Europe Tour 2018

Monday. September 23.  This was my second ferry ride in Greece, so I knew the drill better. Blue Star Ferries would take me from Mykonos to Athens. I arrived early and waited with other passengers. We watched the spectacle of vehicles being loaded onboard.     I have a ticket in “economy.” All right with me. The setup inside the ship was a little different than the first ferry. This is a converted cruise ship. There were tables set out like a cafeteria. I got aboard early enough to set up next to a window. I’m not letting the bag out of my sight.  A young Greek guy, his girlfriend and another younger woman join me at the table. The couple looked like they were in their thirties. The guy has long hair and spends all his time under earbuds. The women try to spread out and catch a nap. It’s just another ferry ride for them. I enjoy the scenery. There would be stops in Timos and Syros. The last stop was Piraeus. This confused me. I asked a woman who ran a ...

Friday. September 21.  I cab it to the ferry and get a ticket to Mykonos. It’s my first ferry ride in Greece and I’m a little unsure. I keep checking that I’m at the right dock. There is a definite security presence. I ask a polizia. He looks used to answering the same questions. Yes, you’re in the right place. “Blue Star Number Four.”   The ferries look like former cruise ships. I don’t know what their capacity is. A crowd of people wait to board. A parade of cars, boats, motorcycles, scooters and even semi-trucks go up a huge ramp into the ferry. It was quite a sight. We mere humans had to wait until the ferry was loaded.    I got on board pretty early and had no idea of where to go. I went into “Business Class.” I knew I would get stopped, but I knew that then I would get directions to where I was supposed to go.   People stored their luggage in an area downstairs, but I wasn’t going for that! That was too much uncertainty for me. I noticed oth...