We arrived in Santorini later than expected as the Meltemi had started to blow, which delayed the boat. The Sea Jet 2 is notorious for being late anyway and the howling winds from the north only enhanced this reputation. When it finally arrived, there was chaos, as a legion of people with vast amounts of luggage tried to board the boat as quickly as possible.

The Sea Jet 2 ride was as rocky as expected (Jason calls it the ‘Spew Jet 2’) but was over quickly, Santorini being the first stop. We disembarked and found our apartment after a false start – its supposed location on the map not being entirely accurate – and were pleasantly surprised with its spaciousness and facilities. Being such an incredible and therefore sought after place to stay, Santorini is rather expensive so we weren’t sure what our moderate funds had procured. Our accommodation is not one of the white Cycladic houses gripping the cliff top but is a modern white-washed apartment with Grecian arches and a sparkling swimming pool, about a 15 minute walk from the town centre.  The road leading there is crammed with restaurants, shops and masses of tourists, providing plenty of things to see and many obstacles to avoid!

The old town centre is full of narrow, cobbled, labyrinthine pathways and bursts with a mix of alluring boutiques, souvenir shops, modern cafes and traditional restaurants. But the real magic is found in the snow-white caldera rim dwellings, which rise sharply from the sea, some 300 metres below. Even though we had been to Santorini before (14 years ago!), the views this time were just as captivating.