Bird transporter lady is checking out her birds and they seem like they're going to rest most of the trip. Whew. That could have been rough.
Not too strange, I get bored. So I go for another walk, this time with a mission. Katie needs to get that communication device charged up for texting, bbm and most importantly. The GPS application, because when we get landside, we'll be going on another adventure. Driving. So off I go looking for power plugs and as you can guess, there are few and far between on the ferry, but I only found two. It was on this walk about I found something I didn't expect to see. Sleeping bags. Unrolled and laying claim to their spot. Along wide halls, under stair cases. Basically the darkest most quiet part of the boat. There weren't any fights, these holds appeared to be respected among the ferry traveling community. People must get on the boat, pick their spot and then head up to the bar for a night of drinking and retire to their floor space to get a few hours of sleep. These were season travellers. I show Katie to her plug and she stretches out and takes a nap. We ate at very different times during our broken sleep and I took in Step Mom on the tv. During one of our walks I did find the Internet Cafe and was lucky enough to find a computer that someone must have bought a couple hours on so I was able to keep an eye on the Jays. I checked in a few times, apparently this kind person bought me some Internet time a few times during the night because i did get updates a few times. We won again! Katie did wake me to tell me that we were almost there and that I should go up a deck to check the views of Crete as we enter the bay. Of we go to see the sun rising on to Crete, turns out we more than likely made eyes with our home for the week, we just didn't know that at the time as we entered Souda Bay.
We could have showered in the boat, but that would have been like showering in an Airplane bathroom, so we both passed. So after walking almost 23000 steps in the Athens heat, sleeping in our clothes on a ferry. We had some, shall we say, travel smell.
We docked at 6:00 am but we were expecting to meet up with the car rental place until 8:00 am. So we sat for a while and waited for the rush to get back off the boat. That really worked because apparently those escalators are only one way and we had to slowly make our way down the stairs with our huge pieces of luggage. We're exiting the boat and heading down the ramp and the strangest thing happens. 6:30 in the morning, exiting a Ferry on the isle of Crete and Katie's cell phone starts to ring. It was the car rental guy and he's wondering where we are because he knew the boat comes in at 6:00 he came early to meet us so we didn't have to wait 2 hours for the car. Amazing! What service! We got to the end of the ramp where we see the kind man holding a sign for Mrs. Katie Meredith.
Katie had to take a picture because we aren't the kind of people that have people waiting for them with signs. We thanked him so much as that was so kind and so appreciated. He showed us around the mini van which would later go on to be called, the Katie Kab.
Katie was about to start her biggest challenge on this trip so far. Driving 5 speed after driving automatic for the last 10 years.
Shaking, sitting in the minibus and talking herself up. She fired it up and within minutes you wouldn't have known about the driving break. She would become smooth as silk in changes, mastering hill starts and navigating some of the tightest European streets with ease. Pro star right there.
We were picking up others in our group at 10:00, so Katie wanted to gas up the van, practice driving a bit and find the airport. The airport wasn't only 10 km's away and we had lots of time, so no big deal. It would give us time to tour around the island a little bit. The locals must have thought we were nuts, a scouting run that was so long. Later in the week we'd meet a waiter who'd never heard of the town that we were staying in and it's only 50 km's away. People around here don't travel much. So we find the airport with ease, really only one way in and out. So the next mission, find some breakfast. Katie found something quite quickly, I wasn't ready to let go of the idea of a Canadian type breakfast quite yet. I wanted something warm, with meat and maybe a potato of some sort. I'd quickly give up that dream. No eggs, no browns and no fried pork around here at 7:00 am on a Sunday. We'd eventually find a great bakery where I basically had a sausage roll with some cheese in it. I did have some of the best French press coffee I've ever had in my life there. It was here where I met the cutest wild puppy and we became quick friends. I think it was the fact I was giving him some sausage that did it. Look at that face!
We slowly made the hilly turny way back to the Chania Airport. We parked in a free unmonitored lot that I'm guessing we shouldn't have been in. But it's Sunday in Greece so things are a little bit lax around here. We would circle back if need be. I walked the 30 feet to the 8 gate terminal that made up the Airport and waited for our friends. It wasn't long before Caro, Al and Jen all appeared through the gate. Hugs all around, some laughs and travel tales shared as we made our way to the big city of Chania.
We'd find out that rolling around the streets had some serious advantages compared to driving during the week. Nobody was out driving in town and the streets were very, very quiet. We parked in a market area, illegally as a local would tell us later when we came back to the van. Our first cafe visit in Chania and a lunchtime beer. Having to pee and not a WC in sight, I went on a walkabout adventure through the market finding some back alley to visit, judging by the smell, I wasn't the first to use it that day my friends.
Next up. A worry we all had. Getting some groceries on a Sunday afternoon in Crete.
We passed one Supermarket and then stopped for some advice from a local. Not the last time we'd do that on this day. Nothing. All going to be closed today he tells me. Up the street is a minimarket and that's all you're going to find this day. The market, next to the bakery from breakfast as it turns out. Some nibbles, veggies, cheeses and meats were bought and that would be enough for this crew to get through the day. During the "shop" we had gotten word from Kim that they were at the Villa and that it was time to head on down. This simple appearing task would go on to prove oh so very difficult. We loaded up our purchases and were off.
Heading back to Souda was no problem, but the instructions from the Villa we didn't find clear and the photos not all that helpful. Gas station visit number 2 for some advice. Off we go for a while again, continuing in the right direction. But turning wrong or early fairly consistently. We started to recognize names of things so we know we were close. We made the first left and made our way down the hill. Katie's phone beeps with a text. It reads. You turned down the wrong street. You want the next turn. It's Kim. All I'm thinking is. The call is coming from in the HOUSE! All laughing in wonder. Can she see us? We turn around and head back up the hill. No small feat. We're making our way back up the hill and Katie spots her, she can see us! We quickly make our way to the next driveway. A steep driveway with a 90 degree right turn near the bottom. Intense.
Let's unpack the minibus. We're home.
A quick tour around the villa and we get our room. A lovely room with two balconies overlooking the lovely bay. Another rock solid bed, those Europeans know how to do it. Throw some clothes in the temporary homes and head on downstairs for a cold one and a great view. Hours go by and we have our first of many villa Greek Salads, some cheeses and some veggies.
The last of our crew arrives and her driver makes the same first road turn mistake that we've all made. The driver does something that stuns us all. He backs down the drivway hill of death. We all stare in amazement as he finishes it off and Sherry jumps out of the car. She quickly puts her stuff away and joins the group for a drink and nibble.
One by one, each traveller turns in early as we're all travel tired as we've all taken different ways to get here. Katie and I had been up for two days and were in desperate need of a shower. Cleaned up and ready for bed, this day fades out.
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