Greece 2012 Part 3

Thursday 30th August

Venice view from the Arandora Star, 1st October 1930, photographed by my Father, Engineer Harry Williams

Another Venice view from the Arandora Star, 1st October 1930, photographed by my Father, Engineer Harry Williams

At sea on Kriti II
I sat on deck partly in the sunshine, watching the islands on the starboard side and then the land mass on the port side, under a clear blue sky, and thinking how lucky I was. Quiet and gentle music started on deck at 11 a.m. possibly as a distraction whilst three overalled ANEK men painted today whatever it was they were hammering yesterday.

Painting whatever they were hammering yesterday

Camping and sleeping on deck

The ramps and wake

The pool was filled

A Saipem vessel (I wonder which one it is?)

Enjoying the scenery

Spacious Reception and Bureau Square (just had to get the Union-Castle Line connection in there somewhere)

The Grand Descent

Another deck hand was filling the swimming pool with a hose; many of us simply walked around the whole deck, admiring babies or toddlers, watching dogs sleeping and comparing them with their owners, reading, avoiding passengers still asleep on deck, trying Sudoku like the two German ladies I sat near to do the same at one point, and generally enjoying the warmth and scenery. On one circuit of the deck I walked towards a young lady with her little white dog in a handbag on her shoulder. That dog was obviously not going to get much exercise, with its little face peeking out from the top of the bag.

Lunch was available in the Self-Service Restaurant and then it was back to doing nothing much on deck again. I saw a gap in the land mass on the port side and photographed a distant ferry – very distant – and realised it was coming from Dures, in Albania, so it was found to be IONIAN SPIRIT.

Following another good dinner in the a la Carte Restaurant, the ship called at Igoumenitsa, where we could see what seemed to be a new terminal building, ferries, and a dredger in the darkness. Many people left the ship and many more got on, ready for our call at Corfu a little later.

Night-time call at Igoumenitsa

Cruise Olympia

Car deck view

After that call, the ship settled for the night on the final part of the journey to Patras, where we will arrive at an early hour.

Night-time deck scene

Kriti II life ring


Ships seen: Silver Sea?, Ionian Spirit, the weird looking vessel of Saipem company (I wonder which one it is?), Agia Theodora, Ionian Sky, Bridge, Cruise Olympia, 2 Superflexes Agios Nikolaos and ? ex Reggio, Pantokrator, and Aichaios at Corfu, plus 1 double-ender with prow masts

To be continued….

Greece 2012 Part 2

Greece 2012 Part 2
Kriti II leaving Venice

Wednesday 29th August 2012 (contd.)

Check in was quick and we were soon on board ANEK’s KRITI II, ready to leave luggage and start looking round. There were two ramps for vehicles and a separate one for foot passengers. We were to sail at 6 p.m. from Venice, with two nights on board, before arriving in Patras. Sailing out from Venice was just delightful: ORIENT QUEEN was berthed in a nearby cut, various expensive-looking private yachts were moored, as was Star Clippers’ ROYAL CLIPPER, and several of the local ferries were coming back into the city from the Lagoon at Lido di Jessolo.

Kriti II

A funnel

Greek Church on board

Deck scene before sailing

Map of Venice showing our route from the far left side berth through the wide waterway south of the city

Orient Queen

On our ship we were all enjoying the great expanse of the open deck and the sights of the city from the teak rails. Some passengers were setting up their tents ready to camp on deck for the two nights’ journey south-east to Patras, pets had been put into the Dog Village or settled under steamer chairs for shade from the heat (28C), the deck bars were open for refreshments, and two ANEK men were hammering away at a piece of equipment on deck for a while. There was constant movement below on the water everywhere we looked. Back near the causeway we could see several local ferries all berthed together.

Local vessels near the causeway

The Whatever of the Seas cruise ship must have left well before we sailed at 6 p.m. as she was nowhere in sight. Our passage through the lagoon was mesmerising in that ‘golden hour’ before dusk and totally absorbing as we headed towards the open sea.

Carinthia VII

Royal Clipper

Venice view

Not quite upright

Venice view

Bit of a tilt

Venice view

The famous St. Mark's Square

Venice view

Another leaning tower

It's just like a painting

Lido di Venezia

Local tug

Poveglia

Torcello

Camping on deck

KRITI II was built as a ferry in 1979 in Japan at 27,239 tons to carry 870 passengers, and named NEW YUKARI; the Japanese influence could be seen in the metallic domed ceiling in the Lounge over the dance floor, and in the pair of curved staircases leading down to the Reception area – a Grand Descent in miniature. She was sold to ANEK in May 1996, and currently runs from Venice – Igoumenitsa – Corfu – Patras and back.

Japanese styling

Dinner was enjoyed in the Dining Room with an excellent choice of food, and wine from the Peloponnese islands. The ship’s clocks had been set to Greek time as we sailed from Venice so we were now two hours ahead of British Summer Time.

Ships seen: Water taxis, Alilaguna airport water taxi, gondolas, Kriti II, Orient Queen, Carinthia VII, yachts Tatooshe and Hermitage, Star Clippers’ Royal Clipper, Lido di Venezia, Poveglia, Torcello, and dozens of other vessels

To be continued....

Greece 2012, Part 1, Venice

Greece 2012

Some time ago I was invited to take some ferry trips with a friend, and then shown the itinerary. The journey for me would start in Venice, Italy, and continue to Patras in Greece, before visiting several of the Greek Isles in the Aegean. How could I refuse a wonderful offer like that? Of course I couldn’t!

Wednesday 29th August 2012 found me flying early from London’s Gatwick Airport to Venice, with my rucksack safely tucked in the hold as, officially, an oversized bag. It really wasn’t but, as an unconventionally shaped piece of luggage with straps, that was where it had to travel, which was fine with me. From my front side window seat I could take photographs once we were airborne, and I was fascinated with the vistas far below me. I could see harbours, ships, mountains with snow and glaciers, lakes, deep green valleys, then the flat fertile plains of Italy under a cloudless blue sky.

Over the South coast of England

Over the Continental coast

Over mountains and snow

Over lakes and valleys

With my watch set one hour forward from British Summer Time, we landed at 11.30 in Venice’s Marco Polo airport and stepped out into glorious hot sunshine. Far away I could see a huge cruise ship at what must be the Cruise Terminal, but the small bus took us all from the aircraft to the small terminal to collect luggage and then board the Aerobus (6 Euros) to the city. I knew I could take a water taxi to get there, but the time and cost were too much, and I wanted to see Venice as soon as possible.

The land and plants looked scorched from all the recent high temperatures, but once on the causeway leading into the small islands that are Venice there was glittering water on both sides and ahead I could see some of the many towers and domes of the city.

The causeway into Venice

I was so excited to be here and able to enjoy the sights and sounds for a few hours. From the bus station in the Piazzale Roma I joined all the tourists milling about, but soon met my travelling companion under the new Grand Canal Bridge, the controversial Ponte della Costituzione footbridge.

The Ponte della Costituzione footbridge

Under the bridge

The shade was welcome as plans were made for the day. Luggage was left in safe-keeping at the Railway Station (5 Euros) on production of a passport being shown and copied, and then we were free to see some sights. We travelled on several big water taxis (the famous vaporettos), which were cheap and fast, and packed with people enjoying the breeze as we sailed along the waterways. Boats of all kinds were everywhere, in a kind of organized chaos. We found a little local café for home-cooked Venetian lunch and then the exploring continued.

Map of Venice on a Vaporetto pontoon

Venice view

Venice view

Venice metalwork of all kinds

Venice view

Venice view

Venice view

Venice view

Venice vaporetto route and stops

Under the Rialto Bridge

Rialto Bridge from the vaporetto

Venice view

Venice view

Venice view

We finally had to collect our rucksacks and make our way to the Ferry Terminal, ready to board the first ferry of my trip. We were to sail with ANEK Lines from Venice to Patras, on board the good ship ‘KRITI II’.

To be continued....