Day 33 - Igoumenista - Ferry to Italy 24th June 2024

Woke quite early and had a quick breakfast while I packed away the tent - well stuffed it in the van!

Was still sweating by the time I had finished.

Remembered my bits and pieces in the fridge and went to pay. The owner whined on about the 90 day rule and I again pointed out that it doesn't apply to me as I'm travelling on my Irish passport. No sure he believed I'm an Irish citizen.

Checked the area was clear and headed to a supermarket in Igoumenista. Theres a Lidl just out of town so I stopped and filled up with some supplies including a very nice Ham and Cheese pie for the boat. The Feta looked so good and was so cheap but wouldn't make the journey home unfortunately!

Bought some local Olive Oil and a couple of packs of Mythos. That should last a couple of days.

The ferry is at 14:00 and the gate wasn't open when I arrived at the port. But I checked in and the local dogs were enjoying the air conditioning.

They gave me the name of the ship/the gate and a passenger ticket. It was a massive ferry!

Still very early but I went through customs - they checked the van. Opened the back. Shone torches in the back. Queue already to get on!

They had requested check-in 2 hours before it left and I suppose I checked in @ 11.00 am.

Boarding is due at 12.00 and after a quick chat with some Brits in a Spanish registered car we boarded.

I was close to the roof of the deck I'm on even though I paid for extra height. But they seem to know what they are doing!

Massive ship even has a pool! (Not in use yet but will be in season).

Forgot my phone cable so they let me go back to the van to get it. Wouldn't happen on a P&O ferry!

Looked around the ferry. Loads of cabins for the overnight crossings. Seems quite empty though.

Found somewhere to charge the phone and the a quiet spot in a nice reclining chair for a snooze!

Post snooze wandered around the ship and eventually succumbed to buying WiFi of 4 Euros for 5 hours - plenty to get me to Italy.. well just about. Ship docked at 8.30 pm. ish. This is coming into Brindisi.

Down to the "garage" to back the van up so it could go up the ramp. Avoiding the 40 or so Hells Angels who had parked behind it!

It was dark by the time I got off the boat and hot and the roads near the port (like many ports) are awful. Full of pot holes. Now would not be the time to get a puncture. Again took a while to get a phone network!

As it was later than I expected I picked a campsite just 30 minutes away (I'd picked 3 from P4Night and this was the closest).

Arrived at the campsite and paid 31 Euros for the night! Wasn't even a nice campsite. Clean but old-Turkish toilets.

Italy game was on.

Put tent up in the dark (Head Torch was useful). Small tent as will only be here overnight. Didn't bother putting flysheet on as it isn't going to rain!

Had a Pizza and a couple of cold beers which was very nice!

Phoned Ludlow family.

Cold shower and then bed.