Travel from Venice Italy to Olympia Greece
Well to say the last 36 hours have been a blur would be an understatement. I have now officially made it to country number 4 on my little tour. It all started Friday morning at around 0720 when I boarded a train in Venice Italy destined for Ancona Italy. It was suppose to be around a 4.5 hour trip but of course it was a little behind so I hit Ancona just after 1200.Why Ancona you ask? Because that is where I was picking up the ferry to Greece. The ferry was scheduled to leave at 1330 so I was a little anxious about getting there on time. If I missed that one it would have been a bit of wait and a much longer trip. As it was, it was 21 hours on a wonderful ferry.
A bit of the Italian coast from the train.
Needless to say I made the ferry with plenty of time. Using my rail pass it actually got me on the ferry for only the port fees and it included a bed so I was pretty happy about that. I was even happier about it when I got on the boat and realized that 90% of the occupants were men….and not pretty men.....really old and ugly men and they stared and winked and stuff. Not very comfortable at all. So I took the opportunity to sleep as much as I could.
This guy was running across the parking lot trying to get on the ferry....as we were pulling away. He didn't make it. Hopefully he got to Greece eventually.
The place where I slept was in the dorm. So basically 5 little rooms with 6 beds a piece. I have to tell you though I am pretty sure I was the only one there. There certainly was not anyone else in my little room. The only time I saw anyone else was when they were checking to make sure no one was sleeping somewhere they shouldn’t be and at 0400 when the decided to wake me up to make sure I was going all the way to Patras and not their first stop. I really did not enjoy that wake-up.
My bed. I probably spent a good......19 hours here. I think I needed the sleep.
Anyway, I made it to Patras, Greece just a little after noon. Getting off the boat was a little confusing as no one really seemed to know where to go but I managed to find the terminal and found my way to the street. So weird that no one checks passports here but whatever. If Greece doesn’t need to know I am here then I won’t tell them.
Once off the boat I needed to find the train station. I had two options of directions to walk and no one seemed to be able to understand when I asked…...so I walked the wrong way which was my first introduction to the packs of men that seem to have nothing to do all day long so just sit around until the cops kick them out of where they are. I eventually found an office with some staff that spoke English and they directed me the right way. As I was walking the right way I found the information office and they also directed me to the station and then another Canadian traveller who was happy to meet someone who spoke English and she walked me to the train station.
This is from the back of the boat.
So far I must say that of all the countries I have visited, Greece is the one I feel least comfortable in purely due to the language issue. With the Greek alphabet it is impossible to even guess what the signs are saying. It seems though that the farther I got from Patras the more English that was spoken so hopefully I will be ok.
Anyway, my train didn’t leave for about 45 minutes so me and Carissa (the girl I met who was from Saskatoon) sat and talked for a bit about our respective trips. She is a true back packer although I have been told I look the part very well. She was just heading to Italy. Seems we will be visiting a lot of the same countries just in reverses order. She was a little worried about the ferry as she had also made a previous trip on another boat with mostly men that was a little uncomfortable so I hope she made out ok.
At 1433 I boarded the train for a little place called Pygros (at least I hoped it was the right train because until they checked my ticket, I actually was not sure). This is where I was to transfer trains and catch one that went to Olympia. What the lady in Patras neglected to tell me though was that by the time I got to Pygros I would have already missed the last train to Olympia for the day. However, the nice man in Pygros directed me to the bus station and I was able to catch a bus from there. Just a short 45 minute drive but no announcement or anything. The bus was getting ready to turn around when a girl who spoke English told me this was Olympia. I guess she had been talking to the bus driver and he knew this was where I was heading but wanted to make sure he was dropping me in a part of town I wanted to go. Well since I did not actually know where I wanted to go I got off there because it looked well lit, well populated and with lots of hotels.
I basically walked up to the first hotel I found, and asked how much. The town is pretty much dead this time of year so not an issue finding a room...... it is just finding a good price. Off season prices….30 euros a night. Not bad. I can handle that but the 25 I actually paid I handled much better. The room is clean, the bathroom is not bad so for two nights this will do.
Once I was all checked in I wandered around and found a restaurant. There are certainly plenty of places to eat….all serving traditional Greek dishes. The weather is just about right although it really is starting to cool down at night. I found the information office as well but of course it is closed tonight so will check tomorrow. The town is small though and finding ancient Olympia will be very easy to do.
Ancient Olympia is one of those places I have always wanted to visit and one of the reasons I had to make a stop in Greece. Tomorrow will be a very exciting day for me.
Julie
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