588 steps of Gratitude. In Santorini, Greece.

I’ll never forget the surge of emotion I felt looking up at Santorini, Greece as our cruise ship sailed into Santorini harbor. 

A city built along the cliffside. All those whitewashed houses with a perfect scattering of rooftops dipped in blue, combined with perfectly choreographed blue-painted window frames and doors sprinkled throughout for dramatic effect.

All of it nestled along the edge of the famous Santorini Caldera. A breathtaking, natural masterpiece.

It doesn’t seem real. It doesn’t seem possible.

The expression, “Where there is a will, there is a way,” instantly came to mine. An absolute truth that is very fitting for the Greeks.

Santorini was our first stop on our 7 day – 4 port, Greek Island Cruise. The anticipation was palpable. 

Let me set the scene. 

Cruise ships do not dock in Santorini. They anchor in the port and passengers board tender boats and are ferried to the island, at the Old Port of Fira, the main city.

Once you step on the island, the journey UP to Fira begins. It’s 400 metres or 1,312 feet climb from sea level to the top. Yes, that kind of UP.

But first, we must choose. We have three choices. We can take the Santorini Cable Car which runs every 20mins and will take about 3mins to get to the city of Fira. 

Or we can take the Karavolades Stairs consisting of 588 steps. Either walking or riding a donkey.     

I was adamant that I was only taking the Cable Car. No donkey. No stairs. Cable Car Only.

A smelly, scary, and grotesque image of donkey do-do was imprinted in my mind. So, cable Car only for this one.

Fear of heights? Yes. I. do.   

I’m sure the imprint of my feet and body are forever etched in the cable car floor and seat from me pressing so hard in my irrational attempt to move the cable car. Closer to the cliffside? Faster? Who knows. 

It’s likely the 8-year-old kid who was lucky enough to share the cable car journey with the “foot pressing lady” is still a little traumatized. Sorry kid.

We arrived. Hello Santorini. I’ve dreamt about you.

Santorini instantly hits all the senses. In all the ways you imagine it will. My heart was full. 

We enjoyed all the touristy things; we walked the paths woven through town, we explored the beautiful little boutiques, we ate Gyro, we sipped wine at a cliffside restaurant, we admired and smelled the pink Bougainvillea flowers.

Eventually, it was time to say goodbye and start our journey back to the ship. 1,312 feet down.

Dilemma. The line for the Cable Car was woven through the town. Hundreds of people. Waiting in line.

I quickly did a calculation. People volume versus Cable Care capacity. 6 cable cars with a max capacity of 4 people per car, on a 20min schedule. 

Dilemma indeed.

The numbers were not in our favour.  There was no way I was ending this beautiful Santorini adventure standing in line with increasingly agitated tourists, all trying to beat the proverbial clock. 

A voice, which surprisingly was my own said: “It’s OK, let’s take the stairs. It will be an adventure.”

And so, we started our journey down the 588 steps. Let the epic giggling fest begin. From the moment I saw the donkeys, I giggled.

It was impossible not to giggle when I heard the Guide yell, “Hey you, Donnnnkeeeeeyyyy???”

The sounds, the smells, the views. Slow and steady, 588, 587, 586, 585.

I stopped. Took it all in. Some experiences in life are not to be rushed.  

This was one.

I continued downward. 584, 583, 582, 581. 

I stopped again and took it all in. Some images are only worthy of a mental snapshot.  

This was one.

The realization of this epic, crazy, and unique moment in my life was not lost on me.

I giggled some more.

I took every step with a heart full of gratitude. Gratitude for everything. I was walking the famous Karavolades Stairs in Santorini, Greece.

I looked over at the Cable Car and I thought about the hundreds of people waiting in line for it. Compared to my dodging-the-donkey adventure, the cable car seemed like such a boring option. Sad really. All those people were missing this epic ending to a day in Santorini, Greece.

Seriously, if you have a choice – if your legs, lungs, and heart can do it – choose the steps.

You may surprise yourself and discover (from a zero-cost, most unusual, once-in-a-lifetime experience), the purest form of joy.  

Simply and purely unique.

My journey down the Karavolades Stairs in Santorini, Greece will be etched in my memory forever. And just like my footprint on the cable care floor. It is uniquely mine.

In all the good, giggly ways.