“Greece 🇬🇷 ~Ferry Trip from Santorini to Syros”

• June 7, 2020
• By Pen n Daryl
• 0 Comment

We are up before dawn, to make sure we make it to the ferry on time. The ferry would leave by 7:30AM. We had a rental car, so it was nice to be able to drive ourselves down to the port, and lock the car up, for the rental car owner to pick up later.

Masks are required and are on, as we board the ferry. Social distancing is evident with seats taped off, and we settle in for what was suppose to be a six hour trip. It looked like only a total of 25 passengers were aboard

Syros is a Greek Island, but it is not known as a touristy destination. It is where many government offices are for the Cyclades region, so no clue what to expect. We did not do research, since we had no choice but to travel to this Island to deal with our Visa extension.

This morning, it was very windy, and ferries cancel, due to such things, but we got lucky, today; well, lucky for some. It’s very good we do not get sea sick, but two people near us are already 🤮; parents of the small children crying. My heart was officially breaking 💔for them.

We had 4G, and kindle books, plus I have downloaded Netflix. Plenty of entertainment for the voyage.

I’m really glad the surgeon said “no travel for 30 days,” yet Syros Police is making us go through all this; our luggage strapped across my chest and our backs, rubbing our stitches and wounds. In this modern day, interviews should be able to be conducted via internet, at the Santorini Police Department, where they can also eyeball and verify proof of documents for Syros Police. None of this travel day makes sense to us, but here we are; following one rule, to disobey another rule. 🤪

We have no lodging lined up in Syros, because of the no cancellation policies in place, (just in case the ferry did not run), so unlike what we normally do, we are winging it. It might be this way for awhile.

This ferry ride, since we left Santorini has had a few issues. Bummer, but we are fine. Apparently, somewhere along the way, one of the engines “picked up a foreign object.” 

9.5 hours later, on our six–hour ferry ride, we are still limping along, and long overdue to our destination. I’m very glad our interview is scheduled for tomorrow! BTW, wearing masks and social distancing ceased three hours ago for everybody, including staff. It been a long day for everybody on this boat! After a stop at “Ios” Island, a bit later, we were also informed, the weather (high winds) continue to be a problem, so we were to expect more delays. (this means after getting underway, finally, we could walk faster than we were moving. BUT, we were moving, so good news there! More good news is, half the passengers have gotten off by this point, so no more uncomfortable passengers being sick. We are down to about 10 of us, on this enormous ferry.

I took a few pics, whenever I was allowed to step outside at the various port stops along the way. When the Ferry is moving, nobody is allowed on deck. (see above photos)

After 12 hours of travel, and 14 hours since we got up to start our day, we are finally settled in to our hotel for a nice nap, then we will find some food. 

Syros Island is very nice.

We found a good place to stay with a balcony and another view of the Aegean Sea. No plans beyond two nights, though, till after our interview, so we are adjusting to the new normal of not planning ahead.