Monday 12 September 2011
Waking up to the early goings on at Piraeus ferry port, we drove over to where our boat was to leave. Nicole and Dian boarded and saved two tables outside on the uppermost deck while Charles waited to get on with the van which, because of its size, was treated as a big truck. This meant that he had to back on to the ferry while being yelled directions in Greek and German. Finally the three of us united, Charles and Nicole saving one table and Dian the other.
Unfortunately, Dian made the mistake of getting up to use the restroom, though the table was covered with a bottle of water and a jacket to show it was ocupied. A family of gregarious smokers sat down faster than you could say "Socrates" and began pouring her water into their own glasses, much to Dian's dismay as she returned. Being the people person she is, though, she soon won them over and was being offered the people's local bread and homemade goat's cheese. (It turned out they just needed some water to put out their cigarettes).
The day was gorgeous and hot, and it was only fitting that we should see the Acropolis fade into the distance as we headed for the island of Ikaria.
It was two stops before we arrived at our island, and we all agreed that the first two were either too touristy-looking or totally Deadsville. We were delighted when we came to our stop to see that the island was lush and humbly speckled with fairly small villages. Dian and Nicole searched for our old friends Robyn and David as we pulled into port, but didn't see them. Oh well, we will when we get off, we thought. Upon exiting the boat, however, Dian asked a port official if this was the stop for Ikaria, and he said it was one of two. Suddenly the mood changed from relaxed to tense as Nicole and Dian asked others if this was the right stop, or what port we were entering. The two rushed to find Charles in line with the other vehicles before he could get off the ferry and be stranded for good.
"Charles, Charles, I don't think this is the right port! The official said there were two ports!"
"No, this is the port, I asked Robyn and David."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
"Yes."
Thankfully, Charles trusted himself enough to keep driving istead of holding up the line and we soon saw Robyn, doing jumping jacks and yelling, "Over here! Over here!" Dian was overcome with emotion and everyone cracked up as David tried to take a group picture, but kept encountering difficulties with his camera.
Before driving home, we shared a lovely moment at a local cafe overlooking the water with the full moon in the background. They assured us we could relax, for we had nothing to worry about for the next two weeks, and as Robyn put it, "There's nothing here but fresh bread and kittens."
We drove home and Charles parked the car at a neighbor's since it wouldn't be able to make it up the steep hill to their house. A quick shower and tour of their wonderful traditional Greek home (featuring fresco paintings by one of the original tenants, an Egyptian man from the 1920s, that's application is still not understood even by the locals) we left for an early 11 o' clock dinner downtown. We toasted to our arrival and ate our food, along with a complimentary dish of goat cheese.
A fantastic start to what we were sure would be a great leg of our trip. Ikaria, we loved you already!
Waking up to the early goings on at Piraeus ferry port, we drove over to where our boat was to leave. Nicole and Dian boarded and saved two tables outside on the uppermost deck while Charles waited to get on with the van which, because of its size, was treated as a big truck. This meant that he had to back on to the ferry while being yelled directions in Greek and German. Finally the three of us united, Charles and Nicole saving one table and Dian the other.
 |
| Leaving Piraeus |
Unfortunately, Dian made the mistake of getting up to use the restroom, though the table was covered with a bottle of water and a jacket to show it was ocupied. A family of gregarious smokers sat down faster than you could say "Socrates" and began pouring her water into their own glasses, much to Dian's dismay as she returned. Being the people person she is, though, she soon won them over and was being offered the people's local bread and homemade goat's cheese. (It turned out they just needed some water to put out their cigarettes).
The day was gorgeous and hot, and it was only fitting that we should see the Acropolis fade into the distance as we headed for the island of Ikaria.
 |
| Can you see the Acropolis? Oh sorry, Nicole's covering it. |
It was two stops before we arrived at our island, and we all agreed that the first two were either too touristy-looking or totally Deadsville. We were delighted when we came to our stop to see that the island was lush and humbly speckled with fairly small villages. Dian and Nicole searched for our old friends Robyn and David as we pulled into port, but didn't see them. Oh well, we will when we get off, we thought. Upon exiting the boat, however, Dian asked a port official if this was the stop for Ikaria, and he said it was one of two. Suddenly the mood changed from relaxed to tense as Nicole and Dian asked others if this was the right stop, or what port we were entering. The two rushed to find Charles in line with the other vehicles before he could get off the ferry and be stranded for good.
"Charles, Charles, I don't think this is the right port! The official said there were two ports!"
"No, this is the port, I asked Robyn and David."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"Positive?"
"Yes."
Thankfully, Charles trusted himself enough to keep driving istead of holding up the line and we soon saw Robyn, doing jumping jacks and yelling, "Over here! Over here!" Dian was overcome with emotion and everyone cracked up as David tried to take a group picture, but kept encountering difficulties with his camera.
Before driving home, we shared a lovely moment at a local cafe overlooking the water with the full moon in the background. They assured us we could relax, for we had nothing to worry about for the next two weeks, and as Robyn put it, "There's nothing here but fresh bread and kittens."
We drove home and Charles parked the car at a neighbor's since it wouldn't be able to make it up the steep hill to their house. A quick shower and tour of their wonderful traditional Greek home (featuring fresco paintings by one of the original tenants, an Egyptian man from the 1920s, that's application is still not understood even by the locals) we left for an early 11 o' clock dinner downtown. We toasted to our arrival and ate our food, along with a complimentary dish of goat cheese.
 |
| We could get used to this |
A fantastic start to what we were sure would be a great leg of our trip. Ikaria, we loved you already!
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