We wake up today with the idea that today is our last day in Leros. We want to walk back up to the Castle and down to the windmills. There is a fish restaurant that opens at 1 that we want to have lunch at and tonight will be our last meal at Dimitri’s. Good plan 🙂

 

Stu takes a few shots of the beach outside of Papafotis.  We are up and out earlier than usual.

 

 

 

The beach is quiet.  We have been noticing that each day there are fewer people here.

 

 

We get to Platanos and see there is an office for the ferries, so we stop in to see if we can buy our ferry tickets for tomorrow today. Will save us a step tomorrow. The sign says open 10-2 and 5-8. It is a couple minutes after 10 and no one is there.  We’ll check back later.

 

We start our walk to the castle. The blue building at the waters edge is where we plan to have lunch.

 

 

 

The wind is calmer today, so not as cooling.

 

 

 

 

Then down the road to the windmills.

 

 

 

There is a cafe/bar in one and have heard other things to see in the other 4. Only the cafe/bar is open so we stop for some fabulous views and bevvies.

 

 

Leisurely head back down from the heights to Platanos. Check in at the ferry office, still closed.

 

 

The fish restaurant is nearby but doesn’t open until 1, so we sit in the harbour for a while. About 12:40 we decide to walk toward the restaurant. I say let’s check once more at the ferry office. Neither of us thought they would be open, but low and behold they were. We told the young man we would like to purchase 2 tickets to Kos and 2 tickets from Kos to Santorini for tomorrow. He books the first one as it is on a different ferry line than the Santorini leg. He can’t find a sailing from Kos to Santorini on Saturday. The next one is on Monday. CRAP!! We have already booked non refundable accomodation for Saturday and Sunday in Santorini. He says you want to go today??? The ferry leaves in less than 2 hours. Quick decision. We will grab a cab back to our hotel Papafotis, pack up our stuff ad try to get to the port and buy our tickets there if we make it.

CRAP!!. I had checked this out. I was sure I had found the Kos to Santorini leg. It wasn’t a pretty leg. Left Kos @ 7:50 pm and arrived in Santorini @ 1:10 am. We asked the cab driver to pick us up again in 30 minutes. We tell Francesca that we need to check out today, but we will pay for tonight as we are way past check out time. Packed up – CHECK. Bill paid – CHECK. Cab arrived – CHECK. Arrived at port – CHECK. Ensure we have accomodation in Santorini when we arrive 24 hours early – CHECK. Buy tickets to Kos, hhmmmmm. I get to the ticket office. There are a couple of people ahead of me. It seems to be a bit of a process. It is now my turn. I ask for 2 tickets to Kos. The ticket officer says “there are no more tickets, but hold on”. He makes a phone call, I can not understand what he is saying. Then he says that will be 23 Euros (which is the price for 1 ticket). Me – I need 2 tickets, him – sigh and makes another phone call. I think he had to cancel the 1 ticket, get permission for 2 tickets and redo those. Now a big line is gathering behind me. The people are not Greek or European tourists. There seems to be one guy who is organizing their tickets. I don’t know if they are refugees but they certainly could be.

We have our tickets and goto the waiting area. Soon the waiting area is crowded with people as the sailing time nears. We move outside as there are many peple smoking under the shelter and it is not pleasant. We chat with a British couple who also moved outside the shelter for some air and sunshine. The fellow feels that these people are not refugees, but Turks who will likely catch a ferry to Bodrum that leaves from Kos.

When we arrive in Kos we notice that where we had seen many, many refugees before, there were very few. We search out the Blue Star office to buy the tickets to Santorini. Might have been able to do it in Leros, but there were too many people and just wanted to get the Kos leg. We had over 3 hours in Kos, so we could buy them there. That done, we found a place for beer and a bite to eat.

The ferry is supposed to leave @ 7:45, but we are told to be there by 7. We are there by 6 :). Just a few other people at first. A couple of people who are possible refugees come and sit in the waiting area. They are hustled out by a security guard. He sends them over across the street to wait.

Not long after that police arrive, some in cars, others in 3 buses with riot gear visible through the windows. Also lot of trucks arrive and start parking in the lot. Cars arrive too.

 

 

 

The line of refugees is growing outside. The side of the Castle, where we noticed no one when we arrived from Leros a few hours ago, now has a very large line of people congregating.

 

I walk toward the fence that we are behind and notice these people are being processed at another gate and let into a holding area separate from us.

 

 

When the ferry arrives it is chaotic. Vehicles and people are disembarking. Then all of a sudden someone gives the go ahead for boarding and it is almost a stampede to the boat (which is HUGE). We board and find a couple of seats.

 

There are windows back out to the port and the area that the refugees are in is still blocked off. I suspect that once the regular paying customers are on board, they then board the refugees. It appears that this is the case. I think there are proably 600-800 people out there.

We have a comfortable spot. They have wine 🙂 We play scrabble and read for a bit. Stu uses the WC and says it is interesting. People are washing their hair and the place is a mess. I just went. It is in pretty good shape. There are baby clothes hanging on the door.

Such a sad situation. At least Greece is allowing them to move on.

 

We settle into our seats.  The scrabble tournament continues.  I win!

Standings Stu – 16, Pat – 11.

 

Finally arrive at our hotel.  It almost 2am.  Time for sleep.

WHAT A DAY!!!