Sunday 21st July 2024
My Journey Continues
My time in Santorini was intentionally short, having visited as recently as May this year. I was only staying overnight so I could catch a morning ferry to my final destination, the amazing island of Ios. According to the handwritten timetable at the bus station, I had a choice of a 10 or 11 am bus to the port, but as the journey takes 20-25 minutes, the latter bus would be cutting it too fine for the 11:30 ferry so I planned for the 10 am bus instead.
But First, Breakfast!
I woke to my alarm at 7am, keen to make the most of the few hours I had left on the island. First order of the day was finding a good spot nearby for breakfast. Having skipped a meal last night, I was hungry and keen for some Greek Yoghurt and Honey.
I found several options nearby and chose a place called Magma for its good reviews and convenient location just a short walk from my room.
I ordered Greek Yoghurt with honey and nuts, plus a much-needed latte coffee. It was delicious and just the start to my day that I needed!
A Spot of Sightseeing
Despite visiting Santorini just a few weeks ago, I was keen to take a few more photos and videos around Fira before I headed off to Ios, especially as the weather in July was significantly better than it had been in May, with clear blue skies and temperatures already close to 30 degrees Celsius.
I finished breakfast and began walking west towards the Caldera rim, strolling through the now-familiar narrow streets of Fira. It was so much quieter than last night, with just a handful of tourists and mostly locals cleaning and preparing their shops for the busy day ahead.
I started south at the Metropolitan Church of Ypapanti Thira, a large distinctive building that is easily found towards the bus station and Museum of Prehistoric Thera, then turned around and walked north as far as the Cable Car Station. I could have gone further, but time was slipping away and I wanted to get back to my room in plenty of time to shower, grab my bags and make it to the bus station in good time.
Journey to Ios
My arrival at the bus station turned out to be perfectly timed: just as I joined the large crowd near the information kiosk, I heard one of the drivers announce the 10 am port bus. It seemed like many people were also heading to the port, but as I had no luggage to put in the storage area, I got to the head of the queue and grabbed one of the front seats.
The bus filled quickly and I ended up sitting next to a girl who was also heading to Ios with a friend, but as it was their first time they weren’t sure how the ferries worked. I spent most of the journey telling her how to ensure she got on the right boat and also gave her some useful tips on Ios – where to go, things to see and do etc.
The journey down to Athinios Port is one I’ve done several times now, with the tight hairpin bends that wind down the steep cliff face no longer a source of excitement or nerves.
Once we were down at sea level, I made my way back to Athinios Cafe where I’d waited in May. It’s one of the cheaper places down at the port and quite well-hidden, so I recommend finding it if you want to save money waiting for your ferry to arrive. I decided not to eat this time, though, but couldn’t resist a pre-ferry Mythos!
Using the FerryHopper mobile app, I tracked the progress of my ferry, Express Skopelitis, as it made its way from Amorgos. It looked to be slightly behind schedule, so I made no effort to move from the cafe until I saw it was inside the caldera and heading towards the port.
As the boat docked, I could see lots of passengers disembarking. I managed to get near the front of the large queue of waiting passengers, knowing that the boat was small and that shaded seats on the outside upper deck were at a premium. Once the departing passengers had cleared, we were waved over and I quickly boarded, heading straight upstairs to bag a good seat. Sure enough, as the boat filled, I saw lots of passengers roaming around in search of seats and was glad I had found one.
Ios Arrival
The journey to Ios took about two hours, so we arrived just before 2 pm having set off slightly behind schedule. It was a calm crossing and the slow-ish boat made for a relaxing, easy ride. Entering Gialos Bay where Ios port is situated was a great feeling, I was so excited to be returning for my fifth trip to the island.
Within a few minutes, I was back on dry land, heading around the marina towards my accommodation for the next six nights: Hotel Poseidon. I had a good idea where it was located from checking Google Maps, and it’s clearly visible on the hillside just behind some buildings. What wasn’t obvious, however, was how to get up to the hotel entrance. I headed in the general direction, and spotted steps down an alleyway between Enigma Taverna and AutoUnion Car Rental. I wasn’t sure at first if they were the right steps, but as I got closer to the top I saw a sign for the hotel and knew I’d taken the right path.
At check in, I received a warm welcome from one of the owners, Marina, and was shown straight to my room right next to the pool. It was quite small, but functional and perfectly adequate for me as a solo traveller. As I’ll be staying in the same place from now until the journey home, I unpacked all my gear, had a quick shower and then decided to hit the pool area for some sunbathing. It was very hot on Ios and there was hardly any breeze, either, so it didn’t take long before I was in the water cooling off.
Dinner in Mylopotas
I spent the remaining few hours of the afternoon relaxing by the pool, reading my Kindle and enjoying the hot sun, in between dips in the pool to cool off.
I left the pool just before 6, returning to my room to shower and cool off, the air-conditioning on full blast.
Keen for a good meal on my first night, I took the bus over to Mylopotas Beach with one destination firmly in my mind: Harmony Ios. It’s one of my favourite restaurants on the island and is in a great location overlooking the beach.
The cuisine is mostly Mexican-themed so I decided on chicken nachos for the main course and couldn’t resist some churros with chocolate sauce for dessert!
I sat and enjoyed the ambience while I ate my food and washed it down with a 1/2 litre carafe of white wine. They have live music most nights, so the atmosphere was lively but relaxed and I felt in no hurry to rush away.
Leaving the restaurant just after 9, I decided it was too early to head back to the hotel so I got off the bus in Chora and had a walk through the narrow painted streets. It was still early for much of the nightlife to be in full flow, but the village was busy with all kinds of people, young and old, enjoying the summer evening.
When I’d seen enough, I headed out of Chora towards the familiar path that leads down to the port – I’d used it many times on my previous trip in 2023 – and made it back to the hotel at 10:30. Still quite an early night by Ios standards, but it had been a long day and I was definitely ready to sleep!
