Left Venice on the Ferry (ship really as it is huge – 1500 people and 700 cars and trucks) headed for Greece. Just got the hang of Italian (good morning, good bye and thank you) and have to change to Greek which is very different and difficult.
We identified our ferry as we sailed past it on the vaperetto to the closest stop about 5km away. We got off, were informed we had to walk back and dragged our bags quick smart down the road. We saw a guy walking behind us and I asked if we were headed in the right direction. He confirmed this in Italian (but with understandable hand gestures) with the miserable news that despite walking 10 mins in the hot sun so far we were in for another 20 mins or so. Plod, plod, plod. Then a few minutes later he pulled up and invited us to get in his car and he drove us to the terminal (a good 4 kilometeres – don’t listen to Ronnies pathetic 2 km guess). He patted me on the back and shook Ron’s hands to let us know he understood our grovelling “grazie”. Were we lucky we weren’t flying as we arrived half an hour after check-in..
The information about how to get to the terminal was found on the internet from an obviously unreliable source. We had been trying to ring and check-in and confirm details with Anek (Greek shipping line) for 36 hours but they had yet to answer their phone.) Our first experience of “Don’t worry about today and let tomorrow take care of itself” laissez-faire attitude.
After returning our heart rates to an acceptable level and drying out in the airconditioning (it is hot today) we returned on deck to see Venice from the sea – very pretty. We have an outside cabin so we can see the very flat sea. We have passed five (and I have given up counting) oil rigs in the Adriatic Sea so far. There are also dolphins. Ronnie has never seen such a completely flat sea. The boat is completely steady steaming ahead at 25km.
The satellite wifi (for which you PAY) is active for about 2 mins before it drops out. I think I will use my entire allotment connecting and reconnecting rather than actual internet time.
Our ferry! Not quite but pretty close. Very impressive but equally worried about the Greek Economy as the ferry wasn't full.
