Transportation

So here is a list of what the transportation costs were once we arrived.  I put down the cost in Euros along with the dollar amount so you can see it both ways since the exchange rate is always changing. (sometimes I rounded it off) While we were traveling the exchange rate was 1E for $1.36.  We took trains and ferries in Italy and buses and ferries in Greece.

Except for right in Athens, the train system in Greece has been shut down since the financial crisis. You could see the ghost train stations all around the countryside as we traveled.   But the bus system worked for us. The times are posted at the bus stops, but we never knew if it was going to be in Greek or not.  If it was in Greek, we had no idea, but it was easy to find somebody around who would decipher it for us.  Here was where I had to just learn to relax and trust that the person at the station was giving me right information.  I don't know why, the explanation that was given to me did not make sense, but you can only buy a ticket from the station you are leaving from to your next destination.

Once there, you have to buy the next leg of your trip and so on.  Sometimes we had to change buses 3 times.  Each time, I hoped that there would be a bus that would take us on in order to get us to our destination for the day.  They don't have a schedule posted of the next stations buses.  So it was a test of faith for me.  Well, actually it was the only thing I could do.  But each time it worked just fine.  By the end of the trip, I was not even thinking about the next stop until we got there.

I liked the buses.  Huge clean windows and high up.  Luggage was stored underneath.  The longer rides had rest stops and nice restaurants. Once it was a bakery and I had a terrible time deciding what to pick...so I picked a bunch!

Bus prices: per person

Athens to Olympia-29.50E ($40) took 6 hours with a bus change in Pirgos and another 2.20E ($3) to get the final 25 minutes to Olympia

Olympia to Kalambaka took 3 buses:

Olympia to Lamia-26E ($35) took 5 hours

Lamia to Trikala-12E ($16) 2 more hours

Trikala to Kalambaka-2.30E ($3) 20 minutes

Then we found out from our hotel owner that there was a train that went from Kalambaka to Volos, where we were headed next.  Actually it was 2 trains and a bus. It cost 9.40E ($13) each and took 2 1/2 hours.  Each time the next train or bus was there waiting for us, we didn't have to buy more tickets, the first ticket was for the whole trip.

Volos to Athens was 27.40E ($37) and took 4 hours and then a 17E ($23) taxi to the port for our ferry to Sifnos.

In Athens we took a bus from the airport to get to our hotel area...then walked to our hotel from there.  The cost was 5E ($7) each.  It took about an hour because of the stops it makes on the way.  Just for my own information, I asked what  taxi would have cost.  It would have been 35E ($48)!!!!

We took ferries to the islands.  When I checked on schedules before we left, they only had summer schedules posted.  We were there at mid season, so some of the times I had hoped for were not available.  

Ferry prices: all per person

Portofino to Rapallo-7.50 ($10.20)   (I forgot how long, but it was short)

Rapallo to Vernazza-with a drive past all 5 cities 17.50E ($24) (again, I forgot to keep track of time...but it took a couple of hours because they stop at a few towns and load and unload)

I was able to go outside and get shots of all the towns.

Volos to Skopelos-40E ($55) took 2 hours...it stops at Skiathos on the way

Skopelos to Volos 48E ($65) Yes, it cost more for the return trip...not sure why.  It stopped at Skiathos on the way back.

Piraeus to Sifnos-47.90E ($65) took 2 hours with stops at a couple of islands on the way.

Sifnos to Santorini-54.50E ($75) took 3 1/2 hours (we flew back to Athens because of time restrictions for our return flight to Portland)

I was a little disappointed with the ferries to the islands because I had hoped to be able to take photos, but you are not allowed out.  The windows were all covered with sea water and you could not see very well out.  But the ride was smooth and I didn't get seasick at all.  Food was sold on board, but we weren't hungry while we were on board.

In Rome, Pisa and Athens, we used taxis if we needed to go any distance.  They are easy to find and local distance cost averaged 5E ($7).  Pisa train station to hotel was 10E ($13.60).  18E ferry from hotel on Sifnos was 18E ($25).  17E ($23)from bus station to port in Athens and hotel to bus was 25E ($34).

On each of the three islands, we rented a car and drove the whole island in a day.  We saw everything we wanted to see and stopped for photos and food along the way.  Cost of renting a car was 35E ($48) on Skopelos and Santorini.  Sifnos was 30E ($41).  It was easy to drive in most places, except a bit scary on Santorini in the two larger towns because the roads are so narrow and you have to share with the huge buses.  I was glad when we returned the car that day.

In Italy the way we traveled was by train.  At first it was a bit intimidating.  We got off the plane and had to take a train from the airport to Central Station to get the train south towards Genoa. The train to Central Station took one hour and cost 12 Euros ($16) each.  It was simple.  But not so simple once we arrived at Central Station. So many people, so many trains and platforms.  It might not have been so much stress except I had already researched it from home and knew that there were only a couple of trains that would take us south that afternoon. I finally found a machine and figured out which train to take and we got the tickets in hand.  But then the real trouble began!  We only had 15 minutes to board!  WHICH train?  We looked and looked.  We asked anyone and everyone.  Time was ticking!  Finally a station helper pointed us in the direction of a train that had been hidden down the platform.  We had to hurry...but glad we were not the only ones running for it.  We boarded just in time!  It took us 2.5 hours to get to Genoa, then a train change and another 40 minutes to reach Rapallo.  Whew!  we made it.  From then on I realized that you have to know the FINAL destination in order to know which train you are going to take.  You learn as you go.  The train south cost 30.20E ($41) and 180E ($2.44) for that final 40 minutes.   So total for our trains south from the airport was $120 for both of us.

Trains between the towns in Cinque Terre were about $5 for both of us. They took about 10-15 minutes.

The train from Vernazza to Pisa took us 1 1/2 hours and cost 4.80E ($6.50) from Vernazza to LaSpezia.  Change trains and 14.40 (($19,58). Total for two $26.  

Pisa to Rome took 3 hours, cost was 92E ($125.12) for both.

The tickets for the long trips had assigned seats, but the short ones between the Cinque towns were not...and the train filled to standing everywhere.  None of them had much space for luggage.  

Getting luggage around the stations and up to the platforms was a challenge for me.  It was when I really regretted bringing so much stuff!  You get off on one platform, but the next train is over at another platform.  You can't cross the tracks, you have to go down a bunch of stairs and under the tracks and then back up the stairs to the right platform.  I would leave John with the bags and find the next place and then go back to get the stuff so we were not going all over the place with our bags.  Each of us had a small backpack and a suitcase.  Mine of course was bigger and weighed a ton!  and poor John usually got stuck lugging it up the stairs.  that was when I regretted it...but in reality, I used everything I took!

In Rome we bought a one day Metro pass to get us to the Vatican.  We got off and saw the Spanish Steps and walked up through a park to see the city view, the we got back on Metro to the Vatican.  Walked around there and returned to our hotel on the Metro.  Cost for the day was 6E ($8)

Off we go!  Selfie on the plane.

It took 17 hours to get there.  First a flight to Chicago of 4 hours, 1 hour layover, 81/2 hours to Frankfurt, 3 1/2 hour layover and a final one hour l flight to Milan.

The flight home was 18 hours travel time.  Milan to Newark was 9 hours, 3 1/2 hour layover in Newark and 6 hours to Portland.  The flight from Milan was so fast and enjoyable.  At first I was bummed because we had seats in the middle of the plane.  But it ended up being so great because each seat had a little video screen with a choice of over 250 movies to pick from, TV show repeats, music videos, etc.  I watched 3 movies.  You can start one and if you don't like it, stop and pick a new one, pause them.  It was so entertaining!  Fastest, longest flight I have ever had.