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Greek Island hopping
“Ahh”, I sigh, as I flop into a seat on the 7.30am ferry from Piraeus to Sifnos, I now feel I’ve really arrived in Greece. The swanky new Athens airport and the would-be racing driver of the 96X shuttle bus could be anywhere else - but the port, with its dozens of ferries all lined up and raring to go, could only be Greece.
The inter-island ferry network is probably the most efficient and reliable service sector in Greece and weather permitting, they run like clockwork. They’re like a national bus service with routes that can take you to any island although you may have to change boats for a connecting destination. They’re not as quick as flying but are more spacious, much more interesting and much, much cheaper.
International ferry connections with Italy, Egypt, Israel and even Greece’s old adversary Turkey are possible. But Greek island hopping has a cache all of its own - on a par with visiting the Taj Mahal or trekking to Everest base camp but without the hassle or the effort.
Island hopping is easy, although a little daunting if you’re on a tight schedule – because they wait for no one. Some routes can be booked on the web, although the booking fee can cost more than the ticket or simply walk into one of dozens of ticket agents at every harbour and buy as you go.
I’m relaxing with a coffee on board Minoan lines ‘High Speed 1’ as it glides out of Piraeus harbour on the dot of 7.30; it’s a hydrofoil, so it’s twice the price but takes half the time of a standard ferry. Within minutes we are cruising through the dazzling blue waters of the Aegean; passing Aegina with little fishing boats bobbing in our wake and barren uninhabited islets that make up Greece’s improbable total of 2000 islands………….