Day 12: Gargano to Igoumenitsa

Bari

Waking in the camp, I wanted to go down to the beach for a swim, but found that we were 'locked in like prisoners' until 8am. Seriously, all the gates for both vehicles and people were locked. Security is good, but how weird is that?

It was about 6am, so instead of going to the beach,  just had a shower and started packing up camp. Gerle was awake soon after and followed suit. By the time she had finished showering, breakfast was ready and we ate that before completing the packing up.

On the road early, and with only a short drive to complete to Bari before needing to board the ferry at 6pm, we took our time and went via the coastal road and avoiding the Autostrada. We were however in downtown Bari by about 11am and wondering what to do. Bari was a lot larger than I was expecting, and the streets were filled with traffic, moving and stationary. The Landcruiser wasn't a good choice for navigating the congested inner streets, and after blindly searching for a central parking place we were lucky to find one on the outskirts of what appeared to be the CBD.

From here, we found somewhere for lunch, which turned out to be delicious. We spent about 2 hours people watching from a sidewalk table in front of a simple restaurant, where we enjoyed seafood and pasta dishes. After lunch, it was back to the car, and time to find the port and get organised so that we didn't miss the boat.

Street shot in Bari

Sam's lunch in Bari; a local pasta specialty.

Gerle's lunch in Bari; grilled cuttlefish.

The port was well sign posted and easy to find, so we set off for a bit of a look at the coastline beside Bari. Stopping on a breakwater for a while to take in the sights, we tried to spot our ferry without luck. There were numerous other ferries moored in the port, but none yet with a Superfast logo that we could see. There were plenty of smaller boats, many of which were sailing boats, out on the water. There was a light breeze, but the sea was flat. 

Clambering a little closer to the water, Gerle was lucky not to lose her footing completely on the slippery wet rocks. I almost packed a brownie when I saw her slip, but probably much less so than her with the oncoming waves now breaking on the rock at her feet. A quick hand up and we avoided what could have been a catastrophe! Lesson learned.

A competing ferry service.

Moments prior to almost slipping in....

Still, the water looked so inviting!

With time to kill prior to departure, we set about preparing for Greece. Having been ignorant of the news media for the past two weeks, and knowing that the Greece federal elections had recently been run,we prepared by withdrawing plenty of cash, and fuelling up the vehicle including spare jerry cans. In hindsight this wan't necessary; Greece, at least where we were, was peaceful and calm with any signs of commotion post election. Fuel was also cheaper...

Still waiting until we could get onto the boat, the car got a chance for a bath. Gerle was happy to sit inside the car whilst I slaved away in the heat outside... 

Washing the car.

The photographer wasn't much help with the washing...

Superfast Bari to Igoumenitsa

Finally it was time to head down to the port. After being guided in to park the car in preparation for boarding, we narrowly avoided being boxed in, in the wrong queue, when after trying to check in we were told to go to the 'other port' about 3km further on. Quickly back to the car, and we could squeeze the car out through the traffic rapidly being parked around us. 

After finding the correct place to board our ferry, which we could now see why we couldn't see it previously, we were at the wrong port! Anyway, the boarding process was pretty easy after checking in. I got to drive the boat up an into the internal hull of the boat, and descend a few decks. Gerle had to get out prior to descending, but we boarded the boat as passengers together after I walked back to the vehicle entry point. 

We boarded at about 5.30pm, but the boat wasn't due to depart until 8pm. This gave us plenty of time to check out what the boat had to offer before most of the other passengers (without vehicles) boarded. Whilst the primary purpose of the ferry was not passenger transit (rather truck freight transit), it was decked out fairly luxuriously with a number of lounges, restaurant, bars, casino and an open air terrace (smoker's lounge). 

Before the smokers arrived en masse, we sat outside on the terrace over a few drinks watching the endless stream of trucks come onboard. The choreography in manoeuvring and parking all of these was interesting to watch, and how closely everything was packed in made me glad that I had seen the fine print regarding the 'camping onboard' option being limited to vehicles specifically registered as campers. I don't think it would have been too much fun setting up camp down there!

Relaxing onboard prior to departure.

With the car parked below, it was time for a cold beer.

The empt upper deck with trucks coming aboard. 

Getting a little busier. The upper deck filled up completely, after literally hundreds of trucks went through and down to lower decks. The traffic controllers barking orders left and right as trucks performed something of a chaotic ballet.

The layout of the ship; transportation of passengers is clearing only a sideline business!

Shortly before 8pm, as the smoking lounge became hazy from the chain-smoking Turkish, Greek and Italian truck drivers, we went to the port side deck to lean on the railing and watch the departure from port and Italy. The sun as still above the horizon, casting a nice orange glow over the water and thankfully without haze that we had seen most elsewhere in Italy after descending from the alps. 

We stayed and watched the water, the shore as as passed through the port and then the mainland become more distant as we pushed on toward Greece. The boat first headed northeast as it exited the port, but then turned on a large arc and continued southeast down the Italian coastline once outside of the port. Until we went to sleep, we where within sight of the Italian coast. 

Taking quite a few photos, posed and otherwise, we enjoyed the relative peace and quiet (and fresh air) afforded on this deck whilst the masses enjoyed their dinner onboard inside. At about 9pm we changed to the starboard side deck, to watch a little of the Italian mainland night scene. 

The way ahead leaving the port of Bari.

Leaving Italy behind. Looking forward to Greece.

Posing on deck. Yours truly with a cheesy looking grin.

Traffic in the Adriatic.

Heading out into the open ocean, and building up to full speed. 

Relaxing in the breeze on the upper deck as the sun sinks into the water.

The inner engineer was interested in the path and speed of the journey...

Heading into the night.

The Italian coast after sunset.

The sun going down over the (tiny) waves. It was surprising just how flat the water was.

The sun starting to sink beyond the horizon. 

Shortly before 9.30 it as announced that the restaurant would be closing, so we headed inside and had a pretty simple meal before retiring to the lounge where we were to sleep. This lounge was like an oversized aeroplane cabin (about 20 seats across) with reclining chairs to sleep in. Though our seats were sequentially numbered, we were at opposite sides of this cabin, and one row apart...

Partly choosing, and partly forced to reconsider our seating based on others already strewn across our reserved seats and asleep, we sat down on the floor near the rear of the cabin to use some Wi-Fi before going to 'bed'. The 'Wi-Fi' service turned out to be pretty crap for what we paid; for some reason nothing secure could be logged into, so Gerle couldn't access Facebook and I couldn't access Blogger. Anyway, we chewed up the hours that we paid for with other browsing before stretching out on the carpet to try and sleep.