Took the ferry boat from Rhodes to Crete on Sunday. At rather the last minute we changed our plans to visit our very close friends in the delightful town of Ierapatra. Just out of interest, Ierapetra holds the distinct position of being the most far south town in the whole of Europe.
Last time we went, we took the plane, and yes, OK, it is much quicker, but if you have the time to go by boat (and we do these days) you get to see scenes like these en route from Rhodes Commercial Harbour to Sitia, eastern Crete...
The rest of the photos, below, aren't in any particular order...
There's something deeply relaxing about standing on the rear deck as the ferry arrives at a quayside, swings itself around and drops the ramp for vehicles and foot-passengers to disembark or come aboard. To me, it's one of the earliest experiences of Greece I ever had, back in the 1970's, and I suppose that's why it makes me feel not only truly privileged to live here, but grateful to have the time to enjoy such experiences. Going from island to island is something one must do at some time, to truly enjoy what the Greek islands are all about.
Last time we went, we took the plane, and yes, OK, it is much quicker, but if you have the time to go by boat (and we do these days) you get to see scenes like these en route from Rhodes Commercial Harbour to Sitia, eastern Crete...
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| 1st Stop out of Rhodes is Halki, the 2nd is Diafani (above), toward the north of the island of Karpathos. |
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| Diafani again. |
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| After Diafani, next stop is Karpathos, the main town, which put me a little in mind of Kalymnos. |
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| Karpathos detail. |
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| After Karpathos, you stop in at Kasos, which, despite being a great deal smaller than its northern neighbour, nevertheless boasts a much grander quay for the ferries to tie up at. Karpathos has a population of just over six and a half thousand, whereas Kasos has a mere thousand or so. |
The rest of the photos, below, aren't in any particular order...
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| The old ya ya centre shot, was waiting beside the pickup with what appeared to be her husband, here in conversation with someone else. When we'd tied up and dropped the ramp, the ya ya heaved a huge sack on to her shoulders from the pickup's flatbed and walked aboard to drop it on the ship's vehicle deck for delivery somewhere else. |
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| The ya ya referred to above-plus-one can be seen half-way aboard, sack across her shoulder, negotiating her way among the vehicles that were disembarking. All the while her hubby remained manfully in conversation with his friend. |
There's something deeply relaxing about standing on the rear deck as the ferry arrives at a quayside, swings itself around and drops the ramp for vehicles and foot-passengers to disembark or come aboard. To me, it's one of the earliest experiences of Greece I ever had, back in the 1970's, and I suppose that's why it makes me feel not only truly privileged to live here, but grateful to have the time to enjoy such experiences. Going from island to island is something one must do at some time, to truly enjoy what the Greek islands are all about.
As a fully aid up "ferry junkie"--it is SO exciting going by ferry among the Greek islands. The hustle and bustle of arriving, the soothing thrum of the engines as you are snoozing in your cabin, the clanging sounds as you dock, the INEVITABLE chaos when someone runs on at the last minute, or a big truck slightly misses the right angle for boarding--all wonderful! The dear old "Prevelis" which lumbers it's way to Crete--seemingly to it's own timetable--brilliant! 37 years--and counting--of sometimes VERY dodgy boats--and still here to tell the tale!
ReplyDeleteYes, the Prevelis had had one or two re-fits! We used it last in 2004!! But it's still OK, if not quite as smart as the Blue Star fleet.
DeleteWe holidayed on the Akrotiri peninsula near Maleme many years ago. The owner of the small apartment block we were staying in invited me, sadly only me, to visit a new Ferry which was moored in Souda bay. I think he had taken a shine to me due to my fluency in taverna Greek after all my Greek lessons during the the daily commute in the car.It was a brand new boat purchased by the Greeks to prevent (I think)the EU opening up their routes to non greek competition. It seemed like the whole island were there as the locals were all shareholders in the ship and owned it. It was an incredible ship and it was some party too. I was the only non-greek there (that I saw) and felt very honoured, wish I could remember what it was called, probably about 30 plus years ago.
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