Since you met Benji and Blackie in the last post, this is a good time to segue into the topic of dogs.

When we visited Santorini in 1996, cats seemed to control the island. Cats were everywhere: on calendars, postcards, and your doorstep.

On this 2012 trip, however, dogs appeared to have taken over. Mind you, there were still plenty of cats around, but it was obvious that dogs now ruled.

All looked well-fed and seemed to belong collectively to the island.

They were obviously very comfortable with island life.

In Oia, they wandered wherever they wanted, effortlessly ambling up and down the steep pathways that crisscross the house-encrusted hillside hanging over the caldera. The small stone half-walls provided them jumping points and lounging platforms.

I sometimes worried for their safety as they lolled on low walls that with one false roll would send them plunging downwards.

I love dogs. Whenever I travel, I take photos of them. Santorini was no exception. As you can see…