Blue Star Ferries
June 30, 2024
After getting off the plane and going through customs without a hitch, we went to baggage claim where we picked up the one suitcase we checked. We probably could have made it without it, but there were a few things we wanted to bring that wouldn’t fit in the carry-ons, so we filled it with some empty boxes in hopes of keeping things from breaking, and stuffed it with extra clothes and a pillow. On the way back, we’ll have room for souvenirs and can unload most of our carry on stuff into it too.
We began looking for signs for the bus and asked someone in a uniform for directions. He asked where we were going, and when we told him Piraeus, he said, “Oh, you should take the Metro. It’s less expensive and faster.” He went on to say, “The Metro will take about an hour to Piraeus, but the bus, with Athens traffic, use your imagination about how long it will take.”
We found the METPO sign— everything is phonetic, so with the one exception of the English P, which is the Greek “Rho” which makes the R sound, it was easy enough to find. Plus, most signs have the English translation too. So thankful to know English, the universal language!!!
For 18 euros for two tickets, we made it to Piraeus. Then came the challenge of getting to Hertz rental. We began walking in what we hoped was the right direction, and eventually hailed a cab that got us 1 kilometer for 7 euros.
Unlike in the US, the guy came out and showed us how the car works. Which was a good thing because there is no P for park. Instead, you put it in neutral and use the brake.
I was super impressed with Wally and his driving. In a foreign country where drivers begin honking before the light changes.
Many Greeks seem to be in a rush, but when you respond in kind, they say, “Relax.” Talk about emotional whiplash!
We drove the car onto the ferry—to the very bottom, where the cars are boxed in and the guy giving directions treats you like you’re an idiot because he says, “turn right,” or “turn left” but you don’t know if he means turn the car or the wheel, so he yells and yells, but when you finally get the car parked, he laughs like it was all a big joke. Afterwards, we went up to the open deck and watched other vehicles as they drove on.
We were pleasantly surprised by our room, a “luxury suite” which instead of bunk beds had two twins and included an en-suite bathroom so we had our own toilet, sink and shower. All the rooms are on the 8th floor. Our room was 8102 and faced the front of the boat.
After settling in, we went down to the 7th floor where the reception desk and all the cafes were, making our rounds exploring all the offerings, which were pretty much the same everywhere.
Our favorite discovery was the open deck on the back of the ship where we watched the sunset.
Wally and I have never been on a cruise, but traveling on the Blue Star Ferry felt a bit like we would expect that to be like. Except for all the people taking up almost every seat. Most of them spoke Greek and it occurred to us later that many of them may use the ferry regularly to visit relatives or friends on the islands.
And the stops. In the middle of the night around midnight, we were awakened by a loud ongoing noise that sounded like the anchor being dropped. Another noise maybe 20 minutes later, not quite as loud and we could tell we were moving again. The same thing happened again around 5 or 6 AM. Not sure what islands we stopped at, but after getting dressed and going down to the 7th floor for breakfast, we saw that the boat had thinned out quite a bit. Maybe only a third or half the number we started out with.
By the time we walked back to our room, we noticed most of the rooms were open and were being cleaned. Finished packing up and lugged our suitcases down to the 7th floor walkway and then back up the back staircase to the open deck.
My favorite part was enjoying all these experiences with Wally. It’s one thing to tell him how blue the water and sky are. It’s another thing to hear him say, “The water is so blue.” And remark about not seeing a cloud in the sky.
