Of course, despite the inauspicious start to our holiday, I needn’t have worried.
We catch our flight with time to spare (Easyjet Paris/Athens), enjoy a leisurely lunch (and the first of many cafés frappés) while we wait for the catamaran I’d pre-booked (yes, there is a limit to just how much I’m willing to improvise) to take us from Piraeus to Santorini. The owner of the hotel where we are due to stay for the first three nights comes to fetch us from the port when we realise we’ve arrived in the middle of the annual firework display and taxis are somewhat few and far between.
Spiros (yes, really) shows us to our room – more of an apartment really, with a mezzanine level in the curve of its whitewashed roof – and my jaw drops as I step out onto the balcony with its panoramic view of the whole west coast of Santorini: the broken outline of the volcano’s crater visible across the water, the lights of what must be the towns of Thira and Oia perched atop the cliffs opposite.
“We’re on holiday,” I say gleefully, for the twentieth time that day, as I slip an arm around the Boy’s waist.
He gives me that look. The same look he reserves for particularly sinful looking cream cakes when we walk past pâtisseries back home in Paris.
The look that makes my spine tingle.
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petite anglaise 
I know too how to do that look… it drives the ladies crazy, believe me (us), it’s like the best chat-up line ever!!
;-)
Comment by Mr Jo — September 10, 2007 @ 4:35 pm
Stunning! I went to Santorini a few years ago and we stayed in a hotel just outside Oeia. The island looks stunning at night time with all the town lights glowing. Did you ride the donkeys up and down the steps in Thira? I loved that.
Comment by Nicole — September 10, 2007 @ 4:41 pm
I’m completely wrought with envy, and not because of that amazing view, but because you guys in Paris have SO MANY flight options from Easyjet! There are little to no Easyjet flights out of Montpellier, so I’d have to drive to Marseille or even Toulouse, just to visit an interesting locale via Easyjet (which is super affordable).
Damn.
Comment by Mlle Smith in France — September 10, 2007 @ 5:01 pm
Mmmm holidays…
We’re just back from Fiscardo – I think Mrs Albion will tell you I gave her the same look.
Mmmm mmmm. Holidays!
Comment by Damian — September 10, 2007 @ 6:12 pm
Yay for blue skies and seas! When I went to the Cyclades the ferry before us sank and 100 people died and we were stuck in Piraeus, sleeping on the floor of the ferry lounge, for two days and nights…
Comment by Clare — September 10, 2007 @ 6:20 pm
Wow, your hotel looks amazing and it has one of those infinity pools… a dream destination! Definitely whet my appetite for a bit of Greek gallavanting!
Comment by Paris Lights — September 10, 2007 @ 6:59 pm
I’m beside myself with jealousy. Hotel looks wonderful. What’s that end of the island like to stay in? I’ve only stayed between Thira and Oia. We were right to suggest the Cyclades, n’est-ce pas?
Comment by Paola — September 10, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
Mmm… That is much better.
Comment by Choubine — September 10, 2007 @ 7:51 pm
Sounds like a good holiday ahead…
Comment by Jean-Luc Picard — September 10, 2007 @ 8:31 pm
I have absolutely no idea how you left the hotel, that is such a glorious view. One day….
Comment by tina — September 10, 2007 @ 8:36 pm
What a lovely place to stay with the boy of your dreams, he is, isn’t he? I hope you had a wonderful time and did all the things you wanted to and that all the food was lovely and all the drinks and views intoxicating.
Comment by Irene — September 10, 2007 @ 8:40 pm
That’s beautiful! I’m so glad you had a lovely view, blue seas etc. . . A gal needs that sort of thing from time to time.
Comment by Peggy — September 10, 2007 @ 9:00 pm
What a gorgeous view.
Comment by Kaycie — September 10, 2007 @ 9:12 pm
Why talk when a look will do–oh my yes. And is there anything more beautifully blue than the Aegean excepting a lovely lady’s eyes? Oh my oh my. And her arm around your waist and that look in her eyes? The boy is so damn
lucky and so are you, Catherine.
From Seattle where I’m putting my arm around my lady and giving her that special look:
Beau
Comment by Beau — September 10, 2007 @ 9:35 pm
Spectacular views. Blue seas. Cream cakes (sort of.) That look.
What more could a girl ask for on her hols?
Mya x
Comment by Mya — September 10, 2007 @ 10:04 pm
It looks so beautiful there.
Comment by Becca — September 10, 2007 @ 10:05 pm
oh look lovely – wish I was there.
Comment by Alix — September 10, 2007 @ 10:39 pm
petite
I’m writing from Australia having just disovered your blog. I’ve been frantically reading past posts to catch up on your journey. You’ve been busy!
No wonder you need some R&R, or as we say down under, ‘sun, sand and sex …’ (not necassily in that order!)Have a luscious holiday… Cream cakes is a good way to start.
Best wishes
running thread
Comment by jan jacklin — September 11, 2007 @ 4:42 am
I’m so glad you had a great time petite, you’re a very lucky girl to stay in such a gorgeous place, and the boy is very lucky to have been able to enjoy it with you :)
Comment by Ella C — September 11, 2007 @ 9:59 am
It will be good to “get you back” … look forward to hearing how you fared ” sans internet” !!
Comment by john west — September 11, 2007 @ 10:04 am
Ah, that’s what we were waiting to hear.
Comment by Parkin Pig — September 11, 2007 @ 10:42 am
Catherine … me thinks that you might have a few “contre-temps” with the url of your new site here !! I did a “typo” just now…. and came up with a very surprising result !! try it !! Hope it doesnt cause you too many problems. ( hey, it might be fun though .. certainly will give you something else to write about !! tee hee )
regards
John
Comment by john west — September 11, 2007 @ 11:42 am
I’ve been aware for some time that various subdomains and misspellings of my domain have been bought up by purveyors of p0rn…
Not a lot I can do. I will try to take it as a compliment that they feel doing so is worthwhile.
Although if the owners are reading, perhaps I could have a free subsription?
Comment by petite — September 11, 2007 @ 1:15 pm
On closer inspection, I’m now EXTREMELY upset to see links to “older women” and “mature women”.
Just how, may I ask, are those categories relevant to me?
Comment by petite — September 11, 2007 @ 1:18 pm
Yea, i would be upset too about the older woman links…its so WRONG!
Its things like this that make me need long holidays with white canvas hammocks and sea side breezes…
Comment by blueseaurchin — September 11, 2007 @ 5:46 pm
Now THAT’S the entry we’ve beeen waiting for. Relief and envy all round. Good-oh.
Comment by Moses — September 11, 2007 @ 7:11 pm
The place looks stunning and so relaxing.
Comment by Diane — September 11, 2007 @ 9:20 pm
That all seems divine to me…
Comment by Sally Lomax — September 11, 2007 @ 11:38 pm
Gosh ,that photo brings back memories of island hopping from Santorini down to Crete in 1979 with a pack of fellow student nurses.After a gruelling year on the “wards” we thought we were in heaven,even if it was on the cheap ,sleeping on the beaches more often than not.Santorini was and still looks stunning.I must go back with my sons and husband one
day especially now I know that there’s a low cost link from Paris.
Comment by Carol — September 11, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
I bet you’re teasing this holiday report out. Come on, spill the beans, did the holiday climax in a big question?
Comment by john — September 12, 2007 @ 12:37 am
Dear Petite Anglaise,
I write books for teaching English to Terminale classes for Hachette Livres. we will be writing a chapter on the INternet and I was wondering whether I could interview over the phone from our Paris studio or face to face would be eve better. The interview would be included in the book as a listening exercise. I wanted to ask you about your blog and your angry employer. Would you agree? thanks so much, Judy Martinez
Comment by judy martinez — September 12, 2007 @ 9:10 am
Ah, Santorini. I recognized that view instantly and I am pretty sure you are staying at the same hotel that we stayed at 5 years ago! Enjoy your vacation.
Comment by Caroline in Rome — September 12, 2007 @ 2:10 pm
A low cost link from Paris?! That means in a few weeks time … a link from St.Pancras, which is two stops away on the tube. I like it!
Once upon a time I walked with my spouse along a dutch beach, deep in conversation. At the end I uttered words I have never been allowed to forget: “what topless women?” (indeed there were many but really once you’ve seen thousands…). It’s a dinner party story now.
Comment by Eats Wombats — September 15, 2007 @ 8:51 pm
wow. so beautiful!
Comment by Lindsey — September 17, 2007 @ 6:02 am