Our last few days in Paleo were dominated by last-minute tasks - made worse by managing at a distance a new set of London tenants moving in. The weather was patchy and we only got a last paddle in rough waves. We set off on Wednesday 29th and stopped for lunch on the Nea Hora as usual - though not unfortunately at the favoured place which remains mysteriously shut. We also stopped at a Fiat dealer to look for a windscreen wiper blade. Closed Wednesday - but a chance to look at the new Doblo!
We have been monitoring the various industrial actions related to the government austerity measures. On departure day it was the doctors on national strike, so not much to worry about there; but at Souda port there was a stationary trailer with workers protesting, and a larger than normal police presence. The ferry was fairly quiet. Next morning we were off in record time. We killed time until the sun was up (Starbucks opens at 6!) and then set off on the well-trodden route to Patras. No traffic jams! We were intrigued by this, but then at a series of toll stations and at the petrol refinery we saw very long queues of parked tankers, lorries and trailers - sometimes with drivers camped out by them. We got the feeling that the strike was about to really hit home. Leaving the country felt slightly like the action of rats, but there was also a sense of relief!
Our previous three Patras departures were to Bari and at 5pm. This time it was to be to Venice and at midnight. A very long day to kill whilst not leaving a fully-laden car unattended! The firts thing we did was to visit the Corinth canal, which we normally pass without notice. The tourist aspects of it are pretty naff - awful shops and cafeterias - but still worth a visit! It is strikingly narrow, short and deep (bungy jumping available!) and the history is now well described on new marble plaques. We then made a stop beside the sea at a random resort and saw the aged bathers. The road is still undergoing major improvement work, so there were some hairy moments. In Patras we went back to a hotel we know where we thought we might have lunch and use the WiFi, but it was barely functioning, and the WiFi down, so we drove to the other side of the city and eventually a taverna with adquatelt secure parking, and had a pleasant lunch. There were still hours to kill, but we did find a little taverna just accross from the port which would have been a much better choice, and was - in any case - a good spot for reading and people-watching until we reached the point when we thought we might be boarded. In fact we still had an age to wait, and ANEK were (surprise, surprise!) oblivious to motorists's needs and completely inefficient, so that we were not aboard until 10pm, and were stuck in the bowels of the ship. Anyway - a great upgraded cabin and a smooth voyage, with stops in the early hours of the first morning at Igonoumitsia and Corfu. It was fairly sunny during daylight hours, but - needless to say - they did not fill the pool! We got some good views of Albania!
We sailed into Venice as the sun went up. This year's disembarkation saga related to us being in the bowels at Deck 2, so many of us (well Ruth with bad knees!) wanted to use the lift. There is one, and it takes 4 people at a time! Bob went down the stairs and kept having to move the car whilst he waited. ANEK has corporate colours of yellow and blue! Like Ryanair and IKEA - you hate them, their customer service stinks, but you just keep going back!