After two months in Magganitis, it is almost time for us to leave Ikaria from the port town of Evdilos.
This is where the Nissos Mykonos ferry between Ikaria and Piraeus (Athens area) docks several times a week in the winter.
This ferry is leaving on a Sunday afternoon for Piraeus, a port outside Athens. We will be taking the same ferry on Tuesday, very early in the morning.
This is one of the only times traffic jams occur on Ikaria!
Despite their relaxed attitude about many other things, the Greeks run a punctual and efficient transportation system.
However…
Note #1: When you are waiting for the ferry on a Greek island, do not set your luggage down in the port area unattended. It may not get stolen, but there is a strong possibility a stray dog will pee on it.
Note #2: When you get on the ferry, do not set your luggage down on the floor next to any other luggage. Greek islanders like to transport freshly caught fish, olive oil, and other products that are leaky and messy. You may find, like me, that when you go to get your bag off the floor of the luggage hold at the end of an eight hour ferry ride, that it, and all the contents, are completely soaked with fish juice.
Narcissi have been prized since ancient times for their fragrance. According to Greek mythology, Narcissus was a handsome man who fell in love with his own reflection. He pined away for this unattainable reflection of himself so long that he eventually withered away from longing. A patch of these flowers were found by the water in the place where he died, and ever since have been called Narcissus.
There are several ways of spearfishing – with a non-mechanical spear, or with a harpoon gun. The spearfisher pictured above is using a harpoon gun.
