep sure enough the locals are really friendly and keen to chat.