Taking our time over breakfast in our small apartment. A short trip by the ladies to find coffees and back again. Me enjoying the usual cup of tea. Time to write, though a little frustration getting the blog app to work properly today.
Finally all packed up and Popi drove us down to the port where we waited patiently with a few of our fellow travellers for the ferry that was getting increasingly late. Finally it arrives and we climb on board "Paros" and begin our short ride across the smooth Cyclades waters to Syfnos where we will remain for two nights. People and cars load on and off all at the same time. This from the people who brought the world so many science based concepts. I love the Greeks!
We are staying inland this time where two mountain villages are located. We've read that there is a three day local island food festival close to our little apartment which will be fun to check out. Think of the possibilities!
We are sitting on a very large ferry today on the upper club deck. When we booked on line, we must have upgraded for the short ride. Usually we are down in steerage so a treat to look out at the passing islands in very comfy chairs. Back in 1975. the ferries were pretty basic with sticky, smelly seats. We would often sleep inside or pull out our sleeping bags and camp outside on the deck over night. Great memories Kathy? You could seldom get a drink or food, that we could afford, so we always carried those precious items on board with us.
The long bay leading down to the port town.
We must be getting close now to our destination. I suspect that in the intervening years that little will have changed, and getting off the boat will be as chaotic as ever it was! Part of the charm:). More later...Later... yes, most interesting getting off the ferry!
We waited almost an hour for the bus that would take us into the hills, to our small village of Artomenas. The harbour area looked nice enough, but I'm glad we are staying higher up up where most of the locals live, hoping for a better, less touristy experience.
The bus finally arrived complete with a young man who loaded our bags and collected the fare. He seemed very proud of his position, and probably on a small island like this, it's considered a bit of a special thing to have an actual job at such a young age. The driver on the other hand was a hoot. Yelling first on his phone and then, after he'd blocked up the whole road in the first village, he'd yell at the other drivers who got in his way. A thoroughly entertaining ride up. We noticed the abandoned maze of terraces on the hill sides where it seemed likely that olive groves had been abandoned at some point. Still some olive trees down low.
Chatted with a wind blown older British fellow on the way up. A bit of a lost soul, but certainly entertaining!
We arrived in a very quite central square. Clearly not really on the tourist map, but will see when it cools down and folks come out of the woodwork and off the lower down beaches at the end of the day. Lunch has arrived, more later....look at that salad! Local goat cheese, creamier and less salty than traditional feta.
And a little beer to wash it all down with!
We then went out to sample a few bits of the local trail system...in the heat. There is an organized professionally planned 100 kilometre trail system on Syfnos. We have plans to walk some of it tomorrow leaving quiet early to get ahead of the heat. The views were excellent and tomorrow could be something special.
As I write this the music from the food festival has started up. Beautiful live Greek music which bounces off the buildings and onto our terrace from across the valley. The music is actually originating behind us! So it will be an evening of food and music! Our terrace. The odd lights are from the sun's rays poking through the grape vine leaves above...the grapes are sweet and lovely too!
Back to the walk about...
Blue domes, white towers,
Symbolic Grecian icons,
Viewed, but not seen.
Two posts today as we will be walking early tomorrow and I'm back into my preferred process of writing at the end of the day. Will post on Caminotime tomorrow.
1 comment:
Despite the luxurious new ferries, do you miss the hard seats and bagged lunches? Any nostalgia for the way things were 42 years ago?
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