As planned, we arrived in Brindisi on the heel of Italy, at about 2pm. We drove to the port, not an easy task as the signage was poor and it took two circuits of the entire port area before we twigged to the correct entry gate. Having traded our online booking confirmation (printed in duplicate, as instructed, on our nifty little €49 printer) into three real tickets (one for us, one for our cabin and one for the car) we left the nearly frying tarmac around the port and scamperred back to the town for a look around.
Capitalising on free parking in the very centre of the old town during siesta, 2pm until 4 pm, we wandered the shady streets and cafes are noted the improvements since our only other visit in 2000. We tried to make a withdrawel from an ATM inside a bank foyer, but our non European VISA cards were both rejected. At 4pm when the bank reopened after siesta, we watched the circus Italian people have to go through to get to their own money in their own bank.
Firstly, on the street form an orderly single queue - even if you are a couple you may only enter the bank singly.
Secondly, wait your turn.
Thirdly, still waiting your turn in single line enter the bank foyer.
Next, when it is your turn, and only when the light turns green, enter the fully sealed glass cubicle. The door will close behind you. You are completely isolated and locked inside this glass box about 90cm X 90 cm. But don't panic! Select the correct banking service from the available list (all in Italian) by pressing the appropriate button. Stay quiet. Try to relax. Eventually, all in good time, someone somewhere inside the bank will press a button and release you from the cubicle - all in somebody's good time.
Next - find the correct desk for the service you require and wait for a bank person to turn up to assist you. You may need to be patient. No more than two or three people are allowed in the bank at any time so the queues inside aren't long. But a bit difficult if you are trying to negotiate a joint loan or even a joint account - your partner may still be in the queue outside.
Apparently it is the same all over Italy. Crazy stuff! We decided we didn't need to make a withdrawal at all and left with our mouths open.
Back to the ferry. This is a very big boat!
Waiting in the car queue for the first checkpoint where they take half the car ticket and check that our warning lights both flash on cue.
Driving around the back of this huge boat, as instructed.
Lining up to await our turn. We waited here for probably 45 minutes while the loading people boarded dozens of trucks - well, not trucks but only the trailers. There are several prime movers on the dock and they hitch up the trailers and load them onto the ship and then disengage, leaving the trailers there while they go back for another. Lots and lots of trailers went on first, in the lower sections of the ship, before they would let any cars on. Next they loaded whole trucks going to the furtherest port - Rhodes and then cars. All of this took quite a while.
Trying to avoid booking us a cabin with bunks, Paul had erred towards the upper end of the cabin hierarchy and we ended up in one of only two staterooms, right underneath the bridge. No wonder it was a bit pricey!
A real bed.
A real bathroom.
Once we got over the shock of our luxurious cabin, we sauntered out to the rear deck to see what was happening outside.
There were still dozens of trailers waiting.
And dozens of trucks still to load.
This is a very big ship. These cars, loading on the top rear deck, have paid a fare which allows them to "camp" in their car overnight. They have open air and use of the toilet facilities but they must sleep in their vehicle. For cars in the lower sections of the ship there is no access to the vehicle. You must book a cabin or a seat.
We sat up all night (aircraft type seating) on our first trip to Corfu in 2000. Never again. Paul buys us a beer at the bar on the rear deck.
The trip from Brindisi, Italy to Patras, Greece takes 17 hours, so it's a cabin and a bed for us!
Lifeboats. It's always wise to check the lifeboats on a Greek ferry.
This snappy little number is rigged just behind the bridge - assuming it is for the captain. That protruding square hut is the bridge. Our cabin is just below it. So maybe we could claim this lifeboat, too.
There is a helicopter pad but it has been taken over by hippies, playing musical instruments and chanting.
Sixteen hours later, as we approach Patras, most of the "camping" cars have disappeared, They must have disembarked in Igoloumesto at about 6am. The remainder are going to Patras with us.
Because we were among the eary boardeers we are amongst the last to leave. No-one can access their car yet as they have to wait for this level to clear .... before the crew will
.... raise the steel floor ....
.... to allow access to the lowest level. See all of the trailers crammed in down there.
Talk about jam-packed! On the right hand side of the column are about 50 motorcycles.
On the left hand side of the same column, and stacked at about 60 degrees on the entry-exit ramp are about 6 vehicles.
While at the very lowest level are hundreds of cars, all of which have to either back up that 60 degree ramp, or manage to turn around and drive out. Some drivers could manage neither the reversing nor the hand break starts on the ramp nor the turn-arounds and had to be replaced by crew. Makes you wonder how some people get a license. But so what? - it is all entertainment.
You just don't want to be claustrophobic.
Welcome to Greece.
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