The Maiden Voyage
If you’ve ever read that short story, by Gerald Durrell, you’ll know a little bit of what the journey to Syros was yesterday.
I had intended to catch the 12:00 ferry from Piraeus, but it was cancelled because of winds. However with the help of a Greek called Christos, who I’d met on the train going to the port, I was able to get myself a ticket on the 17:00 boat to the island.
Ferry to Syros at Piraeus
As the boat was there, we were urged to get on and this was a mistake. I should have gone and have lunch in Piraeus first, but I didn’t.
I was in what they called Business Class, but it only seemed that the seats were slightly less crowded.
There was no food on the boat for me, as the Greek salad was off and everything else was gluten-rich. to make matters worse the shop only sold souvenirs, tobacco and drink, so I couldn’t even have any chocolate. The only crisps stated they contained traces of cereal, so I was left with ice cream and coffee with three portions of sugar in it.
I did meet a Greek married to an Aussie coeliac and he said most restaurants in the islands understood gluten-free.
But can I really complain, as most ferries across the English Channel are not much better for gluten-free food.
The Anonymous Widower 
[…] was on the boat this morning that I was reduced to drinking coffee and eating jce cream again, as that was all that was safe. There was no fruit, but I did have two bananas with me, that […]
Pingback by Gluten Free in Greece « The Anonymous Widower | March 28, 2011 |
I have just read “Maiden Voyage” for the first time while I was eating my breakfast, and had to put it aside until I finished to avoid choking & to leave hands free for eye-wiping! On googling it, I ended up here. I hope you are doing well, and believe you are on the right path, being busy & laughing a lot, but, yes, there are certainly lonely times. I was divorced, so it’s not quite the same, as I have some bad marriage memories to help me appreciate being on my own, but there are many times when you just want to be able to share little things with someone (like “Maiden Voyage”). Also sorry to read you have had a stroke, but hope all is going well there too. My mother had a stroke, but she is going to celebrate her 100th birthday in November, so that’s something to which to aspire! I had Greek neighbours, lovely people & good friends, but they are so like those in the story. I hope your Greek odyssey was great fun in spite of the difficulties, but it is the difficulties which make the best stories afterwards, isn’t it? I have some from Borneo which were a nightmare at the time, but are great tales now. All the best from Oz
Comment by June Miller | August 21, 2011 |
Thanks for your thoughts. My only real problem is the ferocious hay fever I suffer from. I was going to see a specialist on Friday, but the hospital had to cancel, as their booking system mucked up. Such is life!
Which part of Oz are you from? I’m been to a lot, but not to Perth, Darwin and Tasmania.
Comment by AnonW | August 21, 2011 |
Interesting story. I expect it can sometimes be difficult to find gluten-free fare wherever you go and I’m sure that ice cream and sweet coffee couldn’t have been at all filling for the trip to Syros. My only dietary problems (if I can call them that) are that I don’t eat meat, fish or poultry, but my vegetarianism is by choice and not related to any health condition. As a child, I refused to go to the butcher’s for my mother because I told her there were “dead animals” inside, and I have never changed my mind. Vegetarianism has been good for me – no health problems, and just last Tuesday I gave blood (for the 32nd time), got straight up and walked out afterwards without needing to rest. I wouldn’t want to proselytise but have found it a beneficial way of life.
Nice picture of the ferries at Piraeus.
Comment by Janice Mermikli | March 10, 2013 |