One of the more interesting aspects of this type of adventuring is not knowing on any given day what is going to be taken on next. We have tonight's and tomorrow nights accommodation booked here but absolutely nothing else until we hit Paris on the last few days of this month so will be making it up as we go along.

Catch a taxi into the main town which is called Fira, only a short distance away which is also located on the caldera . It is where the old port is, it is also where most of the cruise ships disembark their day release passengers (being on one of these tubs to me would be akin to being in jail) for tours etc. The old port area both at the top and down 583 steps is a hive of activity. As we arrive a large ship has weighed anchor with tender boats tethered like ants.

There are a number of ways to transfer from up to down and vice versa - by donkey, Kathy and Maddie, by foot, the Don and M-L, it was she that told me the number of steps or by cable car, yours truly. I will leave it up to you to work out who are / is the smart banana.

The trip today is generally water based along with some doing and as always some learning as well. Our walk to the top of the volcano at a height of 127 metres on the middle island is done in flip flops by all of us, not something that any of us recommend, yes very slack planning. The walk was fine but it would be a struggle in any hotter temperature than what we encountered ( around the high 20's C) plenty of rocks for the BBQ here . Water vapour and some gases come out from hot gas vents in sections around the rim but nothing to indicate that our time is up right here right now, they say another little cough is due on average in fifteen years. How do you turn cold water into hot water, buy a bottle on the boat and not drink it until you reach the summit!

Once conquered we motor around to the other side of this island on the promise of hot springs. Once in the general vicinity we are informed that due to the number of boats around the area today they will place us as close as possible. In other words if you want to get to the "hot" springs which are along the edges of the cove you need to swim for it - in water that they are calling reasonably cool. Somewhere around 14 - 16 degrees C, I am committed but far from happy. Also the reverse needs consideration, here you are basking in the "hot" springs then one needs to swim the 200 metres into colder and colder waters just to get back on the bloody boat. The Don, having qualified for the finals of the butterfly a few days ago is a non starter, wants to place all his efforts into the final so he stays boat based .

It is a little like when you had to queue up at school to have an injection, once in the line up hard to not take it like a man, thus I am in behind other fool hardy souls who come in all shapes and sizes. Hard to hide yours bits here, most of the female variety have most of their bits hanging out anyway. M-L looks as Chloe rightly mused - smokin hot in her little string number.

Over the side and swim as fast as one can but where is this hot water, if you did a little number ones it would have been warmer to hang around in that patch, sure warmer than that first plunge but I think the Don pulled the best spot. Still now been sucked in and now done that.

By the way the views whilst boating / sailing around the island with the cruise ships and a myriad of other vessels along with the caldera and it's hugging accompaniments as the background cast and the sheer brilliance of colour palette playing lead is indeed very consuming .

Our destination next on the agenda is the outer island detached from the actual caldera called Thirasia. It is here where we wander through the basic food shelters and select which chargrilled item takes today's fancy. Should it be the squid or octopus, maybe the swordfish, the lobster chunks also pass the muster. I do the right thing and have a mixed skewer. All reasonably civilised considering the logistics.

No prizes for guessing who wants in, water that is, again. Kathy has had enough of this nonsense and high tails it out of here and charges up the few hundred steps to the top of the island and back, interesting way to work off lunch. Back on board after a few hours of leisure for a drop of point within the harbour side village at the northern most point of the mainland caldera called Oia. They say its the best place to view the sunset but our little secret nest at the Butterfly Villas damn fine by us .

Return to the old port with the smart ones (us) going up - well perhaps Kathy and Maddie not fully on their game as they do donkey again. We the cable car. At top, the line for the not so adventurous travellers wanting to go down to get back on the floating deluxe edition tubs up and around the corner. Simple way one could treble ones cash, instead of charging 5 euro a seat on the cable car, when the cruise ships are in make it 15 euro, they are not going to take the steps or the four legged option.

We check out a bar where the Dons brother worked for five years in the main centre of Fira, it sits right on the caldera, also make our acquaintances to his ex leading lady who still has a frock and do dads shop right opposite. No need to venture far in these parts for mans needs!

Back to swim in the relative warm pool water, greek platter of snacks and sunset doing its thing in the background. Reasonable day all round I say.