Monday, October 15, 2012

Day 2 -Things Naughtical

So far on blogoshere world timeline we have not arrived at our summer holiday destination.  I'm sorry about that but my PC has been playing up and only logging me in on a temporary basis. This appears to be a feature of Windows 7 but eventually I found out where my files had been hidden.

Here is one of many shots of Venice leaving on a car ferry to Greece: 
Pink balloons give us a send off and remind us how good it is to be healthy


This unusually named tug helped us manouver through the lagoon channel 
Under glorious alto cirrus we head for the open Adriatic.
 The Kriti 2 car ferry was  state of the art when built in Japan in 1979 (and operated by the Shit-Nipponkai Ferry company until 1995) and provided many amenities and activities provided for the 36 hour juddering and shaking voyage South.

1. Plastic chairs too uncomfortable to sit on for more than 5 minutes.
2. Camping deck
3. Empty swimming pool and 2 funnels painted with "ANEK" logos.
4. Spectacular lower deck hanky-panky to watch whilst eating souvlaki
5. Unprecedented view from my open air bedroom
6. On demand video entertainment (subject to bringing it yourself)
7. A Greek Orthodox chapel dedicated to my name Saint is located on the mezzanine deck next to the duty free shop.
8. The route may be studied to detect any discernible progress on the navigator's PC.

Eventually we arrive in Greek waters and the crew deem it safe to raise the old Royal ensign.
In the next episode Mr Slater's Parrot 5 comes good after 3 years up a mountain.

11 comments:

  1. Dear Nikos:

    I am continually amazed at the travel habits of Europeans, which are apparently formed when they are freshmen in college. What the hell is the story about the camping deck on the ship? Is this basically travel vagrant class? How is it explained in the ship's brochure that choice spots are available (near steam grates) for those wishing to set up tents, tarps, or shipping crates in which to relax for the 36-hour voyage?

    Venice looks nice. Right now, I list it in the column of "Unbelievably Romantic European Cities Which I Have Never Seen." I look forward to the day when I can move it into the column of "Unbelievably Romantic European Cities Which I Have Seen, But In Which I have Never Been Laid."

    Fondest regards,
    Jack/reep
    Twisted Roads

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  2. Nice shot of the sky....

    Jack:
    On the Alaska State Ferry, the camping on deck option continues to be popular as well. The "state rooms" are cramped and primitive so they are mostly a luxury for those that don't have camping gear.

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  3. Hmmm maybe BC Ferries should have a look at consider these options. OUr ferry system is state of the art and outrageously expensive.

    Looks like it was a good voyage though.

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  4. Nice write up for the ferry :)))

    That's why I prefer Ancona even when I head North - Venice is such a beauty though...

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  5. 36 hours on a ferry? Wow, at least the views make it worth it.

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  6. Jack
    Sleeping on deck is a safety issue - we wear full aqua lungs just in case the ship should sink


    RichardM
    Thank you

    Dar
    Welcome! This ferry was quite expensive too and there was a "fuel surcharge".

    Orestis
    We normally use Ancona but this year I wanted to see the stolen Greek artefacts in Venice...

    Brandy
    It was better than it seems as the weather was fantastic

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  7. PS "phantom" Bob:

    For some reason your comment did not appear on the blog although I received an email from the system??

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  8. Wow. I look forward to the day I can take a 36 hour ferry ride and sleep in deck in the perfect sun. Hopefully my cabana boy will be in attendance to rub lotion on me as well.

    I hope you have a great vacation!

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  9. Ahh, so you took the ANEK from Venice - we've also considered that option as a way of driving from here to the Peloponnese avoiding all the crap roads. Probably too expensive though. However, we did make it to the charming island of Zakynthos this summer, and coincidentally we also engaged in some spectacular 'lower deck' hanky-panky whilst there - there must be something in that retsina.

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  10. Lori
    We did thanks!

    Gadjo Dilo
    Zante has the most confusing road network ever - congrtulations on the h-p!

    N

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  11. We took a taxi from the aiport and back and then walked everywhere else - if it's good enough for the baby turtles (one of which we saw doing its thing) it's good enough for us, we figured.

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