Santorini To Mykonos:Turbulent Sea,Warmest Hug,Ferry Experience

Greece is a Romantic adventure of sorts! @Athinios Port Santorini

Some call it a coincidence.I call it ‘fate’.Sometimes when you meet the same people again and again,you tend to bond by chance.A pull that makes/breaks the ice.The beauty of backpacking is since many of us travel in similar ways our roads cross.And when our roads cross,we know our evenings are sorted. 

Backpacking Greece:And on why I Traveled Solo Being Married

Solo Travel Helps You Grow

Here me,waiting for my delayed Ferry @ Athinios Port

 The beauty of Solo Travel is that these coincidences are seldom judgmental or need to be agreed by the better half or a group.You go by gut and you are free to choose.An eternal freedom that gives a boost to an otherwise restless soul.For that moment,you become all in one - Cheerful,Exuberant, Calm,Cooperative,Cautious,Jovial,Flirty,Responsible and Open-minded.

For those who never find answers on why a married women have to Travel Solo,the reason is ‘we all need a bit of some self-pampering’ that no-one,I repeat no-one can fill in.Ditto for married men travelling solo.Coming back to my conscious self in Greece,the story begins...

Fira Market:Donkey Station,Cable Car,Food And Meeting of Minds

                                                                   All Previous Posts

                                                 Backpacking Santorini:Pyrgos Cultural Village
                                                   Backpacking Santorini:Perissa Black Beach 
                                                    Backpacking Santorini: Red Beach
                                                    Backpacking Santorini:Bollywood's Fav Oia
                                                                    Backpacking Athens            

                                                     Best Blog on Santorini: Santorini Dave


 As I hopped in hurriedly on the local bus from Pyrgos to Fira still with my palpating heart beat that by now was normal,I picked up the glare of the lights across the Fira Bus Station Street.What exactly was there?I asked.It’s the market.I was told.

On the notice board was repetitive warning as yesterday ‘That All Ferries were Cancelled’.I felt a mild tremor in my mind ‘What if it gets cancelled tomorrow!’.After all,the sea hasn't been kind in last 2 days. With the local Fish Fry that almost skipped out of my hand at Pyrgos due to sudden run,I was tad hungry at Fira and so I started to walk.

I spotted a Travel Shop to where I wanted to confirm ‘Are ships running’ ? No said she. Tomorrow? Call me at 10 am to know tomorrows status.  With the hope that I’d get a complete main course on the Road Joints,I ordered Gyros with Beer on an outlet store that resembled our typical Mc. D counter,even smaller

Cobbled Narrow Fira Market

.And then I started exploring if I could find anything worth buying from Santorini.I was tired and I had no flexibility to stretch beyond 5 euros anywhere if I shop.I had no space in my luggage too..Italy was next.

 Just then a group of Indians(possibly group of friends) passed by me , smiling.As I was struggling to get that perfect selfie with the Donkey Station,one of the guys politely asked ‘Can I?’ I nodded and there were two he took.I looked tired in the picture still with my 100 watt smile and the donkeys by now were gone.

                                                  For the donkeys that I missed @ Santorini

I find it funny when my selfie by others are 'not so great'.It happens so often that now I have started to refuse giving my camera to anyone.Once in a while you may find a person who would take the best shots,rest would take the same hazy ones after even particulars being told and you'd wonder how and why!

To the donkeys as soft toys for a perfect souvenir

 If you are lucky you would spot Donkeys in Oia,Santorini which I did see,but I was too taken aback by the way they entered,with their masters,in line,walking the stairs,in crowd consisting of brides and the whosoevers,and me crunching on something I had just picked up at a restaurant.After a while when I regained consciousness of timely photo-op,with another hand,I picked up my phone,and thought 'oh this could have gone viral' but by then all I could see were Ass faced Donkeys.I followed them.They trotted faster and hid themselves in maze of Alleys.That perfect shot was gone. (Sob)

Cotton White House: The Greek Cotton seems to be very famous..

 ‘Sometimes Life is beyond Selfies' The Alleyways of Santorini Market are in itself a maze of sorts over the caldera.It’s far more easier to digest anything after you eat and walk and girls who plan to visit it,wedges and flats and gladiators are allowed but no pointed high heels please.You’d struggle to walk or may be triple over uneven surface and have a twisted ankle.

Fira,Santorini at Night.

 Santorini Market is bright.And It’s full and beaming with lights.The Ouzos are for 2 euros,the Cotton for 20.The Cakes,the Bars,the Cafes,the Restaurants,the Souvenirs,you get everything here.When you’d reach a point from where you can go further down but further down would be more restaurants and shops and restaurants..I think it ends right in the sea,as was with Oia.

The ones on the edge of the caldera are highly priced.The ones in the alleyways,moderately priced.As you go up at the farther end would be the church.And the cable car that runs 24*7.It is when I asked someone on where it goes to,I was told ‘Fira Port’ but it was not the port from where my Ferry was tomorrow.

                                                           Cable Car Station at Fira

And even though getting into it was tempting,I felt my hunger pangs again were ringing bells and since I had no ferry to catch at 8 pm ,I skipped the fun ride others take to board or may be explore further..

Ha ha ! Well...in that case 'Drink as you wish'

 Walking by again,I spotted a Couple from Singapore I have been meeting in the last 3 days coincidentally at different spots.This time,we decided to pair up as we all were hungry.Someone by then have had told them that one of the restaurant at the farther end was affordable and good.We walked and walked again but couldn't spot the one.Then we decided to enter the alleyways again and entered into one of the trip adviser recommended restaurants.The food in Greece is good in general.It was nowhere that I found bad food - veg or non-veg.Today I had lemon chicken and It was mouth watering..

Greek Food both veg and non-veg are easy to find and delicious

If at all you’d want to know the best of restaurants in Greece follow Fira on Tripadvisor but Food for me usually when I travel happens to be on the spot unless I have all the time in the world to explore the particulars or unless I am on a destined food tour like in Amritsar or unless I transform myself into a foodie. Even if I would have known the best,I am too lazy to carry myself all along,unless it happens to be just there.

Superjet:The Feeling of Unsurety,Cancelled Ferries

 Never mind,The day went off quite well.Leaving me with anticipation if tomorrow I ever get to be on the Super jet or will it get cancelled.The thought made me shiver.I randomly checked the Airfare.The last minute flight from Santorini to Mykonos was via Athens and it was highly priced.I checked my Euros.They were less.With a few cents in my hand still,I slept with prayers in my sleep. In a way,it felt that if the ships are cancelled I will be here for many days or as long as I want it to be..and the thought itself felt good.But this time,a month was all I had in hand as I had a marriage to attend in India after I was back from wandering in the wild.

A loss of Euro 55 would have given me a partial heart attack!

 When I woke up,the first thing I did was feel and measure the winds virtually.It did blow my hair and my night suit.It was still windy but less than yesterday.Bidding goodbye and saying thanks to wonderful Margarita,I asked her to check my Ferry status.The Ferries were running.I dragged my luggage to Fira Bus Stand.And from Fira to Athinios Port by bus. The Bus rates are minimal and are given on my last post.The Buses run prior and according to Ferry Timings.

 The Mykonos Ferry In High Seas: The Wait,The Turbulence,The Superjet 

But as life is,always brighter,always beyond my negative thoughts.. @Athinios

 As I said,life is unpredictable.And cheap is not always the best.But what Travel teaches you is ‘patience’ and ‘calmness towards unforeseen forces of nature’ one such was my ride I couldn't forget. As I said the Ferries ran in spite of the winds.And I was damn happy that mine would come anytime soon.That it wasn't cancelled like the rest days.The name ‘Superjet’ sounded ‘magnificent’ and I was sure,the mass of the ship would take in the winds calmly,if at all. I waited for the ferries to come like rest others.But there was no clue and no announcements.

Like the rest,I took a few selfies. Felt the wind.Had a burger,went to the loo.Still no clue about the Ferries.Athinios Port was filled with doubts of passengers like me.A Superjet was parked and we thought its ours.But it turned out to be ‘not in the mood to go’ with one stern reply ‘yours will come,wait’.Only if we knew till when.I compared my tickets with fellow passengers.Did I miss the one?

A small Ferry arrived almost tripping into the sea,the waves splashing like it will sink in all.Two Chinese , younger than me,had a funky suitcase to carry.I complimented and we joked if ours will ever reach if the size of our ferry happens to be this small.But ours was Superjet,there has to be something special.The ferry ride if it did ever come was for an hour.I randomly asked a few others,a group was going in the same ferry to Athens,a long ride of 7 hours. After a long wait of 2.5 hours,our Superjet Arrived.We were made to stand in two queues,and were told from which gate our entry would be in the Ferry.The Ferry had luggage storage,the Ferry had food and it was quite big.And then the journey started..

 If ever I could call a ride of the most turbulent sea,this would be it.The waves were high.The Ferry was big.Even in my weirdest dream,I can't think of any which way it can be unstable.

Despite the Turbulent Sea,the Ferries were ON,on my day :)

The Roller Coaster made many run for vomiting bags.The Food supplies toppled.The crew stood alert.From the window all I could sea was the dip in the sea and the sudden uprise and then splash of water.The dip made the screens go blank,the engines stopping at every dip.And with a slow grrr…rising way above feet.Around me,was mess in literal terms.All I was wishing for then,was reaching Mykonos safely.I had known my answer on how a mighty Ship such as Titanic drowned..Till now I was looking for answers.

I secretly wished to alarm those who had the guts with this sea to carry forward till Athens.Just then the Ferry slowed down.There was announcement.The island wasn't Mykonos.But it was an hour.I could have been in Mykonos by now.What’s happening…I wasn't terrified,but a bit nervous,my iPhone had stopped working for some reason,and I didn't know if my host at Mykonos would wait this long without me calling her. Mykonos reached in 4 hours. In the back of my mind was the question on how many hours would Santorini take from here.The Ferry is a Fail.Gripping my luggage from the luggage compartment.I felt strong sense of relief as if the first thing I would want to do will be crash down.I didn't know if she would come.

Mykonos:The Warmest Hug,The Barbie Stay and The Famous Windmills

But just then,the warmest hug welcomed me.We had interacted all the time on mails.I felt like she was my aunt.Sweet with her car.Waiting for me,to get down.The sweetest person I have known in Greece.She told me there are two more guests to arrive.I complained her about the Superjet. She.She said earlier the Ferries with large hydro motors used to run.Now its been stopped for a while.Plus the sea was rough. She also told me 'Superjet' isn't the most reliable option,next time go for Bluestar and plan in calm seas.If ever there was next time that is..

Yes,next time if my hair doesn't blow and my skirt doesn't fly,I know where to go and when!

 We instantly for that moment became car buddies talking all the way till the apartment which was perfectly located in between windmills and little Venice. Some people release warmth. After all,Travel is all about who to trust and who not to..

                                      Marriettas Apartments are so well located and so barbie like
                                                        That you would forget any other place
                  Offseason the rates are very reasonable.In peak season It costs around 70 euros    

 These were the prettiest room I have ever seen.I felt like a Barbie living in the Barbie Home.Exactly that white,that nice and that cosy.

Just then she came and said ‘Don’t forget the windmills’,the sun is about to set,the sunset is spectacular.Take the keys of terrace , the view from there is the best.Don’t forget to lock the room.If you need books,they are on the shelf.If you need anything call Chamomile or me.I hope you liked the room.You booked at the very last minute or I would have given you the one with the terrace..But my friends were coming and I had to give them.You see how friends are..I love India.I love colour. I.I might be going to India sometime.You can walk around - see those windmills,little Venice.This cat- this cat is our street pet,wouldn't hurt. 

From my Terrace

The view from Marrietta's Apartment

 By then,I knew who to trust.I had found my aunt in Greece. If I would come to Mykonos again,I will stay here again for sure and recommend to all those who plan Mykonos. Signing off for today…

Guys the video on Greece will be ready soon.Just a little busy with settling in US.Arrived two days back..Thought wouldn't touch internet till I am settled but hey am already missing you readers.Love.