summer is loading

Walking down the stairs from my block of flats there was the smell of warm toasted bread with a thick spread of Nutella on top. Not a slice I enjoyed, I was busy balancing myself with 3 pieces of hefty luggage down the stairs and there was a boat to catch. Destination Mykonos!

Cars, red traffic lights, sleepy drivers, intoxicating truck fumes, blinding morning sun rising on top of Piraeus rooftops. Piraeus port is a busy place and there is no striking beauty to gaze at unless a rugged urban scenery is your kind of thing. There is, though, a constant flow of energy, people and vehicles, confusion and a bit of stress overlooked by the excitement of the destination that lies ahead, goodbyes and hellos are merging, tens of people furtively crossing paths. Immersing myself in port mode to travel to the Greek islands, even for a short while is an experience I wouldn’t change. Piraeus port is a gateway synonymous to Cycladic islands. It has to be a ship that will take you across Aegean blue waters. As for the destination smooth beaches, pristine white matchbox size houses with tiny blue blinds and serenity that will automatically make you forget how long you’ve travelled to reach land.

The major travel routes to Cycladic islands sound like part of an unlikely haiku.

Paros – Naxos Ios – Santorini.

Siros – Tinos -Mykonos.

Syllables I’ve memorised since I was kid, repeated in silly rhyming songs to entertain myself whilst picking through the ships’ windows anxious to be the first to get a glimpse of the island. The thrill as it approaches shore after hours of plain blue sea and clear skies, for me is still the same as when I was kid.

This time I was travelling alone. I sat myself on the deck, before the boat left port taking in the busy port, trying to block out the noise. In late April the boat was full of high-school kids going on their end of year trip. It’s too early for holiday makers to make their way down in large numbers. You could spot,however, a handful of lone travellers. Sat in quiet corners, all by themselves surrounded by overloaded luggage. Most of them sleepy. They are going to work in the islands as spring turns to summer and get everything ready for the busy season ahead. I am going to be part of it for this summer. I cannot really tell whether I picked Mykonos or Mykonos picked me. Spending summer by the sea was all too appealing to resist.

There is little to write about food on the boat. You can grab yourself a burger or fries if desperate. And it’s exactly what you would expect it to be, except perhaps for the price, it’s a bit on the higher end. Everything is a little more special when on the boat though, prices couldn’t be any different. We even have a set phrase for the boat coffee, ‘karavisios‘: a mean cup of overpriced instant coffee with ice to resemble frappe – that’s what it used to be years ago, coffee quality is getting better. My advice if travelling by boat: get breakfast from the bakery and eat lunch at the port when you arrive.

Food is certainly going to be much more exciting in Mykonos. I don’t think you will be seeing too many recipes coming from me over the next few months. What you are certainly going to see more of is a lot of blue sea and wonderful beaches.

Summer is loading…

From Mykonos with love,

Eugenia

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