Day 26 Dusseldorf – Athens, Greece-Santorini

Woke early today to a beautiful blue sky, now Anna and Rudy are going back to work! We have had rain off and on over the weekend but not too nad.

Anna and Rudy left at 8am after we all said our goodbyes. They have made our first taste of Germany memorable with their knowledge and use of the language to take us places we could not really have gone alone and its been awesome to see them again.

We packed up and sorted our suitcases and backpacks so we don’t have the baggage police on us at the airport. My world was thrown into turmoil when my favourite hair straightener ever went….. zzt…… ztzzzztttt and died! Oh god, I cant live without it!!!! (having a Bridget Jones moment).

Walked down to the train station and got the train to Dusseldorf Flughafen (airport). Their trains are so quiet and quick. Into the airport about 15 mins before the 2 hour prior mark and missed all the queues. We got the nice lady in the Aegean business class check in (even tho we weren’t bus. class) and we were able to check through both our flights today and got exit row seats – yay! Took ages to get our boarding passes though as the machine wouldn’t print then put us in different rows. That fixed, we were through with no issues.

After a walk around and some lunch we found a vending machine selling….. yes- a mini hair straightener- yay *waving her hands in the air and jumping up and down*! The fact it is too small and has a european plug are small problems at this stage cos I can make do and my hubby used to be an electrician- so he can change the plug later when necessary!
My happiness restored, we now sit looking out at the runway with everything crossed the plane arrives (it isn’t here 20 mins before boarding) and we get the next flight ok. As I sit here 5 mins later, there are people in hi-viz vests outside putting cones down in the plane parking spot so its looking hopeful…..

Later…. Good flight over to Athens 3 ½ hours and we had heaps of room in our seats and noone next to us- even better! Landed and had a very fast walk through to the next departure gate- don’t know how the elderly or infirm would make it? We got to the gate and joined the line for the security check & x-ray. Unfortunately we got the one with the *biarche* of a young girl who had something very weird going on with her jaw as well as the chip on her shoulder!! She almost made everyone strip to their undies while the man working the other line zipped through the passengers. She made Graeme a bit steamed but finally got through just after boarding was to start………and they announced a delay! I think it was actually for a flight after us as we saw people sprinting to get through at 6.30pm looking stressed. Anyhow, flight took off an hour late so was good to just relax.

Dont know what it says but love the humour as Pinocchios nose grows whent hey extend the ramp!

Good seats on the plane again and only a 45 min flight to Santorini. We were picked up at the airport along with a very friendly Chinese couple and off up to the other end of the island, took about half an hour. So glad we aren’t staying in Thira the capital as its manic with people, clubs and a bit scruffy to stay in.
Reached Oia (“Eee-a”) and its beautiful in the fading light. No roads here as its all pedestrian streets – means its is very hard to get your suitcases up and down as its concrete with big stones in it but Thomas the guy who met us carried mine .
Went through the maze of quaint paths to our villa- exactly as the photos showed it.

Thomas spent quite a while taking us through all the bits and pieces and things to see. We were (happily) knackered as it has been 10 hours door to door but so worth it by the looks. Crashed after a cold shower!- Thomas had forgotten to turn the hot water on, but we were fine and just fell into bed.