Leaving Tinos

The port in Tinos was frenzy with activity on Wednesday. Lines of cars lined the port and the masses waited in line in the cement cagey-looking building to board the numerous boats that were coming in and out of the harbour. Within the span of minutes Penelope docks, Highspeed 2 docks, Penelope disembarks passengers, Highspeed 2 passengers disembarking have to avoid the people running to embark Penelope. Penelope begins to leave as the Superferry is turning around to dock.

I was first in the line of cars for the Superferry. I kiss my Dad goodbye and hug him. It's the first time I am reduced to tears. I don't like to say goodbye to him. It still seems unreal that we are leaving. Did three months go by that fast?

We wait for the passengers and cars to disembark, then the people embark and then the line of cars is let in. I parked the car on the top level, took the kids out of the car and walked up. The Superferry was full of passengers. People were camped out everywhere. I walked up another deck looking for a place to sit with the baby and Faviana. Eventually, I had to ask a woman to give up the three seats she was sleeping on and just occupy one so that we can sit. She got huffy about it but I didn't really care. I wasn't about to stand for what turned out to be five and a half hours.

The boat ride was ok. The boat swayed from side to side but that didn't really affect anyone (thankfully we weren't on the SeaJet). Faviana worked on a book of puzzles. The person who seemed most affected to leave Tinos was the baby. She absolutely howled. She didn't want to leave Παππου and she didn't want to leave the island. (She's still unhappy 2 days later.)

The ding-dong announcement comes on. All drivers to the cars. We will reach Rafina in just a few moment. I pick up our things, carry the now sleeping baby and ask Faviana to stay by me. We reach the parking deck only to see that the cars are packed tighter than a can of sardines. Although the car is in the first lane, five cars ahead of the door, I cannot carry the baby to the car. I have to weave in and out between the tiny spaces left between the bumpers and make a large loop around just to reach the car. The cars are primarily SUVs and although it was difficult I had to lift the baby in the car seat above my head with one hand, carry the things in the other and continually tell Faviana to follow me even though she it tiny enough to fit through and go straight to the car.

We reach the car to realize that only Faviana can fit in through the tiny space that's left between the cars. The baby and I stay by the boot of the car and we have to wait. The lower level of cars go out first. Then, our level starts to move! My car was parked on the ramp and the ramp begins to descend. I watched Faviana and hoped that the brakes hold and that Faviana doesn't take it out of first gear. Luckily, she sits quietly in the back seat watching us. As soon as the cars start to move, the guy behind me to the right gives me time to put the baby in the car and get in before he takes off. And we're off to drive in Athens.....