Taking the briefest of rests before carrying the line of waiting tourists from Oía Port to the city at the top of the caldera.
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While these "taxi" donkeys are cute, I strongly urge you to choose an alternative method of transportation. The donkeys are frequently subjected to harsh conditions and abuse by their handlers. We heard stories from locals, and witnessed it for ourselves. On our walk up the winding stairs, we passed a donkey on the path that was tired and perhaps dehydrated and having a hard time keeping up. He was continuously whipped and dragged up the stairs by the handler, who showed zero compassion for the overworked mule. It was really hard to watch and not be able to do anything about it. Instead of taking a donkey "taxi," choose to walk the stairs on your next visit to Santorini. Not only will you be able to stop at your leisure to take in the incredible views, but you won't feel guilty eating a plate full of tomatokeftedes (fried tomato balls) afterwards!
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One of the most popular ways to get to the Old Port in Fira (see my previous post!) is to take a donkey ride down the winding nearly-600 step path. While it sure looks fun, I would recommend taking the cable cars or if you're brave, walking the steps all the way down. Just watch where you step and prepare yourself for a little bit of smell! Despite that, the views and the experience make it totally rewarding. Plus, we learned that the donkeys are often subjected to harsh conditions and treated poorly. By choosing to ride them it not only supports that treatment, but sometimes the donkeys will knock the tourists' knees against the wall in retaliation. That's a quick way to ruin a nice vacation!
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#greece #santorini #greecelover_gr #ilovegreece #TLpicks #IamATraveler #EarthCapture #LoveTheWorld
Some of the lesser-known areas of Santorini have the most charm. In Fira, take the cable cars down to the Old Port at the bottom of the Caldera Cliffs, or, if you're brave, walk the nearly 600-step winding donkey path to the bottom. You'll be rewarded with charming shops built into the rocks, a few little restaurants, and the most spectacular waterfront views.
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