05-06-08 (Tues)
We’re leaving Naxos today….
It looks like we’ll be staying at Agios Pavlos studios, since nobody is answering at Mike Hotel (love that name). We have our last breakfast on Naxos, pick up our laundry, say goodbye to Alexander and check out, then head towards the limani.
Our boat is waiting, but isn’t due to leave for a few hours yet, so we crash for a while at Cafe Lotto, where a willowy Greek chick dressed in combat fatigues speaks pretty good English, insisting I really DO want some sugar in my frappe (“medium sugar!”). I didn’t, but what are ya gonna do?
Filling out a few post cards before we are finally ready to board….
Okay, on board. This is a SMALL boat. Lots of seats topside, but only a small lounge area. We stake out some prime seats, as I intend to work on journal updates and nap.
We make various stops along the way — Iraklia, Shinoussa, Koufonissi. At one of the stops, the ship captain asks in Greek “Is this all of you? [meaning the island]” (as translated by Kulla and Callie). It is funny because these are very small islands — maybe 100 or 200 people on each one.
There was an old weathered Greek guy in the lounge hitting the sauce pretty good and really carrying on. He got off at the last small-island stop I believe. At some point, he was having such a good time he bought some English speaking people at the front of the lounge a round of Mythos. Sadly, he did not send a round of Mythos our way. Or maybe thankfully. Still not sure on that.
After leaving the small islands, we have a decent jut across more open seas to Amorgos. The guidebook says this boat rolls more than any other Greek ferry. I believe. But we get there.
We tried one car rental place, but the cars were too small. One day, we will ditch our last oversized luggage for these trips, but not this time. We find another place, and headed off (the guy knew Michail, the fellow who owns the Agios Pavlos studios where we are staying). The place was not too hard to find, and a call to Michail has us ready in short order.
Michail recommended some restaurants in Egiali, so off we went. Shopping was a trip (we’re buying groceries for the studios). We have the studios two days and enough food for a week. We finally found the restaurant recommended by Michail… and he shows up there himself later. It was good.
Back to the apts. Another long, tiring day (even if the journal doesn’t reflect it). Better figure out how to use the heater because it’s CHILLY! These remote control heaters are pretty cool.