![Machu Picchu as seen by Dr Seuss buildingd cascading over caldera rim, peak in background](pix/2009/img_9615.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9618.jpg)
The land of Santorini
lies low on the outer rim of the old volcano, high and steep on the
edge
of the crater, known as the caldera.
Perissa and Perivolos Beach,
where I first arrived are on the low outer circumference. The main
towns, Firá
and Oia
(pronounced
EE-a) hang
right on the rim of the caldera, where the prices in-season
are as steep as the 589 steps that the mules travel down to - and up
from - the cruise
ship terminal.
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9623.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9625.jpg)
I haven't (yet) been to Oia.
Firá has a visually sumptuous bar/cafe with wireless and a proper
assortment of young cats.
And of course Greek coffee, which has a layer of coffee-mud at the
bottom of the cup. If you swirl the mud around and turn the
cup upside down, you are supposed to be able to read your fortune in
the mud patterns left in the cup. ("You will be hoodwinked by
a beautiful young fortune teller.")
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9661.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9667.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9674.jpg)
I'll let the rest of the pictures speak for themselves.
Speak! ("woof")
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9679.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9686.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9687.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9689.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9709.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9718.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9693.jpg)
![defaulttitle defaultalt](pix/2009/img_9726.jpg)
Contents Copyright 2012 Jeff Bulf