Thursday 2nd October. Warmest, stillest night of our time in Santorini so far. Other nights have been a bit breezy, I’ve even worn a hoodie, unheard of for me in Greece.
We’re taking advantage of it by just sitting on our apartment balcony drinking Santorini Thalassitis wine and some raki, reading, playing Scopa and listening to music.
Finished reading: The Stone Door by Leonora Carrington 📚
Not an easy or straightforward read. Definitely wish I’d read the Afterword before the novel, it explains a lot.
Finished reading: Smile Please: An Unfinished Autobiography by Jean Rhys 📚
Greek breakfast in Perissa after a short, slightly choppy boat ride 🌊
Visit to Gaia Winery this afternoon was fantastic.
Table for two on the beach, tasting five of their wines - three whites (Assyrtiko, Moschofilero and an Assyrtiko/Roditis/Moschofilero blend) a rosé (Agiorgitiko/Syrah) and a red (Agiorgitiko). Our sommelier was really good - she described all the wines, provided a lot of information, then left us alone to enjoy sampling the wines at our leisure.
All the wines were very good but (not included in the tasting) their white Santorini Thalassitis does stand out - we tried a small glass and bought a bottle.
The wines were accompanied by some delicious cheeses. Here, quoting from their menu, as a record for my reference:
“GRAVIERA” FROM IOS
Yellow-gold cheese, produced from fresh pasteurized cow (80%) and sheep (20%) milk. Tasty and balanced.
“FRAGKOSYRIANI” FROM SYROS
The cheese is produced in limited quantities, exclusively from Pasteurized milk, mainly cow milk and a small quantity of sheep and goat milk, with at least three months of ripening which gives a spicy flavor and intense, full taste. Its golden skin makes it look like Parmesan.
“VOLAKI” FROM ANDROS
It takes the name from its round shape. Soft and butter taste produced from 100% cow milk.
“MPOYRNIA” FROM ANDROS
The Andriotic version of Kopanisti made from 100% cow milk. A soft yellow-ivory cheese with intense pepper taste and good thickness.
This last cheese really surprised me. It was a white (or off-white) cheese that tasted like a blue cheese. More research needed!
📖 more
Finished reading: Balthazar by Lawrence Durrell 📚
Audiobook version 📣
Sunrise from the balcony 🌅
Backgammon in Kamari Beach Bar 🍷
Barrel Houses, Kamari
Located between the streets of Odos Myrtidiotissas and Odos Apollonos are over 100 small houses with distinct barrel-shaped roofs. Their shape was born out of the need to build quicky with limited materials in the aftermath of the 1956 earthquake, to provide shelter for those whose homes had been destroyed.
Enjoying the Santorini nightlife 📚 😊
Finished reading: Zen Confidential: Confessions of a Wayward Monk by Shozan Jack Haubner 📚
Walked a mile and a half along the beach from Kamari to the Gaia Winery 🍷
Dry white wines: Santorini Thalassitis and Gaia S W (Assyrtiko/Sauvignon Blanc)
The Thalassitis was superb! We’re returning on Tuesday for a full wine tasting session.
England outclass Canada to capture glorious Women’s Rugby World Cup triumph 🏉 🔗
They are world champions for a third time and this one may taste all the sweeter for being played out in front of a world-record crowd of 81,885.
⚽ On the ball - 27/09/2025
I guessed the player in 2 guesses Score: 63 Top 50% of players today
See if you can beat me! guardian.go.link/8FZ5o
Finished reading: Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys 📚
