The Santorini archipelago is a gem, but is located on a veritable powderkeg. It is only a matter of time before the volcano, the crater rim of which gave us this island world, erupts again. Since January 2011, threatening rumblings have been perceived beneath the archipelago. On Santorini, it's a case of getting nowhere fast without a mule. Whether the restaurant terraces above the abyss of Oia, the hotels
on the breath-taking cliffs of Imerovigli or Firostefani, it was only with the help of the stubborn climbing artists, that these daring constructions were made possible. Antonis Vlachos has ten strong mules that work for him. He transports almost everything with them: stones, food or the typically blue paint for the church domes. Santorini is a tourist magnet and up to five cruise ships call in at the islands daily. However, there is no port, just a narrow, concrete quay. Without the tender boats, no guests would ever reach the shore.