The Greek adventure continues. Caught the overnight ferry from Chios to Pireaus Port, Athens on Sunday night, arriving about 7:30 Monday morning. I had booked a berth in a 4 bunk cabin and was hoping it wouldn’t be full to capacity – but it was – had a restless night and wasn’t feeling well. I was one of the last people off the ferry because I was the last one in the bathroom – thankfully, as it turned out because I puked my guts out – I’m not good on boats! I saw a little building that sold ferry tickets – and I wanted to sort out my ferry to Crete before I did anything else – but it wasn’t open so I got a bottle of ice tea and sat with my luggage at a little café nearby – and sat, and sat, and wandered, and sat. I found a large building that had a sign of a suitcase and a key, and thought, ‘great, I can store my luggage while I wander around Athens.’ But when I went inside I discovered and empty building! Back to the café where I kept nodding off in my chair. When the ticket booth wasn’t open by 9 I managed to find a cab and instigated plan B. I asked the driver to take me to a cheap hotel (ooh – that sounds racy!) not too far from the port so I would be near where I had to catch my next ferry. And man, was it cheap – in appearance, but not price – the beggars charged me 40 euros! I felt better after sleeping for a few hours and having a shower, so I wandered out. A few doors away from the hotel was a travel agent where I got the rest of my Greece transportation organized – Athens to Crete, Crete to Santorini, Santorini to Mykonos, by ferry, and a flight from Mykonos to Thessaloniki on the mainland. Apparently you can get there by ferry but you have to change boat 3 times – this gal is too old for that shit – it’s more about comfort now, I’ll pay the price for that! Then I found a little restaurant where I had a lovely Greek salad before heading back to the hotel to relax for a few hours. About 8:00 I headed upstairs to the roof bar for a light supper, then grabbed my luggage, hailed a cab and went to catch my ferry. I remembered to take gravol this time, so even though I didn’t really sleep, at least I didn’t feel sick! I arrived on the beautiful island of Crete just before 7 this morning. I grabbed a taxi, showed him my hotel reservation and he dropped me off on a street saying my hotel was ‘just down there’, but he couldn’t drive into it. So out I got, hoisted my backpack on my back, grabbed my carry-on with wheels and off I went. Of course, things didn’t run smoothly! I couldn’t find the hotel and no-one I stopped seemed to know where the street it is on is. I stopped at a little café for a coffee to sustain me before continuing my search. Several Crete locals and directions later I finally stumbled upon the hotel. And it was locked up! No one answered when I rang the bell, so I sat on the steps for awhile and then asked a man who was working in a store next door if I could leave my luggage with him – he very nicely agreed to keep it, which is so nice, because I think the hotel won’t open until check in time, which is noon! So I am now sitting at another beautiful, outdoor café; just finished my 2nd cup of tea, had a facebook ‘chat’ with daughter #3, and caught up on my stautus, it is now 9:40. I guess I’ll do some more wandering and tea drinking – the coffee is way too strong here for me! This is my 3rd stop in Greece and the first time I feel like I’m in the Greece of the movies. Chios town was lovely, but could have been a seaside resort anywhere in the world, and all I saw of Athens was the lovely area around the docks. But the old part of Chania is lovely – charming stone houses with colourful shutters, flowers everywhere, endless winding alleys and hidden courtyards, and no end of little cafes and restaurants.
Posted on: Tue, 24 Jun 2014 06:49:35 +0000
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