Today we checked out of our hotel in Fira and traveled to Oia (pronounced “ee-ya,” the “o” is silent), where we visited the most photographed location which has become an icon for Greece.

We next walked through the town of Megalochori, where we saw typical homes of people who live here year-round, rather than tourists.

Finally we spent lunch and beach time at Kamari, also known as the Black Beach. I am afraid that the heat is really getting to me here. It is 34 deg. C which is HOT no matter how you measure it. The Black Beach has small black pebbles which are so white hot — it’s like walking on a hot cast iron skillet: you could fry an egg on one. Then when you walk on the pebbles along the water, your feet sink down as far as your ankles! Not like the black sand beach in Hawaii at all 🙁.

This afternoon while driving to the airport to go back to Athens, our tour director asked whether we had all our belongings and our passports. One of our young participants had left her passport and wallet in the room safe! A quick call was made to the hotel and one of their employees drove to the airport on a motorcycle! What service!

Meanwhile our flight to Athens was delayed and I folded up my paper boarding pass. But when we got to the gate, I could not find it anywhere! I showed my passport to the gate agent who looked up my seat on the computer. Whew!

Tonight was our last night with the group and we had a Greek Farewell Dinner. The food was delicious and the company even better! This group already knew each other except for just a couple of us. We were warmly accepted and now we’re a part of the group!

Karol Giblin presented our wonderful guide, Raquel, with a T-shirt to which we all signed our names on the back.

We have had a FANTASTIC time in Greece!