athens to kefalonia 2010

[kaz]

We had booked our adventure back in October 2009. During our wait for our holiday, I was in a huge amount of pain, attending hospitals as I had managed to damage my spine. At one time I really didn't think this adventure would go ahead.

But this is our holiday

Our flight was from Heathrow at 11.50 am,we were flying with Aegean Airways. When we were on the plane, it seemed that the plane was taken up by Greek students. They were so funny during the flight, it seems that its common practice on Greek flights that you cheer and clap if the pilot takes off and lands, even some turbulence is greeted with sounds. Our daughter now was getting a bit worried by all the sounds coming from fellow Greek passengers as this had not been common practice on other flights she had been on in the past.
We land at Athens of course to cheering and clapping, slightly later than thought. Very quickly we are able to get our suitcases.

Before leaving for our adventure, we had made lots of travel plans - so a quick look at the notes. We are catching the X93 to Kifissou bus station for the three of us this had cost 8 euros in total. The journey had taken approximately 40 minutes to the bus station, we are trying to look for the acropolis and can't see a thing. Find the ticket office, it is very clear on where to buy your tickets - however we have 5 minutes until the coach leaves. Find the coach easily, cases are now on. I quickly pop into the shop for some goodies for the journey. We have the back seat, which I must admit was brill as we were able to spread out.
Looking out of the window, Athens is clearly a huge city. But we are limited to what we can see - but we are pleased that we are on our way to Patra. The coach leaves Athens approx 8pm, we get into Patra just after 11pm, tickets cost 17.80 each (singles) for the 3 of us.
We get into a Taxi to our nights accommodation which was just a simple room - but it was clean and comfortable 45 euros for the night. We quickly pop out for something to eat.

We all slept really well, until !!!!!!!
The bells in the church started up (we had noticed the church last night) but they seemed louder than any other bell heard before. Non of us really wanted to get up, so off went the bells again. OK its time to get up.
After getting ourselves sorted, we leave our room to find the ferry ticket office. After a while we find it, its closed not open until 10 am. So we leave to find some breakfast.
We leave with our cases.

We sit waiting for the ticket office to open, we are joined by some people. The woman in the group can't take her eyes off me, which makes me feel a bit uncomfortable. But i'm aware and duly take care of my handbag. Finally the ticket office opens, the guy is certainly not in a hurry to open - others get their tickets before us. The ticket office guy certainly isn't the happiest of people SPEAK SPEAK he grunts to me. Tickets cost 44.50 euros.

Sadly in Patra its a huge problem with immigrants trying to catch ferries, young kids play cat and mouse with the port authorities. We will be glad to get on the ferry!!!!!!!



More to follow!!!!

[Phil]

Thanks Kaz. I look forward to part 2.

[Cato]

How fascinating! I felt as if I was there with you!
Dying for the next chapter.

[suej]

fasinating Kaz see why you didnt like patra now.

[Rich]

looking forward to the next bit kaz hooo just slipped off the edge of the seat lol

[kaz]

The ferry docks
We are shortly going to be in Kefalonia. Its not very easy getting onto the Ferry, especially with the suitcases and a 9 year old trying her hardest. Oh well there's an escalator, that will help. Unfortunately the wheel on one of the suitcases has broken.
We find a nice comfy sofa, still with our suitcases we collapse. We chat about what we are going to do when we get to Kefalonia - swimming looks to be on the agenda. But for the next 3 hours we will be travelling. So outcomes the dominoes (which Aegean gave us)

During our journey we were joined by a couple of ladies with a little girl. Of course the children soon started playing, language was a bit of problem - but sign language was used a couple of times. Thou we went onto the top deck a few times we had to take it in turn because of the suitcases, which was a bit of a draw back. The views were fantastic and the passing of other ferries - we just couldn't wait to be in Kefalonia.

Finally we could make out places coming into dock, we were back - we were back Home.

Now getting off the ferry isn't very easy, everyone is trying to get off!!! Gathering at the top of the stairs in all directions, not easy when you have 3 suitcases and a 9 year old.

We are off the ferry, Jim remembers a gate - which saves time instead of walking the long way around. Straight away we catch a taxi up to the Pericles where we are greeted by my Dear friend Nina (hotel receptionist). Oops panic little one leaves her travel bag in the taxi - quick phone call and her bag is returned.

[kaz]

Awaiting in our room is a nice bottle of wine (thanks Nina), but I have my Bath that will help the BACK, I can't wait for that soak.

The promise of the Swim isn't forgotten, so we head for the pericles swimming pool. Now its the first time I've been swimming, i have my instructions on what i'm not allowed to do.
So after a while I brave myself for a dip. All seems ok, we enjoy a pleasant time down by the pool. Little one makes more friends, who will be leaving tomorrow - she is given a inflatable.
We walk back up to the hotel, its good to be back. When panic!!!!!!!!!!! I've fallen down two stairs right onto my back. Apparently Jim is already packing in his head, holiday is over already. But thankfully all seems OK - but it was typical it just had to happen!!

More to come!!!

[kaz]

Not to bore you all completely, we had a wonderful holiday. We met up with Shaz and the kids (so pleased for you shaz), also went to visit Yangos and Martine Metaxas - sadly we were unable to attend an evening meal by Martine, hopefully next time.
We enjoyed meeting up with old friends around Sami and Ag. Efimia, I still say Peresma is still the best, with Babi and Angelos as your hosts.

Unfortunately on this occasion we hired the car for less time, as I wanted rest for my back. In many ways now I wish we had booked it for longer, thou whilst out there we had the fuel/truck strike. Even for the locals they quickly ran out of fuel, not knowing when the strike would end. Also many seemed unaware of what was actually happening. In many ways its what you love about Greece, its the Oh well attitude.
We found Sami to be very busy on this occasion, with lots of entertainment happening in the square
on some evenings, which was lovely. (hopefully I will work out how to upload a video, if its possible).
On our visit to Kefalonia, this year we saw two snakes I must say they were huge!!! Even now, each time we go to Kefalonia we always find something new.

We were getting slightly worried about our return to Athens. Thanks to Nina who did make several phone calls for us.

[kaz]

Once again we are extremely sad to be leaving Kefalonia and our friends. Its an early morning start, we decide to leave breakfast - just a quick coffee as we await for a taxi. Taxi doesn't arrive, so Stelios gives us a lift down in his merc.
We go into the office, book our tickets - this time we are going on the coach and ferry straight to Athens, tickets are about 96 euros, coach number 35. We await for our coach, number 32 comes, a gentleman comes out from the ticket office smiling its number 32.

Its going to be far easier this time, as we haven't got our suitcases. So moving about will be far easier, we stand on the top deck looking towards Sami saying our goodbyes, we really don't want to be on the ferry, can't we stay!!! We start taking lots of photo's, what a fantastic view.

After a while we decide to go inside and relax, as we still have a long way to go. However we are surprised how quickly we are in Patra (it seemed alot quicker), once again we wait to disembark, thankfully we haven't got the suitcases.

Back onto the coach, you are given seat numbers but no-one seems to really worry about this. This time we are able to see the journey ahead, as last time it was dark.
It seems that from Patra to nearly Athens is presently having some major road works going on, its goes on for miles. Also on the motorway you have tolls, don't know how much they cost also around Athens you will see lots of tolls.

We have a 15 minute break at a bus station, a quick toilet break (toilets are closed on the coach) and get some nibbles for the rest of the journey. It seems that the whole of the Greek army is here.

On our way again, as we enter the outskirts of Athens you can see all the trucks parked up alongside the roadway, hundreds of them.

We arrive at the bus station, considering the ferry left at 8.30 am and it was just after 2 pm that we arrived in Athens - it doesn't feel that we have just done such a long journey. The bus station is extremely busy!!!! we find the line for the taxi's ( Nina and Stelios have warned us about the taxi prices we are not to pay more than 20 euros, if the driver wants more ask for his name and number and call the police).

We give the taxi driver details of our hotel. Perhaps if we speak very little he may feel that we are Greek (especially as Jim could get away as being Greek), The roads are chaos, I really don't think i would like to drive in Athens. At one point, one police motorcyclist took off then a dozen more took off in the same direction.

When we organised this trip, I had heard of a fair few places to miss and that some areas even the locals now avoided. So I had been very careful in booking our hotel (well i was hoping everything was OK with our choice).

We finally pulled up at the Airotel Alexandros. Awaited to hear the fare 11 euros (brilliant), whilst I paid the driver, the suitcases had already been taken from the taxi.

First impressions of the hotel were good.

More to follow!!

[Cato]

Following you with interest Kaz, hope your poor back is better now.