After we'd satisfied our tourist desires, we picked up a roadside souvlaki (gyros? Which one is it? I can never figure it out!) Anyway, they are delicious pitas stuffed with sliced meat, a sweet/savory yogurt sauce, tomatoes, onions.... DELECTABLE!! And a bargooon at only euros 3.40 for both of them.
Picked up our bags at the hotel and navigated our way to the METRO to Piraeus (the main port of Athens). Quite easy to maneuver our way around. Each of us paid only euro 1.60 and the trip was about 20 minutes. (I remember standing with my pack on the metro back in 1986 and being felt up by a young Greek guy - unapologetic as you please! Looked at my friend Christine - raised eyebrows and all and slapped his hand away with great gusto. All I got for my efforts were a smile and a wink from this young dude. Hmmm. Older and wiser this time around - and lucky enough to score a couple of seats! BONUS!!)
Picked up our tickets at the ANEK office at the port and were able to board our ferry early (got there at 5:00pm and the boat wasn't due to set sail until 7:00pm).
We had opted to take the "slow boat" i.e. overnight ferry to Santorini because we wanted to experience the whole sleeping on the boat thing. I have taken the ferry from Piraeus to Santorini three times in my life now. The first two times I did it I was young and poor. First time was 1984 and it cost 800 drachmas - GOOGLE IT!! - and took 5 hours. Next time was in 1986 and it may have been slightly more expensive but drachmas were still the currency of Greece and travel was still cheap.
This time it cost us euros 113 (approx CDN 85.00 each). BUT we splashed out and got an outside cabin because we are OLDER AND RICHER and we deserve it!
As we boarded, we quickly recognized that the staff was NOT friendly. NOTE TO SELF - service people in Athens TOTALLY SUCK!!
When we arrived at our outside berth we were pleased - it was small but cozy with bunkbeds and a private bathroom with toilet, sink and shower. Guests are welcomed with complimentary sparkling water, juice and fruit. Nice touch. We were delighted with the whole thing! So we dumped our stuff, freshened up and went upstairs to the lounge. for some "refreshments" aka BEER!! We were hot, dusty and parched and sometimes NOTHING does the trick like a beer. CHEERS!
When it was time to set sail, we went upstairs and on deck to wave goodbye to Athens (or GOODBYE AND GOOD RIDDANCE!!).
After a nap and a shower, Karel treated us to a lovely dinner in the first class dining room. Our waiter was a doll (changed my mind about ALL Athenian service people being jerks!) and he made a real fuss over us. I had roast chicken with potatoes. Can't recall what Karel had. Plus we each had a 1/2 bottle of wine of our preferred colour. Once again, there was complimentary halva but this one was flavoured with cinammon rather than orange. Not only THAT, but there was some complimentary GRAPPA which went down very easily. (Aside note: We are not naive enough to REALLY think that all these extras are completely free - they are undoubtedly included in the cost SOMEWHERE! Still, it's nice to have the ILLUSION that we are getting something for nothing!)
Back to our cabin around 10:00pm. Fell asleep fairly quickly after our long day but were awakened off and on all night long as announcements were made for passengers getting off in Ios, Paros, Naxos, etc, etc... so of course, I'd jump out of bed and peer out the window at each stop and say... "I remember coming here.....". Sigh.......
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