Adventures Abroad: Students at Loose Ends Riding Island Donkeys in the Mediterranean 

Being in Santorini is more than exploring its diverse settlements, enjoying traditional Greek cuisine and unique wines, sightseeing and beaches.  It's about living on the edge…and that’s just what we did!  Part of the thrill of coming to the island is riding that donkey up the caldera (the remains of a violently erupted volcano)!

It was a beautiful, typical Thursday in Fira, the capital and main entry point to Santorini…but typical in Fira means commotion, excitement, and constant streams of tourists from sunrise and then into the late hours of the night!  Thursday is the busiest day of the week and the day when the most cruise ships come into the island.  Three of us students in the Summer Program in Greece – Mark Kinne, Michael Yerman, and I – were  sent to Fira to study the flow of the tourists once they pile out of the cruise ships. 

We enjoyed the morning by sitting at the small, bustling port drinking coffee and observing the tourists, the excitement on their faces, their frustrations when they push through the crowds, and especially their first impressions of the island.  Once you step foot onto the port, access is limited and there are only few means available to get to the top of the high caldera to Fira.  The cable car is the first choice among the tourists.  It is the fastest way up, but the lines can become horrible, nearly an hour long!  For those looking for a nice workout, climbing up the 600 stairs is definitely an option, but for those who want to take a stroll on the wild side, like us, there is something just for you!  I don’t know what got our interest first, the attention grabbing hustle and bustle or the distinct smell, but something told us that we had to ride them!  Not only for the fun, but to experience it through the eyes of a tourist!

I was the first one to mount my donkey, and oh was it funny!  The men who work with and own the donkeys don't speak a word of English!  They help you up and then give the donkey a good smack to go and expect you to know what you're doing.  It is quite nerve wracking, but it also gives you that little bit of thrill, not knowing what in the world you are doing!  It looked so much easier than it was!  I couldn’t stop laughing the whole way up!  It was hilarious riding, but it was even more entertaining watching Mark and Mike, who were shortly behind me, trying to take control of their donkeys. 

The day was quite an adventure, and who would want to believe me that we were doing an educational school project, but we were! We definitely were able to experience Greece in a different way and have even more stories to tell.  There were mixed opinions between us about the donkey ride: "The riding was enjoyable but the aesthetics weren't pleasing," stated Mike. 

This particular day was one of my favorites, among so many, spent on the island! I would recommend anyone traveling to the island to take the chance, you only live once! One more lesson I learned; don't decide to wear a jean skirt if you have any intentions of traveling up the caldera on a donkey! 

For more background on UC’s work in Santorini, go to 

• UC Team Builds a Model for Environmental Tourism in Greece
• Students Put the Brake on Accelerating Tourism in the Greek Islands