Took our last ferry today, from Mykonos to Pireaus. We took Flying Cats for most of our trips through the Greek Islands. They are comfortable, quick, and on time. What they don't have is stabilizers. So when the seas are rough, like in August, like when we were on them, the rides are better than anything Disneyland can provide.
The Greeks will seemingly sail during any weather. 40 knot winds are a trifling. They laugh at heavy seas. They reminded me a lot of Greek taxi drivers. Seeing the rough seas the morning we sailed to Delos we asked the hotel owner if she thought the ferry would be cancelled. She replied, "Of course not, its August." Meaning the tourists are in the islands.
The crew's smiles are patronising as they witness people being sick over the railings or turning green. On the trip back from Delos one passenger was not only sick, he was terrified. The bartender smiled in a friendly manner, but there was a glint in the corner of her eyes.
Nonetheless, the ferry system is the time honored way to get around the Greek Islands. And why not follow in Odyssues footsteps? I met many people who seemed confused about why the ferries did not go directly to the islands they wanted to go to. Pull out a map, the best is a Michellin, and the ferry routes are outlined; the visual representation makes the routes obvious.
The other option is to fly. Costs are relative and you can generally find a flight from the island you are on to the island you want to go to. And the flights are smoother. But not as much fun.
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