Gallimaufry#106

THE FERRY RIDE FROM HELL

I thought the ferry ride from Port Piraeus to Mykonos would be fun. I imagined sailing in the caldera with the sea breeze tousling my hair as I gazed upon the azure waters over the railing.

Boy, was I wrong!  Turned out, it was a stomach-churning experience, leaving me clinging to the railing for dear life!

Boarding the Seajets ferry was anything but fun. First, you have to wait for hours in the scorching Greek sun, and then it's a mad stampede to get on and off! Never mind the seasickness!

It was like a refugee scramble—no clear instructions, everyone jostling and dragging their luggage to get on board. The cacophony—the roar of the ferry's engine, the chatter of excited voices, and the clatter of rolling suitcases—amplified the pandemonium.

After boarding, we were required to store our large luggage on one of the racks in the car deck—a frenzied free-for-all as passengers clambered and clamored for space to shove their luggage onto the limited racks.

Finding my sea legs on the swaying deck amidst the intoxicating diesel fumes and battling the urge to keep my breakfast down was a daunting challenge.

The ride certainly is not for the faint of heart! The first part of the journey was relatively smooth, and we did enjoy the magnificent views of the Greek coastline. However, as the ferry moved farther into the open waters of the Aegean, the adventure took a dramatic turn. The wind picked up, and the sea became choppy. The vessel started to rock, and passengers were gripping their seats or the nearest railing. It felt like a never-ending series of peaks and troughs. The hubs and Son #2, who weren't prone to motion sickness, were green in the face! 

Disembarking was absolute mayhem as passengers frantically made a beeline for the car deck to retrieve their luggage. In the midst of this commotion, I became separated from my family and panicked big time! Fortunately, I spotted the flag our tour guide was waving high above the sea of people, and I weaved through the crowd to rejoin the rest of our group. As we impatiently waited to exit the ferry in the confined space, people were swaying into one another. Once the hatch opened and the ramp lowered, a stampede ensued as the mob surged down to solid ground. The scene was apocalyptic!

What an ordeal! And we had to relive the nightmare a second time, from Mykonos to Santorini. Despite the allure of the beautiful Cyclades, I never want to endure that ferry ride again. I'd rather swim!