Ferrying in July 2018, Part 14 Milan and Bari

Sunday 22nd July 2018
I do enjoy travelling on these overnight sleepers, or at least the ones I've been on here in a warm climate. I like the gentle background noise of the train on the tracks as we race through the night, the occasional change of tone as we go through a station, the gentle breezes coming through the open window, a comfortable mattress below and fresh linen around me, all of which usually ensure a dreamless, or exhausted, lovely sleep.

By early morning the sky was lightening and the guard came along the carriage to knock on the doors of those passengers leaving the train at Bari in 45 minutes time, and hand in 3 small breakfast trays. The two toilets with washing facilities at each end of the train sleeper coaches were sometimes the unpleasant part of sleeper travel, but lack of running tap water in them occasionally was often the least of these slight irritations. No matter, we arrived at Bari station about 6 a.m. and disembarked onto a quiet platform. I believe the train distance we travelled was 787 kms.

Travel-stained locomotive in Bari



Local buses were outside the station and people were out and about, and we found a small local coffee shop to sit and plan the morning. We were all going home today but had time to enjoy some time here in Bari. The local port bus took us down to the quays and there was a surprise as we could see RIGEL III in the Italian sunshine. Photos taken across the water, we could get another bus back to the station and then head for the airport.

Rigel III in Bari


Ships seen: Rigel III, which I remember seeing many years ago as Regina della Pace

I flew back to the UK having enjoyed another amazing and interesting ferry trip, in July 2018.

Ferrying in July 2018, Part 13, in Venice

Saturday 21st July 2018
On Asterion II

We were all up early this morning ready for our arrival on board ANEK'S ASTERION II, at what the company call Venice.

Venice - but really Fusina

Our view of Venice as we sailed into port

Eurocargo Livorno was also in the industrial area

Asterion II in Fusina


The port is actually in a place called Fusina, which is many many miles away from Venice. In fact some of the skyline sights of that wonderful little city could barely be seen in the far distance. We have been here to this industrial working area before and knew that transport other than cars would be difficult, but this time was far worse. We disembarked and headed with many other passengers for the far distant bus stop beyond some of the security fencing.

There were no shuttle buses, no taxis to be seen, and no buses either, despite the timetable showing their arrival and many of us waiting. In desperation we decided to walk to a small camp site, which was near a water taxi service into what we all know as Venice. That proved to be a mile or two away around quiet lanes but we did it - with no alternative. As we all strode quietly along I heard one of my friends saying "Never again, never again", and I'm certain he meant it.

(Just as a matter of interest, I will quote from a piece in the Autumn 2018 edition of the excellent publication 'Ferry & Cruise Review'.


"Your correspondents have previously lamented the disgraceful state of foot-passenger facilities and processing that now sadly prevails at Italian Adriatic Ports. With capacity expansion in recent years, either the ports themselves have been moved out-of-town, or check-in facilities relocated notable distances away from their original central quaysides. Passengers without vehicles are often forced to traipse back and forth, waiting in uncomfortable holding areas if departing, while, if arriving, often being marooned in out-of-town locations without any reliable public transport connections. Sadly, after a superlative crossing on ASTERION II, we were forced to endure Venice, which is now sadly the worst example possible, with the once majestic arrival past St. Mark's Square replaced with abandonment in an industrial zone, largely disconnected from the public transport network.")


An hour and a half after disembarking, we finally arrived in the little quayside area in Fusina; I noticed with interest the two signs on the fence, one pointing to a bar, the other pointing to the ferry.

A Bar or Ferry decision


There were so many people waiting at the water's edge that one ferry was loaded and sent on its way, before another one came along for us to board via the little pontoon. Hooray, at last we were really on our way to Venice as we know it, on board VE 8777.

Ferry VE 8777


Through the ferry window we could see some of the day's cruise ships in port; we were heading for Zattere.

Cruise ships over there

Map of the area

Adriatic Jet, high-speed catamaran seen on the way


There we changed to another vessel and disembarked at Tronchetto ready to board the METAMAUCO which took us to the Venice Lido. We have a few hours to enjoy in Venice before catching a mid-afternoon train from here to Milan, so we wanted to make the most of it.

Lovely

One ticket to cover all my journeys

Costa Luminosa and MSC Poesia

Rhapsody of the Seas

Costa Luminosa

MSC Sinfonia

Metamauco

On board


The views all round us were fascinating and we noticed the huge crowds of people in St. Mark's Square and all along the waterside. Yet again, here I am in Venice and Following in Father's Footsteps, which is a phrase I am fond of using!

St.Mark's Square

St. Mark's Square & Campanile, Venice, taken 1st October 1930 by my father, whilst on board the Arandora Star as a Junior Engineer

Father's next photograph

The other side, and I've stood there too


Once in the Lido area we disembarked from METAMAUCO and found a shady coffee and ice-cream cafe which occupied our minds happily for some time.

San Nicolo

Walking on board

Coming back again in San Nicolo

Look at those crowds


Another ferry arrived and we travelled back on SAN NICOLO to the main island, to get to the railway station, this time on the Megaride ACTV 40.

One of our last lovely views


We left Venice by train at 3.20 p.m., on a long-distance one which was actually heading for Zurich although we would get off at Milan Centrale. This splendid train had a proper Restaurant Car as well as a Snack Bar, and we were very impressed. The train was full, very comfortable and we were glad of our reserved seats.

A few hours later we arrived in Milan and had time to go for dinner at a local restaurant before catching our overnight sleeper train.

Ships seen: VE 8777 our Fusina ferry to Venice, MSC Poesia, Costa Luminosa, Rhapsody of the Seas, MSC Sinfonia, Metamauco, San Nicolo, Adriatic Jet, ACTV 40


To be concluded...

SUMMER 2016 - July ferrying Part 10, the final one

Sunday 24th July 2016
I took photographs after our late night Bridge visit here on PRINCE and departure from Igoumenitsa, and of course by that time my camera settings told me it was the next day, i.e. Sunday 24th July, so here are some of those pictures.

Jewel-bright door handles

Scandlines sign

Staircase midships

The toys are still there and may bring back memories to some ferry folk...

Reception

Outside our stern bridge cabin

Bridge cabin door to our balcony


The alarm went off at 5.25 a.m. after what felt like a very short night's sleep. Waking to the sound of the ocean was lovely though, with just an awareness of a barely-audible gentle engine noise in the background.

Looking aft from our balcony, very early in the morning

Looking forward to the Bridge

Life ring

Looking back to our cabin


We made our way along to the Bridge, from our very own original stern bridge accommodation, and the Captain again made us very welcome. We watched the Pilot come on board and were introduced to him when he arrived on the Bridge and then we were able to watch the ship PRINCE prepare to turn and get the ramps down to the quay, here in Brindisi in Italy.

Pilot stepping up

Approaching Brindisi

Nearly there

Prins Joachim bell

Prince's Bridge in port in sunshine

Vastervik arriving at Brindisi


The Captain told us that it had taken us just 16 minutes from the outer harbour entrance to getting the ramp down. That is such a contrast with the VASTERVIK, although we think that her engines and controls are not able to do anything faster. We could see her approaching the quay this morning in fact, and she was certainly faster at getting the ramp down here in Brindisi than she was in Igoumenitsa last night (which took 45 minutes). He also told us that PRINCE has 6 engines but uses 2, and can do 22 knots but does 14 knots usually. He gave us his e-mail address to keep in touch. He lives on a Greek island, has a boat for his enjoyment, and a son working in a London Bank. He also told me that he lectures on stars and celestial ways.

This morning in daylight I could see the charts more clearly (used as a back-up for the modern systems on board) and smell the basil plant being grown in a pot. We also stood on the glass panel in the floor at the end of the internal Bridge wings, looking down many feet to the sea below. I could also see and photograph the bell of the PRINS JOACHIM (built 1980) down on the fo'c's'le deck.

Soon we had to leave the Bridge and thank the Captain of PRINCE, and make plans to pack and take final photographs. The staff on here are really friendly, and obviously enjoy their work because many of them spoke to us as we finally disembarked. Oh, goodbye PRINCE, we didn't have many hours on board but goodness they had been amazing.

The car deck as we left

Our cabin on the starboard side of the old bridge wing

Yesterday's photo of what became our Prince cabin last night


We took a local taxi into the port town and went to Betty's for breakfast. I then went for a walk around the back streets to see the Roman remains. The Roman marble columns of Brindisi were erected in 1st Century BC and reconstructed between the 2nd and 3rd Century AD to overlook the port and are the symbol of the city. Only one remains now, having been damaged during the passing of time, but I was glad to see it.

Walking around Brindisi port promenade

A back street

Another street

Another view

One of the Roman columns

Roman remains, with the castle-like port entrance to be seen in the distance

Further down

Roman column details

Back street view

Betty's, Brindisi

The end of the line in Brindisi, as it is now


Reality and the internet brought us down to earth, as we discovered that most of the Italian trains are on a 24 hour strike today. Plan B was hastily discussed as we made our way up to Brindisi railway station to see if anything was actually running. One long-distance train was running to Milan, two of us bought tickets and raced to another platform to catch it, and caught it with moments to spare. We fell into comfy numbered seats in the air-conditioned carriage and enjoyed over an hour's journey north as we made our way to Bari.

My other friend was hoping to catch an evening train up to Milan, which would probably run, so there were hurried goodbyes at Brindisi as we started to go our separate ways home.

Once in Bari we would relax, find a little local backstreet restaurant for lunch, and get a non-striking train to Bari airport in time to fly home to the UK. We had enjoyed ferrying on many ex-Sealink ships, in Greek and Italian waters, and had many wonderful memories and photographs to take home - how fortunate we each felt.