Greece Day 10 - Ferries and Delos and Ferries
6/10/2008
Ferries and Delos and Ferries some more ...
We arose bright and early to pack up, eat some breakfast on the balcony and rush down to catch the 8:30 ferry over to Delos, the mythical birthplace of Artemis and Apollo.
I was in a LOT of pain from my sting. It was a bit better than the night before (it swelled to the full size of my hand with fingers outstretched) but very very painful all the same. Dragging suitcases into town was not a good time. A little difficult to walk.
Eric had procured the ferry tickets and gotten the really wonderful woman there to agree to watch our suitcases for us, so we dropped them there had a cup of coffee with a place with a bench and then walked over to the ferry dock. The boat was relatively small, but we found a corner where I could sit with my legs tucked under me to keep from bumping my very swollen sting. The ride to Delos was relatively smooth, and we arrived on a barren treeless (save for one palm tree about which I am certain Genevieve will write) and desolate island. I hung with G and we walked about the ruin of a few temples. I found one with two quite phallic statues and we learned it was a temple of Dionysus. Very nice. We spent a fair amount of time at the temple of Artemis, the site of the ancient lake and the palm tree. We then made our way to the museum which held some very lovely statues and artifacts.
We had to catch the first ferry back; and the ride was far less smooth than the ride out. G,K & E stepped outside into the air. It was actually kind-of fun with the boat continually jumping and falling again onto the waves (my stomach leaping each time) except that I was tucked up into a little cubby trying to protect my backside from being (a) sat on or (b) brushed by anything. I was well and truly DONE by the end of this day. The ride back was about 35 minutes (compared with 20 over) due to the wind and waves. We arrived back in port, and as soon as we got our land legs back (yikes!), we found a sandwich (they call it toast, and it is the equivalent of one thin slice of deli meat and one thin slice of deli cheese on bread grilled in a pannini machine.
After this, we made our way over to the ferry to Santorini. By this point, I was enough DONE with the day that I very nearly kicked my suitcase into pieces out of sheer frustration and blinding agony as it skittered this way and that over the cobblestones; but I didn't. Our ferry was about an hour wait, so we stood in the sun for a good two hours. I told them "Good thing I have my superman cape!" blank looks. I wrapped a sarong over my shoulders protecting them from the hot greek sun. Aah! Yes. good thing. Poor G got a pretty bad sunburn. :(
The ferry arrived and was far more comfortable than the previous ones, which was good; but there was a problem (at least for me). The chairs were all airline-style seating. Nice and cushioned and all that, but no possibility of turning sideways or putting a foot up. I folded my neck pillow in half to try and prevent me from sitting on the stung side of my backside, but to no avail. Most of the ride was painful. Standing up after the ride and having the pressure come off of the irritated area actually made me cry from the pain. This is insane! Very very painful.
My advice for today? Don't sit on any jellyfish!
That all said ... our journey was over. We found a bus. They took our luggage *celebrate!* and we arrived at our hotel. We went upstairs and were stunned. i've never seen such a view. This place is magnificent. Absolutely magnificent. And shortly after we arrived our hostess brought us four glasses of a lovely local white wine and some mezzes (snackes with wine). Beautiful. I'm typing this a bit later, and I must say that the stay on Santorini has been the highlight of the trip. Wow!
Ferries and Delos and Ferries some more ...
We arose bright and early to pack up, eat some breakfast on the balcony and rush down to catch the 8:30 ferry over to Delos, the mythical birthplace of Artemis and Apollo.
I was in a LOT of pain from my sting. It was a bit better than the night before (it swelled to the full size of my hand with fingers outstretched) but very very painful all the same. Dragging suitcases into town was not a good time. A little difficult to walk.
Eric had procured the ferry tickets and gotten the really wonderful woman there to agree to watch our suitcases for us, so we dropped them there had a cup of coffee with a place with a bench and then walked over to the ferry dock. The boat was relatively small, but we found a corner where I could sit with my legs tucked under me to keep from bumping my very swollen sting. The ride to Delos was relatively smooth, and we arrived on a barren treeless (save for one palm tree about which I am certain Genevieve will write) and desolate island. I hung with G and we walked about the ruin of a few temples. I found one with two quite phallic statues and we learned it was a temple of Dionysus. Very nice. We spent a fair amount of time at the temple of Artemis, the site of the ancient lake and the palm tree. We then made our way to the museum which held some very lovely statues and artifacts.
We had to catch the first ferry back; and the ride was far less smooth than the ride out. G,K & E stepped outside into the air. It was actually kind-of fun with the boat continually jumping and falling again onto the waves (my stomach leaping each time) except that I was tucked up into a little cubby trying to protect my backside from being (a) sat on or (b) brushed by anything. I was well and truly DONE by the end of this day. The ride back was about 35 minutes (compared with 20 over) due to the wind and waves. We arrived back in port, and as soon as we got our land legs back (yikes!), we found a sandwich (they call it toast, and it is the equivalent of one thin slice of deli meat and one thin slice of deli cheese on bread grilled in a pannini machine.
After this, we made our way over to the ferry to Santorini. By this point, I was enough DONE with the day that I very nearly kicked my suitcase into pieces out of sheer frustration and blinding agony as it skittered this way and that over the cobblestones; but I didn't. Our ferry was about an hour wait, so we stood in the sun for a good two hours. I told them "Good thing I have my superman cape!" blank looks. I wrapped a sarong over my shoulders protecting them from the hot greek sun. Aah! Yes. good thing. Poor G got a pretty bad sunburn. :(
The ferry arrived and was far more comfortable than the previous ones, which was good; but there was a problem (at least for me). The chairs were all airline-style seating. Nice and cushioned and all that, but no possibility of turning sideways or putting a foot up. I folded my neck pillow in half to try and prevent me from sitting on the stung side of my backside, but to no avail. Most of the ride was painful. Standing up after the ride and having the pressure come off of the irritated area actually made me cry from the pain. This is insane! Very very painful.
My advice for today? Don't sit on any jellyfish!
That all said ... our journey was over. We found a bus. They took our luggage *celebrate!* and we arrived at our hotel. We went upstairs and were stunned. i've never seen such a view. This place is magnificent. Absolutely magnificent. And shortly after we arrived our hostess brought us four glasses of a lovely local white wine and some mezzes (snackes with wine). Beautiful. I'm typing this a bit later, and I must say that the stay on Santorini has been the highlight of the trip. Wow!