Fira and Firostefani

This is the view looking south from my hotel. Fira is the capital of Santorini but to the north of the town are two smaller and quieter villages called Firostefani and Imerovigli. The three almost merge into each other and all straddle the top of volcanic caldera, or crater. I'm staying in the village of Firostefani, the middle of the 3 settlements.

It's been a stormy day. The rain didn't last long but there's been a strong howling wind all day, making everything rattle. I spent a restful day mostly indoors, but still enjoyed the view and the constantly changing light from my room. There were two cruise ships in the bay which I kept my eye on all day. I must say, I wouldn't have wanted to be in those ships or in the smaller boats taking them to shore. I can't imagine how rough it felt for them.

I didn't let the wind prevent me from exploring this evening, however. I bundled up and walked up to the next village, Imerovigli, and watched the sunset from the terrace of a perfectly situated cafe. There are very few people around. It's early in the season and the cold weather is keeping people away even more. When I packed for this trip I tossed out the warm hat I normally carry in my case, and laughed to myself that I wouldn't be needing that on this trip! Oh how wrong I was - I would love to have that hat to keep my ears warm! Thank goodness I brought my thin down jacket, which I only brought to wear on the plane!

I chatted for awhile with a friendly British couple in the cafe this evening. She had what I call a 'serious' camera and come to find out she is in the photographic industry. We got onto the topic of using the iPhone as a camera. I apologised for it and told her that last year when I was here another 'amateur' photographer told me that he thought the iPhone was ruining photography. She disagreed quite vehemently and said that the iPhone has been very instrumental in revitalising an interest in photography and she celebrated that. I wish we could have continued that conversation but the sunset was over, the bar owner wanted to close up, and so we went our separate ways. But it was an encouraging conversation. Maybe one day I will use a 'real' camera again, but for now I am happy with the one that is always in my pocket!