Santorini Donkeys - Donkey Republic Exhibition in Santorini
The donkeys are a popular means of transport in Santorini that serve a lot of tourists daily. The main reason for their popularity is the fact that they are able to climb the steps that connect the old port with Fira town, patiently and safely, while currying people on their back. Being an indispensible part of the charm of the island, they can walk by the edge of the cliff even though having been loaded with luggage or humans! The passengers have a unique opportunity to experience a donkey riding and at the same time enjoying a great view to the caldera of Santorini. The donkeys are the first that welcome visitors to Santorini as they meet them at the port and then take over their first tour to the island. Being cute and friendly yet strong and fit enough to climb the steps, they are considered to be a picturesque symbol of Santorini that is strictly connected to the traditions of the island. Even though the cable car is available for the transferring of the visitors to Fira faster, most of them prefer the traditional donkeys that let them experience a rare promenade...
The donkeys had been a loyal friend of men for a long time since they accompanied people to several daily activities before the invention of modern means of transport. However, in Santorini they are still necessary not just for the transfer of people from the port to Fira town but for the transfer of a plethora of material needed for the building of settlements and resorts on the slope ground of the cliff which is inaccessible to cars. Thanks to their offer to the local community, the donkeys are protected and respected by the people of Santorini. Given the fact that these patients animals work hard during their life, they are transferred to a field when they grow old where locals take care of them.
On the other side, Santorinians have incorporated the donkeys into their culture and they have organized a special event based on them. Twenty artists worked very hard and using their creativity in the best way, they created several paintings on donkey-shaped sculptors. The sculptors are exposed in various areas of the island giving a nice note to the lanes of Santorini and reminding at the same time the huge contribution of the donkeys to the development of the island.
The sculptures will be auctioneered after the end of the summer season and the revenue from that event will be disposed to the fund that nestles the old donkeys of Santorini in order to ensure as much as possible the best conditions for their living in Karterados area. The person responsible for the Municipality environmental issues, Dimitris Sigalas, is the supervisor of any action related to the protection of the elderly donkeys.
I should note also that according to the club of the hotel owners of Santorini, if any artist from any country would like to paint a donkey, then that artist will be hosted in Santorini for five days for free, by the members of the club.
Santorini Donkey Republic 2010
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