Author: Gisela Wuerfel

Unpacking, putting things away, sorting out ... that is also part of arriving at Aglaya, our second home. Beatrix and Peter, the previous owners, have left us many useful things on board and everything is in perfect condition. Nevertheless, we also want to store our own things, which we really appreciate - for example in the kitchen. But we also want our own style to be visible - for example with one of our favourite pictures in the salon. So for the first few days on board we are busy making everything look the way we like it and stowing things away so that we can find them quickly. We also take a close look at how the supply systems work - especially electricity and gas - and whether everything is OK after the winter and the corona-related break.

On deck we'll also have a lot to do - go through all the ropes, again, so that we're sure what's for what while Sailing. And last but not least we have to put on the new sails. Ehen that is Dome we can start sailing. So there is a lot to do. 

Actually we had a ticket for the car ferry Venice - Patras, for April 7th. This was converted into an open date ticket, due to Corona, the ferries only transported trucks for three months. The first date on which cars were transported again was July 1, which we booked. 

Purely by chance we learned two days before that in order to enter Greece, one had to answer a questionnaire online, which was then converted by the health authorities into a QR-code, which one had to show when leaving Italy and entering Greece.

Departure was scheduled for July 1, 12:00 noon, you should be there at least two hours before. The crossing then takes 33 hours. 

So we left on Tuesday, June 30th, about 19.00 in the evening and were at 6.00 in the morning at the ferry port, just outside Venice, picturesquely situated between refineries and power plants. It was good that we arrived so early: a group of truck drivers and a slightly smaller group of tourists were already besieging the ferry office. And QR-codes that had been sent, but not to the mobile phone, which had no reception, so we had to help out with our mobile phone - a colourful hustle and bustle. "You look so German! Could you help me with the QR-code?" 

A large ferry boat of the Minoan-Line, which is operated by Grimaldi. Grimaldi? That's right. The Italian noble family that has represented the Princess of Monaco since the 12th century. 

At the ferry port: chaos. Two ferries, but timing and Stufe for only one. So we weites from 8-12.00 in the hot sun. And from 12.00 again waiting: for 5 hours. At 17.00 we started after the car was parked in the third basement (below the entrance level), accurate to the centimetre. 

The ferry was full and there was no trace of consequent mask duty. We had a deck passage, so no cabin - that would have doubled the price. So we got to know the ship, ate something, drank something, read and passed the time also with some sleep.

5 hours delay meant: Instead of the planned arrival at 21.30 we were in Patras at 3.30 local time.  Now 50km to Messolonghi - we were on our ship at dawn - time for a glass of wine. Independent of the time of day.

Today, June 30th, we're finally off - with our fully-laden car from Heidelberg through Switzerland to Italy and Venice, and then on July 1st on the ferryboat to Patras. This is the day, when the ferries will take private cars again for the first time since the Corona-Lockdown. We are looking forward to the trip, which was not possible in the last three months. And we are longing to see our boat again.

Our website about Aglaya is not yet finished. We are still working on it. We have time for that, because we are still waiting for the relaxation of travel restrictions due to the Corona pandemic.

Our original plan to sail off with Aglaya at the beginning of April could not be realized so far. The corona pandemic is keeping us at home in Heidelberg and Aglaya is waiting in Messolonghi. We have to be patient and wait until travelling is possible again. Hopefully we can start soon.